The fastest way depends on your operating system
Removing a printer from your computer takes two to five minutes and works the same way whether you are using Windows or Mac. On Windows, you go through Settings and Devices. On Mac, you use System Preferences and Printers & Scanners. The printer does not have to be plugged in or turned on — the computer only needs to forget the connection and the drivers that came with it.
You might remove a printer because you no longer use it, you are replacing it with a different model, or the printer is causing errors. Removing it completely clears the printer from your device list and stops the computer from trying to communicate with it. If you change your mind later, you can add it back by plugging it in again or connecting it over your network.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, select Devices, then Printers & Scanners, find your printer, and click Remove.
- On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click the minus button.
- Removing a printer does not delete files you printed — it only removes the printer from your computer's device list.
- If you want to remove the printer software completely, you may also need to uninstall the manufacturer's driver program from your Control Panel or Applications folder.
How to remove a printer on Windows 10 and 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click Devices in the left sidebar. You will see a list of categories — select Printers & Scanners.
Scroll through the list until you find the printer you want to remove. Click on it once to select it, then click the Remove button that appears. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Yes. The printer is now removed from your device list and will no longer appear when you try to print.
If the Remove button is grayed out or does not appear, the printer may be set as your default printer. Right-click on the printer name, select Set as default for a different printer first, then return to remove the one you want to delete.
How to remove a printer on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences (on newer Macs, this is called System Settings). Look for Printers & Scanners and click it. A list of all connected and remembered printers will appear on the left side of the window.
Find the printer you want to remove and click it once to select it. A minus button (−) will appear below the list. Click that button, and the printer will be removed when ready. You do not need to confirm — the printer is gone as soon as you click the minus button.
Removing printer drivers and software
When you remove a printer from your device list, the computer stops using it, but the printer's driver software may still be installed on your hard drive. If you want to remove it completely, you need to uninstall the driver program separately.
On Windows, open Control Panel and go to Programs and Features (or Add/Remove Programs on older versions). Look for the printer manufacturer's name — for example, "Canon Printer Software" or "HP Smart." Click it and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it completely.
On Mac, open Applications in Finder and look for a folder with the printer manufacturer's name. Drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash. Empty the Trash afterward to free up the space.
What happens when you remove a printer
Removing a printer from your computer does not affect any documents you have already printed. Your files remain on your hard drive unchanged. The computer straightforward stops recognizing the printer as a device you can send print jobs to.
If you try to print something after removing the printer, you will get an error message or a dialog asking you to choose a different printer. This is normal — it means the removal worked. If you add the printer back later by plugging it in or connecting it over your network, your computer will recognize it again.
Removing a network printer
Network printers — ones you connect to over Wi-Fi or your home network instead of plugging in with a cable — are removed the same way as any other printer. Go to Printers & Scanners in Settings (Windows) or System Preferences (Mac), select the printer, and click Remove or the minus button.
The printer itself is not affected. It will still work for other computers on your network, and you can add it back to your computer anytime by connecting to it again. If you want to remove it from your entire network, you would need to reset the printer itself, which is a different process and depends on the printer model.
Troubleshooting if the printer will not remove
If you click Remove and nothing happens, or the button is grayed out, the printer may be in use. Close any open print jobs or print queues. On Windows, open Settings, go to Devices > Printers & Scanners, and look for a Print Queue or Devices and Printers option. Cancel any jobs waiting to print.
On Mac, open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, right-click the printer, and select Reset printing system. This clears all print jobs and may allow you to remove the printer. You will need to re-add any other printers afterward.
If the printer still will not remove, restart your computer and try again. A restart clears temporary files and connections that might be blocking the removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing a printer delete my documents?
No. Removing a printer only removes it from your device list. All files on your computer stay exactly where they are. You can still open, edit, and save documents normally.
Can I remove a printer that is currently plugged in?
Yes. The printer does not have to be on or connected for you to remove it from your computer. You can remove it while it is plugged in, unplugged, on, or off — it makes no difference to the removal process.
What is the difference between removing a printer and uninstalling the driver?
Removing the printer takes it off your device list so you cannot print to it. Uninstalling the driver removes the software that lets your computer talk to that printer model. You can do one without the other, but removing both completely clears the printer from your system.
If I remove a network printer, will other computers lose it too?
No. Removing a network printer from one computer only removes it from that computer. Other computers on your network can still use it. The printer itself is not affected at all.
How do I know if a printer was removed successfully?
Open Printers & Scanners again and look at the list. If the printer is no longer there, it was removed. You can also try to print something — if the printer does not appear in the printer selection menu, the removal worked.