FIX: Printer Icon Not Showing In Windows 10

If the installed printer icon not showing in Settings app or Control Panel of your Windows 10, this article will show you how to fix it.

Kapil Arya
11x Microsoft MVP · Admin
2 min read
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When you install or add a new printer to your Windows, then you should be able to spot its icon in Settings app, Control Panel etc.

In Settings app, you can locate your printer at Devices > Printers & scanners.

In Control Panel, you can locate All Control Panel items > Devices and Printers.

FIX Printer Icon Not Showing In Windows 10

However, if you’re not able to locate your printer at above mentioned locations, then this post will show, how to fix it.

FIX: Printer Icon Not Showing In Windows 10/Server

FIX 1 – Using Services snap-in

1. Press W8K + R and type services.msc in the Run dialog box, hit Enter key to open Services snap-in.

Services Windows 10

2. In Services snap-in window, start these services:

  • Device Association Service
  • Device Install Service
  • Device Management Enrollment Service
  • Device Setup Manager
  • DevQuery Background Discovery Broker

FIX Printer Icon Not Showing In Windows 10

3. Close Services snap-in and check if the issue is resolved.

FIX 2 – Update Printer Driver

Try updating your printer driver using these steps:

1. Open Device Manager and locate your printer driver.

2. Right click on the printer driver and select Update Driver Software.

3. Follow on-screen instructions to finish updating your printer driver.

You must also install latest updates, so in case if there are any driver updates, they gets installed.

FIX 3 – Using Registry

We recommend you to create a System Restore point first, before editing registry.

1. Press W8K + R and type regedit in Run dialog box to open Registry Editor. Click OK.

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace.

FIX Printer Icon Not Showing In Windows 10

3. Right click on NameSpace registry key and select New > Key. Name the newly created registry sub-key as {2227a280-3aea-1069-a2de-08002b30309d}.

4. In the right pane of the newly created sub-key, double click on Default named registry string (REG_SZ) and change its Value data to Printers.

5. Close Registry Editor. You must now spot printer folder on Desktop.

6. Open this folder and see if your printer is listed under it. If your printer is listed, you  can easily access or manage it from there.

That’s it!

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Article by

Kapil Arya
11x Microsoft MVP · Admin

Kapil holds Microsoft MVP title in Windows IT Pro expertise, 11-times in a row (2014-2025). He is 8-times Windows Insider MVP as well, and author of 'Windows Group Policy Troubleshooting' book. In 2015, Microsoft India accomplished him as 'Windows 10 Champion'. Being passionate Windows blogger, he loves to help others on fixing their system issues. Kapil has worked with official Microsoft Community Engagement Team (CET) on several community projects. You can subscribe him for news/updates and fixes for Windows.

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