"Unable to remove print driver."  the nuts.

My canon printer was non performance properly anymore. I tried to remove the printer by right-clicking and select remove. During the removal I received the following mistake message:

"Print Server Properties"

"Unable to remove Impress driver. The specified printer commuter is currently in employ."

Y'all get this error message because the printer keeps the print spooler service busy. And so even if you cannot print, you cannot delete the printer. A re-start could be the solution, but if you've already tried that, yous can try the tutorial. The tutorial includes screenshots.

'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'
'Unable to remove Print commuter. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'

Let's fix "The specified printer commuter is currently in use".

Get tostart and search forServices.msc.
Or printingCTRL + R and type inServices.msc.

'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'
'Unable to remove Impress driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'

At present search for theImpress Spooler Service.
You can also sort it past name and type in 'Print'.

Cease the Service.

'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'
'Unable to remove Impress driver. The specified printer driver is currently in utilise.'

Go to start and type in printmanagement.msc.
Or printingCTRL + R again and type in printmanagement.msc.

'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'
'Unable to remove Impress driver. The specified printer commuter is currently in apply.'

2. Choose the printer driver you like to delete, merely exercise not click 'delete' yet. Go to footstep iii.

Go toCustom Filters and open theAll Drivers tab.
Select the printer driver that's faulty.
Right click the driver and selectDelete.

'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in use.'
'Unable to remove Print driver. The specified printer driver is currently in apply.'

Now get dorsum to the Services.msc application and re-commencement the Impress Spooler Service.

Another solution to the problem.

Considering several users had indicated that the problem was notwithstanding playing, I went researched further. In my search I found a technet mail service from Luka. I accept not made any screenshots of this, but I did extend the steps a scrap.

Run into the solution beneath:

  1. Offset go to Devices and Printers and remove the printer.
  2. Now cease the impress spooler service.
  3. Open regedit and go to the following key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Arrangement\CurrentControlSet\Control\Impress\Environments\Windows x64\Impress Processors\
  4. Re-name all Print Processors you see here, such as: Winprint to Winprint.erstwhile, Hpcpp107 to Hpcpp107.erstwhile, and so on …
  5. Now go back to Services and commencement the Print Spooler.
  6. Now become to Printmanagement.msc and remove the total printer driver package.
  7. Now open the registry once again and get again to the following primal:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Command\Impress\Environments\Windows x64\Impress Processors\
  8. Now rename all Print Processors to Former.
  9. At present go to Services and restart the Print Spooler.
  10. Reinstall the new drivers and test again.

Thank you Luka!

A third solution to your trouble..(Not tested).

A third solution has arrived from a user in the comments:

  1. Open Print Management (Run: Windows Key +R "printmanagement.msc")
  2. In "View" tab" Select "Custom View" and tick "Panel tree" and "Action pane">" OK" (This Custom View is not mandatory)
  3. Within "All Drivers," navigate to your printer driver (the 1 to be deleted): (Impress Direction > Custom Filters > All Drivers)
  4. Correct click your printer (in "Driver Name" cavalcade) – [Alternatively, in "Actions" column select your printer and select "More Actions"]
  5. From the "Commuter Isolation" drop-down menu, select "Isolated."
  6. Within "All Printers," navigate to your printer (the ane to be deleted): (Print Direction > Custom Filters > All Printers)
  7. Right click your printer (in "Printer Name" column) – [Alternatively, in "Deportment" column select your printer and select "More Deportment"]
  8. Select "Properties" (or "Manage Sharing")
  9. 9. In "Sharing" tab, de-select "Share this printer." Select "Apply" (Then patiently wait for it to "utilize")
  10. In "Advanced" tab, select "Print direct to the printer." Select "Apply." (And then patiently expect for it to "utilise") [This disables spooling (for this printer), then you tin can leave the "Impress spooler" ("Spooler" in Task Managing director) service nevertheless running].
  11. Within "All Printers" right click your printer and perform "Delete."
  12. Inside "All Drivers," right click your printer and perform "Delete."

If still not fixed, also try this: In "Backdrop" > "Security" tab, allow "Manage this printer"

Summary

The blog post was reviewed again on two-vii-2018 and is all the same relevant. I fabricated some adjustments to the screenshots because they were withal in Dutch.

Because the error message is quite generic, several things can be the solution.

If you lot constitute a new one, could you indicate this below?

If you have other comments or feedback you can also bespeak this in the comments.

Bas Wijdenes

My name is Bas Wijdenes and I piece of work as a PowerShell DevOps Engineer. In my spare time I write about interesting stuff that I encounter during my work. View all posts by Bas Wijdenes