Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 update is wreaking havoc on printers

Microsoft's recently-released Windows 10 May 2020 Update is causing issues with printers, with users complaining of a number of error messages and the inability to print.

The update has been a mixed bag so far. At launch, Microsoft noticed some bugs and asked users not to install the update starting in late-May. In June, more updates arrived.

The updates improved some security features and gave Cortana and voice assistants a boost. Then, on June 9, Microsoft released update KB4557957, and the news took a turn.

After downloading the June 9 update, printers worldwide started crashing. According to Microsoft’s page for KB4557957 there are a few “known errors” in the update including printing failures that are creating a lot of frustration.

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Microsoft states, “After installing this update, certain printers might fail to print. The print spooler might throw an error or close unexpectedly when attempting to print, and no output will come from the affected printer.” It even affects printing to a PDF. On top of this, whatever app you’re printing from may also unexpectedly close, so save your work frequently.

Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. Until it comes up with something, it’s recommended users avoid installing the faulty update or, if they’ve already done so, uninstall it before attempting to print. If you choose to uninstall, you’ll lose whatever benefits the update brought to your computer, but Microsoft will likely issue a patch soon.

Some reports suggest changing your printer driver to a PCL 6 version 3 driver to fix the problem.

If you’re not loving Windows 10, you don’t have to wait for Microsoft to create an update to make it better. You can find hidden modes in Windows 10 that can make it a lot cooler.