Edit (2020-09-19):
Windows Update has recently incorporated the fixes into their regular automatic update. Please update your windows to the latest first, and see if it fixes your problem, before trying the method in this article.
Here’s the list of new updates that should fix the printer issue:
- Windows 10 version 1507 — KB4574727 (OS Builds 18362.1082 and 18363.1082)
- Windows 10 version 1607 — KB4577015 (OS Build 14393.3930)
- Windows 10 version 1703 — KB4577021 (OS Build 15063.2500)
- Windows 10 version 1709 — KB4577041 (OS Build 16299.2107)
- Windows 10 version 1803 — KB4577032 (OS Build 17134.1726)
- Windows 10 version 1809 — KB4570333 (OS Build 17763.1457)
- Windows 10 version 1903/1909 — KB4574727 (OS Builds 18362.1082 and 18363.1082)
- Windows 10 version 2004 — KB4571756 (OS Build 19041.508)
If you find your printer can no longer printing recently, you may not be the only person encountering this problem recently. Microsoft recent June 2020 Update seems knocking down a lot of both USB connected or network-based printers.
Last week, Microsoft confirmed recent Windows Update causing print spooler issue and it is affecting a wide range of Windows 10 version 2004, 1909, 1903, 1803, and even as old as 1507.
To understand if you are affected by this bug, open up the print queue by searching in the Start menu for printers and scanners, select your printer and click Open queue. Then, send a new print job to the printer, you can see it queuing up in the print queue but disappearing pretty much right away without any error.
Problems
The recent Windows 10 cumulative update release earlier in June 2020 including patch KB4557957 for Windows 10 version 2004 and KB4560960 for Windows 10 version 1909 and earlier. These 2 patches introduce a bug which makes Windows 10 no longer working with PCL5 driver. This affects printer of various brands like Brother, Canon, Ricoh, etc. It might work with PCL6 driver but has not been proved.
Solutions
Uninstall KB4560960 / KB4557957
Uninstall the problematic update seems to fix the issue. You can go to Windwos Update -> View update history -> Unisntall updates. Select the corresponding KB and click Uninstall. Re-start your system when asked.
You should pause the windows update to temporary prevent the problem update to be installed again. Go to Start -> Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced options. You can pause update for up to 35 days. You then need to wait for Microsoft to release a fix to this problem.
Another option is to permanently block the update from getting installed again. This requires you to download “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter app from Microsoft. Run and application and select the update to block it.
Manually download the patch
Microsoft has since released a hotfix to address this issue. However, it has not circulated through the auto Windows Update yet but requires you to download it manually from Microsoft Update Catalog.
You can go to Microsoft Update Catalog site, based on your current Windows 10 version, to search for the correct Windows update KB number according to the following table.
| Windows 10 Version | Windows Update KB |
| 1607 | kb4567517 |
| 1703 | kb4567516 |
| 1709 | kb4567515 |
| 1803 | kb4567514 |
| 1809 | kb4567513 |
| 1903 | kb4567512 |
| 1909 | kb4567512 |
| 2004 | kb4567523 |
You also need to pick the correct CPU architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, etc). To find out your Windows 10 version and details, go to Start -> Settings -> System -> About and see the Windows specifications section.
After downloading the correct Windows update, run the update executable manually, follow on-screen the instruction, and re-start your computer when asked. This should fix your printing issue.
