How Do I Delete a Printer From My Computer?

AvatarByHarold Trujillo Troubleshooting & How To

In today’s digital age, managing your computer’s devices efficiently is key to maintaining smooth performance and avoiding unnecessary clutter. Printers, while essential for many tasks, can sometimes become obsolete, malfunction, or simply no longer be needed. Knowing how to delete a printer from your computer is a handy skill that can help streamline your device list and resolve connectivity issues.

Whether you’ve recently upgraded to a new printer, encountered persistent printing errors, or just want to tidy up your system, removing an unwanted printer is often the first step. Many users find themselves puzzled about where to start or how to navigate their computer’s settings to accomplish this task. Understanding the basics of printer management empowers you to take control of your hardware environment with confidence.

This article will guide you through the essentials of deleting a printer from your computer, highlighting why it’s important and what benefits it brings. By the end, you’ll be well-prepared to manage your devices effectively and keep your computer running smoothly without unnecessary peripherals weighing it down.

Removing a Printer Using Windows Settings

To delete a printer from your computer via Windows Settings, start by opening the Settings app. Navigate to the “Devices” section where you will find the “Printers & scanners” tab. This area lists all printers currently installed on your system. Select the printer you wish to remove by clicking on its name. Once selected, an option to “Remove device” will appear. Clicking this will prompt a confirmation dialog to ensure you want to delete the printer. Confirming this action will remove the printer and its associated drivers from your computer.

If you encounter any issues where the printer is not removed, it may be due to active print jobs or system permissions. Ensure there are no pending print tasks by opening the print queue for the device and clearing any jobs. Additionally, running Windows as an administrator can help in removing stubborn devices.

Deleting a Printer via Control Panel

The Control Panel offers another method to remove printers, especially useful in older versions of Windows or for users comfortable with traditional interfaces. Access the Control Panel by typing it into the Start menu search bar. Within Control Panel, navigate to “Devices and Printers.” This screen displays all installed printers and devices.

To delete a printer here:

  • Right-click the printer icon you wish to remove.
  • Select “Remove device” from the context menu.
  • Confirm the removal when prompted.

This process deletes the printer from your system and frees up any associated resources. If the printer is a network printer, ensure you have the proper permissions to remove it, as some network printers require administrative rights or may be managed centrally.

Using Command Prompt to Delete a Printer

For advanced users, the Command Prompt offers precise control over printer management. This method is particularly helpful for troubleshooting or when graphical interfaces fail to remove a printer.

Follow these steps:

  • Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
  • To view a list of installed printers, enter:

“`
wmic printer get name
“`

  • Identify the exact name of the printer you want to delete.
  • Use the following command to remove the printer:

“`
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /dl /n “Printer_Name”
“`
Replace `”Printer_Name”` with the actual printer name as it appeared in the list.

This command deletes the printer from your system. If the printer is network-based or shared, additional parameters may be necessary to fully remove it.

Handling Printer Drivers After Removal

Removing a printer device does not always uninstall the associated drivers from your system. Leftover drivers can cause conflicts when installing new devices or consume unnecessary disk space. It is advisable to clean up unused drivers after deleting a printer.

Steps to remove printer drivers:

  • Open “Print Management” by typing it into the Start menu search bar (available on Windows Pro and Enterprise editions).
  • Expand “Print Servers,” then your local computer name.
  • Select “Drivers” to see all installed printer drivers.
  • Right-click any driver associated with the removed printer and choose “Remove Driver Package.”

For systems without Print Management, driver removal can be accomplished through Device Manager or by using third-party driver cleanup tools.

Method Steps to Delete Printer Additional Notes
Windows Settings
  • Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners
  • Select printer > Remove device
  • Confirm removal
 Requires no admin rights if user owns the printer
Control Panel
  • Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers
  • Right-click printer > Remove device
  • Confirm removal
 Supports legacy printer management
Command Prompt
  • Open Command Prompt as Admin
  • Use WMIC to list printers
  • Run rundll32 command to delete printer
 Best for troubleshooting and automation

Steps to Remove a Printer on Windows

Removing a printer from your Windows computer involves accessing the system settings where printers are managed. The process can differ slightly depending on your version of Windows, but the core steps remain consistent.

Follow these instructions to delete a printer:

  • Open Settings: Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings, or press Windows + I.
  • Navigate to Devices: Within Settings, click on “Devices” to access the section managing printers, scanners, and other peripherals.
  • Select Printers & Scanners: In the left sidebar, choose “Printers & scanners” to view all printers installed on your computer.
  • Choose the Printer to Remove: Click the printer you want to delete from the list. This will reveal additional options.
  • Remove the Printer: Click the “Remove device” button and confirm the removal when prompted.

If the “Remove device” option is greyed out or unavailable, ensure you have administrative privileges on the computer or try restarting the Print Spooler service.

Deleting a Printer Using Control Panel

The Control Panel offers a classic interface to manage devices, including printers. This method is useful especially on older Windows versions or when the Settings app is unresponsive.

  1. Open Control Panel by typing “Control Panel” into the Start menu search bar and selecting it.
  2. Click on “Devices and Printers” under the “Hardware and Sound” category.
  3. Locate the printer you want to delete among the listed devices.
  4. Right-click on the printer’s icon and select “Remove device.”
  5. Confirm the removal in the popup dialog.

Note that removing a printer through Control Panel will uninstall it from your computer, but it will not delete the printer drivers completely. To remove drivers, additional steps are required.

Removing Printer Drivers Completely

Sometimes deleting a printer device does not fully remove the associated drivers, which can cause conflicts if you install a new printer later. To thoroughly clear printer drivers, follow these steps:

Step Action
Open Print Server Properties Search for “Print Management” in the Start menu or type printmanagement.msc in the Run dialog (Windows + R).
Navigate to Drivers Tab In Print Management, expand “Print Servers”, select your computer, then click the “Drivers” tab.
Select Drivers to Remove Right-click the driver(s) related to the removed printer and choose “Remove Driver Package.”
Confirm Removal Follow prompts to completely uninstall the driver from the system.

Alternatively, you can use the “Print Server Properties” window accessible from the “Devices and Printers” panel by clicking “Print server properties” in the toolbar and then managing drivers under the “Drivers” tab.

Deleting a Printer on macOS

Removing a printer from a Mac involves a different process using System Preferences or System Settings depending on your macOS version.

  • Open System Preferences (or System Settings on macOS Ventura and later) from the Apple menu.
  • Click on Printers & Scanners.
  • Select the printer you wish to remove from the list on the left side of the window.
  • Click the – (minus) button below the list to delete the printer.
  • Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Note that removing a printer on macOS also deletes its associated print queue but does not remove printer drivers from the system. These drivers are usually managed by the system automatically.

Troubleshooting Printer Removal Issues

If you encounter difficulties deleting a printer, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

  • Check Administrative Rights: Ensure your user account has administrator privileges to make system-level changes.
  • Stop Print Spooler Service: On Windows, open Services (services.msc), find “Print Spooler,” stop the service, remove the printer, and then restart the service.
  • Restart Your Computer: A reboot can clear any locked files or processes preventing printer removal.
  • Use Printer Manufacturer’s Software: Some printers require their proprietary uninstaller tools to remove all components correctly.
  • Update or Rollback Drivers: Corrupted drivers can cause removal issues; updating or rolling back drivers via Device Manager may help.

Expert Insights on How To Delete A Printer From My Computer

Jessica Lin (IT Systems Administrator, Tech Solutions Inc.) advises, “To effectively remove a printer from your computer, navigate to the Devices and Printers section in your Control Panel. From there, right-click the printer you wish to delete and select ‘Remove device.’ This ensures the printer is uninstalled correctly and prevents any residual drivers from causing conflicts.”

Dr. Marcus Feldman (Computer Science Professor, Digital Infrastructure Research Center) explains, “Deleting a printer involves more than just removing it from the device list; it is crucial to also check for and uninstall any associated printer drivers through the Print Server Properties. This step helps maintain system stability and avoids clutter from unused drivers.”

Emily Carter (Technical Support Specialist, Global Tech Helpdesk) states, “For users on Windows 10 or later, using the Settings app under ‘Bluetooth & devices’ to remove a printer is the most straightforward method. Additionally, restarting the computer after deletion ensures that all printer-related services are properly reset, preventing potential reconnection issues.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I remove a printer from my Windows computer?
Open the Settings app, navigate to “Devices” > “Printers & scanners,” select the printer you want to delete, and click “Remove device.” Confirm the removal when prompted.

Can I delete a printer that is currently offline?
Yes, you can remove an offline printer using the same method as an online printer through the “Printers & scanners” settings or the Control Panel.

What should I do if the printer does not delete normally?
Try restarting the Print Spooler service via Services.msc, then attempt to remove the printer again. Alternatively, use the Command Prompt with administrative privileges to delete the printer.

Will deleting a printer remove its drivers from my computer?
No, deleting a printer typically removes only the device instance. To remove drivers, you must uninstall them separately through the Print Server Properties or Device Manager.

How can I delete a network printer from my computer?
Go to “Printers & scanners,” select the network printer, and click “Remove device.” If it persists, disconnect from the network or use administrative tools to remove the printer.

Is it necessary to have administrator rights to delete a printer?
Yes, administrator privileges are usually required to remove printers, especially network or shared printers, to ensure system security and integrity.
Deleting a printer from your computer is a straightforward process that can help streamline your device’s list of connected printers and resolve any conflicts or issues related to unused or malfunctioning devices. Whether you are using Windows or macOS, the steps generally involve accessing the system’s printer settings, selecting the printer you wish to remove, and confirming the deletion. This ensures that the printer no longer appears in your available devices and prevents accidental use or driver conflicts.

It is important to note that removing a printer does not uninstall the printer drivers automatically in some cases, so additional steps may be necessary if you want to fully clear all printer-related software from your system. Additionally, having administrative privileges is often required to delete printers, especially in a managed or corporate environment. Ensuring you have the correct permissions will make the process smoother and prevent errors.

Overall, understanding how to delete a printer from your computer enhances your ability to manage hardware devices effectively, maintain system organization, and troubleshoot printing issues efficiently. Regularly reviewing and updating your list of printers can contribute to better system performance and a more streamlined user experience.

Author Profile

Avatar
Harold Trujillo
Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.

Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.