Windows Update Bug Causes Random Printer Output—Here’s What to Know
If you’ve ever felt like printers are more trouble than they’re worth, Microsoft’s latest Windows update isn’t helping their reputation. A recent preview update for Windows 10 and 11, released on January 29, 2025, has been found to cause some printers to randomly print a string of garbled text, as reported by BleepingComputer.
The Issue: Unintelligible Print Jobs from Windows
Users have reported that after updating their Windows PC while connected to a USB printer, their devices suddenly start printing random text strings beginning with "POST /ipp/print HTTP/1.1"—an indication of IPP-over-USB miscommunication. This bug primarily affects printers that support the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) over USB. Since the update was a preview release, Microsoft notes that the number of affected users is likely limited. However, for those who encounter it, the issue could lead to wasted ink, paper, and general frustration.
Microsoft’s Fix and What You Can Do
Fortunately, Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and provided a fix via a Group Policy update available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Users experiencing this problem can download the fix from Microsoft’s support page and apply it manually. Since this was a preview update, the final version is expected to include a more permanent solution before rolling out to the general public.
For now, those who rely on USB-connected printers should either install the fix or avoid updating their Windows machine until the issue is resolved.
