Why Printer Drivers Fail After Updates (Causes & Fixes)
Why Printer Drivers Fail After Updates (Causes & Fixes) Introduction Printer drivers are essential software components that allow your operating system to communicate with your printer. While updates are intended to improve performance and security, many users experience problems after updating printer drivers —such as printers going offline, print jobs failing, or scanners no longer working. This article explains why printer drivers fail after updates , what actually breaks in the system, and how to fix these issues safely on Windows and macOS . 1. Operating System Updates Break Driver Compatibility One of the most common reasons printer drivers fail after updates is OS–driver incompatibility . What happens: Windows or macOS updates system libraries and security rules Older drivers are no longer compatible The printer appears installed but cannot respond Examples: Windows Feature Updates (e.g., Windows 11 version upgrades) macOS major releases (Ventura, Sonoma, etc.) Fix: Always i...