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Introduction
A network IP printer driver is responsible for ensuring that your printer is working efficiently on a network. When it comes to upgrading to a new printer or updating your printer driver, the previous driver must be removed. In this article, we will look at how to remove a network IP printer driver successfully.
Step 1: Stop the Printer Spooler Service
To remove a printer driver, the first thing you need to do is stop the print spooler service. This service is responsible for managing all print jobs, including those sent to your network IP printer. Stopping the spooler service will help ensure that the printer driver is not in use when attempting to remove it.
Step 2: Remove the Printer from Printers & Scanners
Next, you'll need to remove the printer from your Printers & Scanners settings. Open the Windows settings menu and click on Devices. From there, click on Printers & Scanners, select the printer you're removing, and click the Remove button. This will eliminate the printer's connection to your computer, allowing you to remove the driver.
Step 3: Uninstall the Network IP Printer Driver
From the Windows settings menu, choose the Devices and Printers option. Right-click on the printer you want to remove and select the Remove Device option. This will eliminate the drivers associated with that printer from your computer.
Step 4: Remove the Driver Files from Your Computer
The final step in removing a network IP printer driver is locating and removing the driver files from your computer. You'll need to find any files related to the driver you just uninstalled and delete them from your device. To do this, open your Windows File Explorer and navigate to the following folder: C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\etc. From there, you can locate the printer driver files and delete them.
Conclusion
Removing a network IP printer driver might seem challenging, but with our step-by-step guide, you can successfully remove the driver from your device. Remember always to stop the print spooler service first, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners, uninstall the driver, and delete any related files. Following these steps will help your printer function correctly on a network and ensure that you can install a new driver without any issues.
