How to Install a Driver for an Old Printer Using Windows Update and Manual Printer Addition in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Last Updated on 14.04.2026 by DriverNew

If you cannot find a driver for an old printer, the official website no longer offers the required file, or installing the old driver in Windows 10 or Windows 11 ends with an error, that does not automatically mean the printer cannot be brought back to life.

In many cases, the built-in Windows method helps: Windows Update + manual printer addition. Some users consider this method ineffective, but in practice it often helps install drivers for old printers and for devices where it is difficult to find a working driver.

This method often works for printers from HP, Canon, Samsung, Epson, Kyocera, OKI, Pantum, and many other manufacturers.

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide. It is written specifically for users who have never used this method before and do not know where to find the required buttons and links in the Windows interface.

When this method is especially useful

Use this method if:

• the printer is old and the driver is difficult to find on the official website;
• the official driver exists, but it does not install in Windows 10 or Windows 11;
• installing the old driver shows an error, for example 0x800F024B with the message “The hash for the file is not present in the specified catalog file. The file is likely corrupt or the victim of tampering.”;
• the printer is detected incorrectly by the system or does not appear in the device list at all;
• the printer stopped printing after a Windows update;
• you are tired of trying old EXE files and want to use built-in Windows tools instead.

What is important to know before you begin

The Windows Update + manual printer addition method works like this:

• Windows uses its built-in list of drivers;
• after you click the Windows Update button, the system downloads an expanded list of drivers from Microsoft servers;
• in that expanded list, you can often find drivers even for very old printers;
• after that, the selected driver can be used for manual printer installation.

Sometimes this kind of driver does not provide all additional device functions, but in most cases it restores the basic printing function. For many users, that is enough.

Important: this method does not guarantee a result in every case, but in practice it often helps where the old official driver will not install at all.

If you have a USB printer: when removing the old printer and old driver, it is better to disconnect the USB cable from the computer. While you open the wizard, click Windows Update, and choose the driver from the list, the printer can remain disconnected. You usually need to connect the USB cable before manually adding the printer itself, when you reach the port selection step. If USB001 is already listed, you can continue. If USB001 is not listed, connect the printer to the computer with the USB cable, turn the printer on, wait 20 to 30 seconds, and open the wizard again.

If you have a network printer: you can skip the USB cable instructions. The printer should simply be turned on and connected to the network.

What error 0x800F024B means

If the old driver fails with 0x800F024B and Windows says “The hash for the file is not present in the specified catalog file. The file is likely corrupt or the victim of tampering.”, this usually means that the modern version of Windows does not accept that old driver package.

In simple terms, the driver may be official, but too old for the current system. In that situation, it is often more useful to stop launching the old installer over and over again and move to the Windows Update + manual printer addition method instead.

Before installation: what you should do first

Step 1. If this is a USB printer, disconnect the cable from the computer

If the printer is connected to the computer with a USB cable, it is better to disconnect the cable and turn the printer off while you remove the old printer and old driver.

If this is a network printer, you can skip this step.

Step 2. Remove the old printer

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Find your printer in the list.
5. Select it.
6. Click Remove.
7. Confirm the removal.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Devices.
3. In the left pane, select Printers & scanners.
4. Find your printer in the list.
5. Select it.
6. Click Remove device.
7. Confirm the removal.

If the list contains several similar entries for this printer, it is better to remove them all.

Step 3. Remove the old printer driver

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Scroll down.
5. Click Printer server properties.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Devices.
3. In the left pane, select Printers & scanners.
4. Click Printer server properties.

The next steps are the same in Windows 10 and Windows 11

1. Open the Drivers tab.
2. Find the old driver for your printer in the list.
3. Select it.
4. Click Remove….
5. If you are asked to choose, select Remove driver and driver package.
6. Click OK.

If the driver will not be removed, first clear the print queue and then try again.

Step 4. Restart the computer

After removing the old printer and the old driver, restart the computer.

Main method: Windows Update + manual printer addition

Step 1. Open the driver addition wizard

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Devices.
3. In the left pane, select Printers & scanners.
4. Click Printer server properties.
5. Open the Drivers tab.
6. Click Add….
7. The Add Printer Driver Wizard opens.
8. Click Next >.
9. If the system asks for the processor architecture, select x64 for 64-bit Windows or x86 for 32-bit Windows.
10. Click Next >.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Scroll down.
5. Click Printer server properties.
6. Open the Drivers tab.
7. Click Add….
8. The Add Printer Driver Wizard opens.
9. Click Next >.
10. Select x64 for 64-bit Windows or x86 for 32-bit Windows.
11. Click Next >.

Step 2. Click the Windows Update button

1. In the driver selection window, find the Windows Update button.
2. Click it.
3. After clicking it, do not close the window.
4. Wait for about 1 to 2 minutes, sometimes longer.

During this time, Windows downloads an additional printer driver list from Microsoft servers. After that, the list of manufacturers and models usually becomes much larger.

Important: the computer must be connected to the internet at this stage.

If you have a USB printer: at this stage the printer can still remain disconnected from the computer.

Step 3. Find the printer manufacturer and model

1. After the list updates, look at the Manufacturer column.
2. Find and select your printer brand, for example HP, Canon, Samsung, Epson, Kyocera, OKI, Pantum, or another one.
3. Then move to the Printers column.
4. Find and select your printer model.
5. Click Next >.
6. Finish adding the driver.

If you find the exact model, that is the best option.

If the exact model is not in the list

If the exact model is missing, you can try one of the following:

1. look through the model list carefully one more time;
2. close the wizard, open it again, and click Windows Update again;
3. wait a little longer;
4. try a closely related model from the same manufacturer and product line.

Important: choosing a similar model does not guarantee a result. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it does not. Treat this only as an additional option if the exact model is not available.

Step 4. Connect the USB printer to the computer

If your printer connects by USB, now connect it to the computer with the cable and turn it on.

After connecting it, wait 20 to 30 seconds. During this time, Windows usually creates the USB port you will need in the next step.

If you have a network printer, you can skip this step.

Step 5. After adding the driver, add the printer itself manually

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Devices.
3. In the left pane, select Printers & scanners.
4. Click Add a printer or scanner.
5. Wait until Windows finishes searching.
6. Click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
7. Select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
8. Click Next >.
9. Select Use an existing port.
10. For a USB printer, the usual choice is USB001.
11. If USB001 is not listed, go back one step, check the printer connection, wait another 20 to 30 seconds, and open the wizard again.
12. Click Next >.
13. In the driver list, select the driver you previously added through Windows Update.
14. Click Next >.
15. If needed, leave the default printer name.
16. On the printer sharing step, select Do not share this printer.
17. Click Next >.
18. On the final step, click Print a test page or Finish.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Click Add device.
5. Wait for the search to finish.
6. Next to The printer that I want isn’t listed, click Add a new device manually.
7. Select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
8. Click Next >.
9. Select Use an existing port.
10. For a USB printer, the usual choice is USB001.
11. If USB001 is not listed, make sure the printer is connected and turned on, wait another 20 to 30 seconds, and open the wizard again.
12. Click Next >.
13. Select the driver that was added in the previous step.
14. Click Next >.
15. If needed, leave the default printer name.
16. Select Do not share this printer.
17. Finish the installation.
18. Click Print a test page or Finish.

If the driver installs but printing still does not work

Sometimes the driver installs and the printer appears in the system, but printing still fails. In that case, try the following checks.

Check 1. Print a test page

1. Open Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer.
3. Open Printer properties.
4. Click Print Test Page.

Check 2. Print a text file from Notepad

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type 2 or 3 short lines of plain text.
3. Click File, then Print.
4. Select the required printer.
5. Click Print.

Check 3. Disable advanced printing features

1. Open Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer.
3. Open Printer properties.
4. Go to the Advanced tab.
5. Clear Enable advanced printing features.
6. Click Apply.
7. Try printing again.

Check 4. Clear the print queue

1. Open the print queue for your printer.
2. Cancel all jobs.
3. If the jobs will not disappear, restart the computer.

Brief summary

If the old official driver will not install, but you still need the printer, do not rush to give up on it. In many cases, the built-in Windows method helps:

1. remove the old printer and the old driver;
2. if this is a USB printer, keep it disconnected from the computer during preparation;
3. open the Add Printer Driver Wizard;
4. click Windows Update and wait for the list to expand;
5. choose the printer manufacturer and model;
6. connect the USB printer to the computer before manually adding the device itself;
7. add the printer manually;
8. if the exact model is not available, carefully try a similar model;
9. after installation, test both Print Test Page and a simple print from Notepad.

This method does not guarantee a result in every case, but in many situations it allows an old printer that already seemed useless to work again.