Windows 11: Printer driver confirmed as upgrade stopper (Sep 29, 2022)

Windows[German]Microsoft has acknowledged compatibility problems with the drivers of certain printers under Windows 11 21H2 and 22H2. This can result in the printers only being able to be used with standard printing options. Microsoft has blocked the feature update to Windows 11 version 22H2 on the affected systems.

I had already reported in the blog post Windows 11 22H2: Issues and upgrade stoppers that Microsoft had set an upgrade blocker for certain Microsoft IPP Class Drivers – but details were still unknown. Now, as of September 29, 2022, Microsoft has confirmed the issue on the Windows 11 Release Health Status page and documented the details in the post Some installed printers might only allow default settings. The Microsoft website states:

Microsoft has found an issue when an installed printer uses Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Universal Print Class Driver and is installed on a Windows device with connectivity issues to the printer.

Windows needs connectivity to the printer to identify all the features of the printer. Without connectivity, the printer is set up with default settings and in some scenarios might not get updated once connectivity to the printer is restored.

You might be affected by this issue if your printer is unable to use printer specific features such as color, two-sided/duplex printing, paper size or type settings, or resolutions higher than 300x300dpi. Currently, installed printers in this state will carry this issue forward when upgraded to Windows 11, version 22H2.

Microsoft has therefore set an upgrade blocker for Windows devices with printers that use the Microsoft IPP Class Driver or the Universal Print Class Driver. These devices will not be offered Windows 11 version 22H2 as a feature update. If enterprise Update Compliance is used, the protection ID is 41332279. Microsoft is working on a solution and will roll it out with one of the upcoming updates.

If a printer has already been installed that only allows default settings (or throws BlueScreens), removing and reinstalling the printer should fix the problem.

To upgrade to Windows 11 version 22H2, users could remove all installed printers with Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Universal Print Class Driver. Once all affected installed printers are removed, compatible devices should be offered and able to upgrade to Windows 11 version 22H2 within 48 hours. Those who reboot the Windows system and allow it to check for updates may be offered the upgrade to version 22H2 sooner after driver uninstallation.

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