Windows Users Report Printer Malfunction: Devices Printing Automatically

Troubleshooting Automatic Printing Issues in Windows

Have you noticed your printer seemingly having a mind of its own, churning out pages without the print command? This unexpected behavior may be tied to a recently identified issue acknowledged by Microsoft.

Key Details About the Printer Issue

Windows Versions Affected: This problem impacts various older Windows iterations. Specifically, Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, as well as Windows 10 version 22H2. The latest version, Windows 11 version 24H2, remains unaffected.
Printer Compatibility: Printers utilizing USB Print and Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) over USB are experiencing this hiccup.
Symptoms: Users have reported that affected printers print random characters and strings of text automatically.

This anomaly may become apparent following the installation of the January 29, 2025, preview update, or subsequent updates related to the operating systems mentioned above.

Notably, print jobs can start with a line like POST /ipp/print HTTP/1.12, although this is not universally observed. Microsoft indicates that the issue tends to manifest when the printer is powered on or reconnected after disconnection from your Windows machine.

The root cause lies in how the print spooler communicates with the printer via IPP protocol messages, inadvertently triggering unintended print jobs, especially when the printer is turned on or reestablished in the system.

Solutions for Everyday Users

The good news is that while Microsoft works on resolving this glitch, they’ve rolled out a Known Issue Rollback. This measure aims to automatically rectify the problem on non-managed devices, typically within a few days.

Actions for System Administrators

Managed devices, however, may require more direct intervention. Microsoft has provided specific instructions in the bug report detailing how to handle this using Group Policy. Admins should follow these steps to apply the Known Issue Rollback manually.

Resources for Further Guidance

Implementing the Fix

The installation process involves downloading the relevant Group Policy configurations. Deploying this will implement the Known Issue Rollback, which should alleviate the printing problems users have been facing.

Conclusion

Interestingly, Windows 11 version 24H2 is not part of this issue—an uncommon occurrence, as newer Windows versions usually suffer more from bugs than their predecessors. This time, it seems those using earlier Windows versions are the ones facing setbacks.

Your Experience Matters!

Are you among those using a printer in this environment? How do you connect your printer to your devices? Your insights could help others!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is my printer printing automatically after a Windows update?

This likely stems from a bug related to IPP protocol messages being mishandled by the print spooler, causing printers to send unrequested print jobs.

2. What steps can I take if I am using a managed device?

If your device is managed, you’ll need to manually implement the Known Issue Rollback via Group Policy. Microsoft’s documentation outlines the specific steps to do this.

3. How long will it take for the Known Issue Rollback to fix the problem on non-managed devices?

The rollback typically resolves the issue within a few days, so be patient while the fix is deployed automatically to your device.

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