If your printer is printing random text, it’s due to a new Windows 11 update.
The 23H2 update named KB5050092 brings, as Windows updates often do, some errors with it. One of these is that printers suddenly start printing documents full of gibberish.
Rolling Back the Update
According to Microsoft, the update causes issues with USB printers that support both USB and internet printing. Microsoft states: “If a printer driver is installed on your PC, the spooler sends protocol messages to the printer, causing it to print documents with network commands and strange characters.” This reveals how print protocols and drivers work, something manufacturers prefer not to share publicly.
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Microsoft also immediately shares a solution: “This issue is resolved with Known Issue Rollback (KIR).” This allows users to roll back updates. Important to note: KIR only works for updates that are not security-related. However, this is a temporary solution, as the tech giant is still working on a permanent fix. This will be part of a future Windows update.