Microsoft Halts Windows 11 24H2 Update for Devices with USB Printers Due to Compatibility Issues

Microsoft has temporarily paused the rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update to devices using certain USB printers, as reported in the Windows 11 Health Dashboard. The halt is due to compatibility issues with some USB printers, which fail to switch from eSCL mode to USB mode when needed after the update is installed. This conflict results in the inability to complete scanning jobs.

The eSCL, or eScanner Communication Language, presents problems when printers supporting it are used on Windows 11 24H2. Issues include the system's failure to recognize USB-connected peripherals properly. The affected printers are primarily multifunction devices or standalone scanners that support scanning and eSCL but connect via USB. This issue was not present in previous versions of Windows 11.

eSCL is a driverless scanning protocol designed for network scanners, facilitating driverless scanning over Ethernet, WiFi, and USB connections. The failure of devices to switch from eSCL to USB mode prevents the scanner drivers from matching.

In response, Microsoft has deployed an update through backend servers. If a device uses a USB device that supports the eSCL scanning protocol, the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 will be temporarily blocked.

As there's no immediate workaround, devices that have already upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 and use devices supporting the eSCL protocol may be affected.