Cannot Remove the Printer in Windows 10: How to Fix?

Often I see a lot of folks not being able to remove the printer from their Windows 10 PC. It may be troublesome for those who wish to uninstall an old printer and use a new one.  Some face this issue while trying to troubleshoot the printer for some malfunction. However, if they try to uninstall the printer, it doesn’t happen. In this guide, I have put up a few important methods that can help you to remove a printer for good from your PC.

Again some users report that when they initiate the removal of the printer, then it begins the process but gets stuck. eventually, when the person shuts down and restarts the PC, the printer is still stuck. This denotes some bug with the driver of the printer. The troubleshooting methods I have put up will surely help to fix up the issue. So, let’s begin with the tutorial.

how to Remove the Printer stuck in Windows 10

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How to Remove the Printer in Windows 10

Before trying out the methods I must mention that you do not have to use all of these methods. For various users, any method may work. If one troubleshoot doesn’t work for you, then try the others.

Deleting Keys/Subkeys of Faulty Printer from the Reg editor

Here are the steps that will help you out in performing this troubleshooting

  • Press Windows + R 
  • type Regedit > hit enter
  • Now, go to the following path
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Printers
  • Go to Printers
  • Right-click on the entry related to Printers you see and select Delete.
  • Once done with the deletions, then close the registry editor
  • Restart your PC

Now, check whether the printer has been removed or not.?

Clear the Pending Print Jobs

It is quite easy to clear. Here is all you have to do.

  • Press Windows + R
  • type the following command
    C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
  • Press Enter
  • Click Yes [to remove the pending print jobs in the Printers folder]
  • Delete every component in the folder
  • Then try to remove the printer

Remove Printer from the Settings

  • Hit Windows + R
  • Type the following and hit enter
    ms-settings: connecteddevices
  • Under Connected Device section, click Printers and Scanners
  • Click on your Printer > Select Remove device > confirm removal
  • Restart your PC

Uninstall Printer from Control Panel

  • On the search box type Control Panel
  • Click on View Devices and Printers Control Panel
  • Right-click on the printer you wish to remove > select Remove device

Remove device

  • Confirm the deletion
  • Reboot your PC/laptop manually.

Remove the printer from Device Manager

  • On the search box type Device Manager > hit enter
    Access device Manager
  • Scroll down to Print Queues
  • Select the printer that you wish to remove
  • Then right-click > select Uninstall deviceRemove the Printer from Control Panel

Delete Device drivers from Print Server Properties

Now, this troubleshooting guide is for those users who are getting stuck on printer “being removed” scenario. This process doesn’t exactly uninstall the printer. That you have to do manually as I demonstrated in some of the above methods.

  • On your home screen, type Printers & Scanners on the Search box
  • Click Open as the tab shows up upon typing
  • Open Printers and Scanners
  • In the next screen look at the right side for the Print Server Properties link.
    print server properties
  • Then a small dialog box will show up.
  • Select the printers you wish to remove
    Remove the Printer from Windows 10 from Print Server Properties
  • Click Remove > Apply > OK

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So, that’s it, guys. Use the above methods and try to remove the printer which is stuck on your Windows 10 PC. I hope that you will find the guide helpful. Do let us know which method worked for you.?

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