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Guide on how to remove a printer and printer driver from the registry

Guide on how to remove a printer and printer driver from the registry.

Most of the time, we don't need to modify the information in the registry, however if a printer stop working and reinstalling it via Devices and Printers doesn't work, you may need to delete the printer driver from the registry and re-install the printer again.

Note: Only use this method after you try to delete the printer and printer driver via Devices and Printer in the Control Panel but the system is not allowing you to delete them.

STEP 1 - In order to go to Registry, first go to search, type Regedit, select Run as administrator on right pane under Registry Editor.

STEP 2 - Navigate through the folders, or keys, as follows:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3."

Note: If you are running a 32-bit version of Windows, open "Windows NT x86" instead of "Windows x64" when in Registry Editor.

STEP 3 - Right click the printer driver from the left pane. Select Delete from the context menu that printer driver that want to delete and then click Yes When prompted.

STEP 4 - Return to the Print key and then expand Printers. Right click the printer from the left pane. Select Delete and then click Yes.

STEP 5 - Go to search, type Services, select Run as administrator on right pane under Services.

STEP 6 - Double click Print Spooler. Click on Stop once and click Start to restart the services.

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