Printer doesn't have the option to print in colour since windows 11 update

danistop · Nov 21, 2021

My Epson printer doesn't have the option to print in colour since I made the change to Windows 11. When I enter to printer preferences I only get the option to print in Greyscale and Monochrome (see attached picture). If I remove the printer and add it back the colour option appears(see 2nd picture). But after a restart, the option disappears again. Any thoughts on what's causing this issue?

TraderGary · Nov 21, 2021

Try going to the Epson website and downloading the latest driver for your printer.

Slavic · Nov 21, 2021

Try to restart Print Spooler service and the printer itself (reset or power off/on). Sometimes it helps, not sure about your case, but you can try anyway. Also you can connect printer to another port.

spapakons · Nov 22, 2021

The two different screenshots (the first with blue background, the second plain) suggest a different printer driver. Apparently there is a "newer" driver in Windows Update which doesn't support color and which replaces your official Epson driver after restart. To prevent that you must block (hide) this driver with Windows Update Show/Hide tool. I would also hide any other driver update just in case. See this Tenforums thread: Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10 Yes, the tool works in all Windows 10 builds and also in Windows 11, I tested it myself.

Dru2 · Nov 23, 2021

spapakons said:
Apparently there is a "newer" driver in Windows Update which doesn't support color and which replaces your official Epson driver after restart.

I've no idea where this is coming from but not true.

And, I'm running two Epson Printers (Epson Stylus Pro 3880, and an Epson XP-960) under Windows 11 Pro RTM, and their drivers have never been "replaced" by Microsoft. Additionally, Microsoft doesn't own Epson so they wouldn't be providing driver updates.

@danistop, where'd you get that printer cause I can't find it on Epson's site - "XP-422 423 425 Series". It that the correct model number?

spapakons · Nov 23, 2021

Windows Update provides either generic drivers provided by Microsoft or official drivers by the manufacturer. Official drivers usually have less or none incompatibilities than Microsoft drivers and provide more features. Unfortunately there is no guaranty the driver provided is official and that is the latest. That's why I always recommend to download the latest official driver directly from manufacturer's site and use Windows Update only as a last resort. Been there, done that. I would better install an official Windows 7 or even Vista driver (if Windows 8/10/11 driver is not available) than a generic feature-clipped Microsoft driver. I think you get the idea.

Dru2 · Nov 23, 2021

spapakons said:
Windows Update provides either generic drivers provided by Microsoft or official drivers by the manufacturer. Official drivers usually have less or none incompatibilities than Microsoft drivers and provide more features.

I'm aware of how drivers are provided by both Microsoft and vendors. Also, aware you should get the driver from the vendor.

That said, I'll await any further responses from the OP on this issue.

charleyp · Mar 16, 2022

Try to update the latest drivers from the official Epson website. If that doesn't help I would suggest you to run WIC Resetter or any other resetter for your specific printer model. I used to have similar problems in the past with my Epson printer on Windows 7 so updating the latest drivers and running the WIC Reset Utility fixed the problem.