November 2026 Windows Update Printing Issues — Workaround and Verification Guide

On November 11, 2026, Microsoft acknowledged that the November 2026 security updates may break printing for documents with complex formatting. This isn't a security vulnerability in itself — it's a regression introduced by the security fixes. For IT and security teams, this creates a dual challenge: you need to deploy security patches promptly, but you also can't afford to break business-critical printing workflows. This post covers the technical details, detection methods, and practical remediation steps to help you navigate this situation.

Technical Analysis

What Happened

Microsoft's November 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates introduced a regression that causes printing failures for documents with complex formatting. While the exact root cause isn't fully detailed in the initial advisory, the issue appears to affect the Windows print spooler or related components when processing certain document structures.

Affected Products and Platforms

The issue affects Windows systems that have received the November 2026 security updates. Based on Microsoft's advisory patterns, this likely includes:

• Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2
• Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2025

The specific KB numbers for November 2026 updates vary by Windows version, but the common thread is any system that received the November 11, 2026 cumulative updates.

How the Issue Manifests

Users report that after installing the November 2026 updates, printing documents with complex formatting — such as those with embedded fonts, intricate layouts, or specific graphics — fails or produces corrupted output. The issue appears to be related to how the print spooler or GDI rendering components process these documents after the security changes.

Exploitation Status

This is not a security vulnerability being exploited in the wild. It's a functional regression introduced by security patches. There is no CVE associated with this specific printing issue, and it's not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection & Response

Identifying Affected Systems

Before deploying workarounds, you need to identify which systems are affected and whether users are experiencing printing issues.

KQL Query for Microsoft Sentinel/Defender

Use this query to hunt for systems with the November 2026 updates installed and potential printing-related errors:

// Find systems with November 2026 updates and print spooler errors
let NovemberUpdates = dynamic(["KB5065428", "KB5065429", "KB5065430", "KB5065431"]);
DeviceInfo
| where TimeGenerated > ago(30d)
| project DeviceName, OSVersion, OSPlatform
| join kind=inner (
    DeviceEvents
    | where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
    | where ActionType == "ServiceInstalled" or ActionType == "ServiceStopped"
    | where ServiceName == "Spooler"
    | project DeviceName, ServiceName, ActionType, TimeGenerated
) on DeviceName
| join kind=inner (
    DeviceEvents
    | where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
    | where ActionType == "PrintJobFailed" or ActionType == "PrintJobError"
    | project DeviceName, ActionType, TimeGenerated, FileName
) on DeviceName
| summarize LastPrintError = max(TimeGenerated), ErrorCount = count() by DeviceName, OSVersion
| order by ErrorCount desc

PowerShell Detection Script

Use this script to check for November 2026 updates and print spooler status on local or remote systems:

# Check for November 2026 updates and print spooler status
$novemberUpdates = @("KB5065428", "KB5065429", "KB5065430", "KB5065431")
$installedUpdates = Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in $novemberUpdates }

if ($installedUpdates) {
    Write-Host "November 2026 updates detected:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
    $installedUpdates | Select-Object HotFixID, InstalledOn, Description
    
    # Check print spooler service status
    $spoolerService = Get-Service -Name Spooler -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($spoolerService) {
        Write-Host "`nPrint Spooler Status: $($spoolerService.Status)" -ForegroundColor $(if ($spoolerService.Status -eq 'Running') { 'Green' } else { 'Red' })
        
        # Check for recent print spooler errors in event log
        $printErrors = Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='System'; Id=6161, 6162; StartTime=(Get-Date).AddDays(-7)} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
        if ($printErrors) {
            Write-Host "`nRecent Print Spooler Errors (last 7 days): $($printErrors.Count)" -ForegroundColor Red
            $printErrors | Select-Object -First 5 | Format-Table TimeCreated, Id, LevelDisplayName, Message
        } else {
            Write-Host "`nNo recent print spooler errors found." -ForegroundColor Green
        }
    }
} else {
    Write-Host "No November 2026 updates detected." -ForegroundColor Green
}

Workaround and Remediation

Immediate Workaround

If users are experiencing printing issues with complex documents, you can implement this temporary workaround while awaiting a permanent fix:

# Temporary workaround: Restart print spooler and clear print queue
Stop-Service -Name Spooler -Force
Remove-Item -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*" -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Start-Service -Name Spooler

Write-Host "Print spooler restarted and queue cleared." -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Note: This is a temporary workaround. Monitor Microsoft's advisory for a permanent fix." -ForegroundColor Yellow

Longer-Term Solutions

1. Defer November 2026 Updates: If printing is business-critical and the security risk is acceptable for your environment, you can defer the November 2026 updates for up to 35 days using Windows Update for Business or WSUS.

2. Uninstall Problematic Update: As a last resort, you can uninstall the specific November 2026 update causing issues:

# Uninstall November 2026 update (use with caution - this removes security fixes)
$updateToRemove = "KB5065428"  # Replace with actual KB number from your system
wusa /uninstall /kb:$($updateToRemove.Replace('KB','')) /quiet /norestart

Write-Host "Update $updateToRemove has been uninstalled." -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "WARNING: This removes security protections. Reinstall as soon as Microsoft releases a fix." -ForegroundColor Red

3. Use Alternative Printing Methods: For critical documents, consider using alternative printing methods such as:
   • Printing to PDF first, then printing the PDF
   • Using a different printer driver (e.g., switching from PCL to PostScript or vice versa)
   • Printing from a different application or using the application's print-to-file feature

Remediation

Immediate Actions

1. Identify Affected Systems: Use the detection methods above to identify which systems have the November 2026 updates installed.

2. Test Printing: Before widespread deployment, test printing with complex documents on a subset of systems.

3. Implement Workaround: For affected users, implement the print spooler restart workaround or suggest alternative printing methods.

4. Monitor Microsoft Advisory: Keep an eye on the official Microsoft advisory at https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-says-november-security-updates-cause-printing-issues/ for updates and a permanent fix.

Patch Management Strategy

1. Staged Deployment: Deploy November 2026 updates to a test group first, then gradually roll out to production after verifying printing functionality.

2. Communication Plan: Notify users about potential printing issues and provide instructions for workarounds.

3. Rollback Plan: Have a plan to quickly uninstall updates if printing issues become widespread and business-critical.

Verification

After implementing any workaround or fix, verify that:

1. Printing works for complex documents
2. Security updates remain installed (unless intentionally uninstalled)
3. Print spooler service is stable
4. No new printing errors appear in event logs

Conclusion

The November 2026 Windows update printing issue is a classic example of the tension between security and functionality. While security patches are critical, they can sometimes introduce regressions that impact business operations. By following the detection and remediation steps outlined in this post, you can minimize disruption while maintaining your security posture.

Remember that this is a temporary situation — Microsoft will likely release a fix in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the workarounds provided here should help keep your users productive while you navigate this issue.

Related Resources

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