How to avoid Windows removing unused printers

Printers are one of the most prominent components of any PC. Presently, in the era of digitalization, they prove to be very helpful and worthy. However, with public PCs, such as in schools, offices, and other organizations, there’s always a challenge that standard users delete printers from the PC. Moreover, on public platforms, it is really hard to locate and stop users from doing the same. However, you can try some prevention methods. So, in this article, we will provide you with two methods for preventing standard users from deleting printers. Follow the instructions mentioned below.

Methods to stop standard users from removing printers

It is quite easy to perform, so without further ado, let’s check this out.

Using GPO to Stop Standard Users from Removing Printers

If anyone has stuck with Standard Users Deleting Printer on Windows 10 PC, then the first method is using GPO. For that, some of the steps given below are:

1. Open the Windows Run Dialog Box (shortcut key: Windows + R together).
2. Then, insert gpedit.msc in the text box and click OK.
3. Now, the Local Group Policy Editor window will launch on your device.
4. Navigate to Expand, first click on Administrative Templates, and then click on Control Panel.
5. From there, printers.
6. Now, head to the right-pane menu and double-click on Prevent deletion of printers.
7. Last, tap on the circular button before Enabled and click OK.

Note: After applying the above settings, it will prevent users from deleting the printer on a public PC. If anyone does the same, then it can’t delete the printer.

Using the Registry Editor to Prevent Standard Users from Deleting Printers

Users who have a home edition of Windows, can also customize the registry and prevent any user from deleting the printer from their PC. For which below are some steps given below:

1. Launch the Windows RUN dialogue box by pressing Windows + R altogether.
2. Then, insert Regedit, and then confirm the UAC by clicking OK. 
3. Next, the Registry Editor window will open.
4. Following the patch, first, click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
5. Now, double-click on the DWORD entry NoDeletePrinter and then set the Value data field to 1. 
6. Next, click OK.
7. Lastly, close the registry editor window and then restart your PC.

Note: Now, no users will be able to delete the printer from their Windows 10 PC. If you do not want to prevent users from deleting the printer, then set the NoDeletePrinter value to 0.