Microsoft Warns of November Windows Printing Issues

Microsoft has warned that some Windows systems may experience printing problems after installing the November security updates. The reports do not indicate that every Windows computer or printer is affected, and they do not identify one universal printer brand, Windows edition, or technical cause.

A separate report from How-To Geek links the November Windows updates to printing problems in Microsoft Word. That remains a reported association, not proof that every Word printing failure comes from the same update. Source 5

This guide explains what the reports establish, how to determine whether a November update is related to a printer failure, and which troubleshooting steps to try before considering a security-update rollback.

What Microsoft’s Warning Says

Microsoft says the November security updates can cause printing problems on affected systems. The warning does not mean that all updated Windows devices will lose printing functionality. The problem may be limited to particular combinations of Windows versions, printer configurations, drivers, applications, and connection methods.

The available reports do not establish:

• Which Windows editions are affected.
• Which update packages are involved.
• Which printer brands or models are affected.
• Whether USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, network, or virtual printers are more likely to fail.
• Whether the problem involves the print service, printer drivers, individual applications, or document processing.
• Whether Microsoft has issued a universal workaround or permanent fix.

One report refers to Microsoft’s November 2026 security updates, but the supplied material does not include enough official documentation to verify the claim’s full scope or timing. Confirm the publication date and affected update identifiers through Microsoft’s Windows release-health documentation. Source 3

Microsoft Word May Be Affected

How-To Geek reports that the November Windows updates are likely causing printing problems in Word. However, the report does not establish that every Microsoft Word printing failure has the same cause. Word should be one of the first applications users test during an investigation. Source 5

Possible symptoms include:

• A Word document does not print.
• The print command completes without producing output.
• A print job remains in the queue.
• Word becomes unresponsive during printing.
• Printed output differs from the preview.
• A document prints from another application but not from Word.

These symptoms can also result from a damaged document, incompatible add-in, incorrect printer selection, driver problem, or stalled queue. Test Word with a new blank document and compare it with a web page, text file, or PDF. This helps determine whether the problem affects Windows printing generally or only Word.

Do Not Combine Separate Windows Problems

The November reports describe more than one issue. Keep printing problems separate from activation failures and other Windows bugs.

Microsoft also confirmed activation failures on some Windows devices after the November updates. That issue concerns activation status and does not prove that activation and printing problems share a technical cause. Source 9

A reported Microsoft outage was also described as a separate event rather than a consequence of a Windows update. Cloud-service outages, local update failures, printer-driver problems, and physical printer faults require different investigations.

Who Could Be Affected?

The strongest starting point is a clear before-and-after timeline:

1. Printing worked before the November update.
2. A November security update installed.
3. Printing failed afterward.
4. No printer, network, driver, or application change explains the failure.

This timeline supports investigation but does not prove causation. Record the following before changing the system:

• Windows version and build.
• November update identifier.
• Installation date.
• Date and time of the first failure.
• Printer model and driver version.
• Connection method.
• Applications that fail.
• Exact error messages.

The issue may affect home users, businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and public-sector environments. Administrators should first determine how many devices are affected and whether they share the same Windows update, printer model, driver, or connection method.

How to Check Whether the Update Is Related

Review Windows Update History

Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and identify the November update installed on the affected computer. Record the update identifier, installation date, Windows version, and any restart or failure messages.

Capture this information before uninstalling or changing the update. The identifier allows support staff to compare the system with Microsoft’s release-health notices and later remediation guidance.

Test Printing Outside Word

Print a Windows test page, then print a short document from another application. Interpret the results carefully:

• Failure in every application may indicate a Windows, driver, spooler, connection, or printer problem.
• Failure only in Word may indicate an application-specific problem.
• A successful test page with failed documents may point to Word, document formatting, or application behavior.
• Successful printing from another computer may indicate a problem on the original Windows device.
• Failure from multiple computers may indicate a printer, network, or shared-driver problem.

Do not assume that a Word failure means the physical printer is defective.

Check the Queue and Print Service

Open the printer queue and check whether jobs remain pending. Document the symptoms before canceling jobs, especially when other users share the printer. Restarting the Windows print service can resolve temporary queue failures, but it may not fix an update-related bug.

Record error messages before closing the queue or restarting services. Error text can help distinguish a driver issue from an application or connection failure.

Check Drivers and Connections

Confirm that Windows selected the intended printer and check the following:

• USB connections.
• Wi-Fi status.
• Ethernet cables.
• Network availability.
• Printer online status.
• Shared-printer access.
• Driver version.
• Printer firmware, when relevant.

Use driver downloads from Microsoft or the printer manufacturer. Avoid unofficial driver sites, bundled installers, registry scripts, and unknown troubleshooting tools.

Troubleshooting Before Removing the Update

1. Restart the printer and Windows device.
2. Reconnect USB cables after Windows restarts, if applicable.
3. Confirm that the printer is online and has paper, ink, or toner.
4. Test a simple document before retrying a complex Word file.
5. Run the available Windows printer troubleshooter.
6. Test the same document with another printer or Windows device.
7. Check for compatible driver updates.
8. Re-add the printer only after recording its settings.

These comparisons can show whether the problem follows the computer, printer, queue, driver, user profile, Word, or document.

Removing and re-adding a printer can delete custom settings, saved queues, finishing options, and organization-specific configuration. Do not perform this step on a managed business device without administrator approval.

Should You Uninstall the November Update?

Do not uninstall a security update as the first response to a printer failure. Removing it can reduce protection against known vulnerabilities and may not resolve the problem if another component caused the failure. The available reports confirm a printing concern but do not establish that uninstalling the update is a universal or approved solution. Source 1

A rollback may be considered when printing is business-critical, the failure began immediately after the update, basic troubleshooting failed, the update identifier is documented, and an administrator has approved a recovery and security plan.

Before rolling back, record the current system state and confirm how the update will be reinstalled after Microsoft provides a fix. A rollback may remove important security fixes, affect policies or applications, complicate compliance records, and fail to resolve the printer problem. Windows may also reinstall the update later.

Guidance for Home Users and IT Administrators

Home users should confirm the update, record the timeline, test Word and another application, check the printer connection and queue, restart the printer and computer, run the troubleshooter, and review Microsoft and manufacturer guidance.

Contact Microsoft Support when multiple applications fail, Windows reports an activation problem, the update cannot be removed, or printing remains broken after reinstalling the printer. Contact the printer manufacturer when the printer is not detected, the driver reports an error, or the printer fails from multiple devices. Contact workplace IT when the computer or printer is organization-managed.

IT administrators should build a list of affected and unaffected devices. Record the Windows build, update identifier, printer model, driver version, connection method, affected application, queue configuration, and failure date. Test a representative device and limited printer or driver group before making broad changes.

Pause deployment only according to organizational policy. Test workarounds with a limited group, document security trade-offs, and monitor Microsoft’s Windows release-health pages, support articles, and Windows Update notices for a known-issue entry, compatibility hold, workaround, revised update, or permanent fix.

What the Reports Do Not Confirm

The supplied reports do not establish:

• The complete list of affected Windows versions.
• The exact update identifiers.
• A universal printer-brand impact.
• One confirmed root cause.
• A guaranteed workaround.
• A final remediation date.
• A permanent fix for Word printing problems.

Do not publish unsupported claims involving print-spooler vulnerabilities, registry changes, printer protocols, or exact error codes. Use Microsoft’s original documentation when it becomes available.

Conclusion

Microsoft has warned that November security updates can cause printing problems on some Windows systems. Secondary reporting also connects the updates with Microsoft Word printing failures, but the available information does not prove that every Word or printer problem has the same cause.

Confirm the installed update, document the timeline, test Word against another application, inspect the queue and connection, and review official Microsoft guidance. Do not remove a security update across multiple devices without understanding the security impact. The next step is to identify the affected update and monitor Microsoft’s Windows release-health guidance for a tested workaround or permanent fix.

FAQ

Can the November Windows security updates stop my printer from working?

They may cause printing problems on some affected systems, but the reports do not indicate that every Windows device or printer is affected. Test Word, another application, and a Windows test page before deciding whether the update caused the failure.

Are Word printing problems caused by the November update?

How-To Geek reports a likely connection between the November updates and Word printing problems. The available information does not confirm that every Word printing failure has the same cause. Test Word alongside another application and check Microsoft’s current documentation.

Should I uninstall the November security update?

Do not uninstall it as a first step. Consider a rollback only after documenting the failure, trying basic troubleshooting, reviewing Microsoft’s guidance, and obtaining administrator approval in a managed environment.

How can I tell whether the update caused my printer problem?

Check Windows Update history and record the installation date and update identifier. Compare that date with the first failure, then test the printer from another application or device. A clear timeline supports investigation but does not prove that the update is the sole cause.

Are the printing issue and Windows activation failures the same bug?

The available reports describe them as separate problems. Use separate troubleshooting and support paths for activation and printing.

Where should I look for the latest fix?

Check Microsoft’s official Windows release-health pages, support documentation, and Windows Update notices. Check the printer manufacturer’s support site for compatible driver updates. Avoid unofficial registry edits, scripts, and downloads unless a trusted administrator or vendor has verified them.