Remove Old Printer Drivers in Windows 7

Remove Old Printer Drivers in Windows 7

If you have been using the same computer for a while, or if you have recently cycled through printer installations, then you probably have some printer drivers on your computer. Even if you have gone through the hassle of using the Remove Device option for a printer on the Devices and Printers menu, the driver for that printer is likely to still be on your computer. Since the old printer is no longer visible, you assume that there is no need to remove old printer drivers, because they are already gone. Windows 7 does not do this to complicate the printer installation process; they leave the driver on there in case you decide to use the printer again in the future.

Locating the List of Installed Printer Drivers

The list of printer drivers installed on your computer can be found by clicking the Start button at the bottom-left corner of your screen, then clicking Devices and Printers at the right side of the Start menu. Click one time on any installed printer, then click the Print Server Properties button in the horizontal blue bar at the top of the window.

use the print server properties menu to remove old printer drivers

This will open a new Printer Server Properties window. Click the Drivers tab at the top of this window, click the old printer driver you want to remove, then click the Remove button at the bottom of the window.

remove old printer drivers that you do not use anymore

 

Click the option to the left of Remove driver and driver package, then click the OK button.

remove old printer drivers and old printer driver packages

 

In most situations this will be the end of the process, and you will have removed all traces of the old printer driver. Unfortunately, it might not always be this easy.