Remove printers not approved?

Ed R 136 Reputation points
2020-12-15T03:57:44.2+00:00

During the pandemic, users were allowed to take computers home, and print to their home printers if needed. Now, while they are still at home, how can we remove, or prevent printing to these printers? We have approved printers on a print server, and each client machine (Windows 10) also has locally installed document printers, so I can't remove every local printer. Some of these home printers are USB, others networked.
I've got SCCM, and Group Policy available to me. Any help is appreciated.

Windows
Windows
A family of Microsoft operating systems that run across personal computers, tablets, laptops, phones, internet of things devices, self-contained mixed reality headsets, large collaboration screens, and other devices.
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Windows Server Printing
Windows Server Printing
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Printing: Printer centralized deployment and management, scan and fax resources management, and document services
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  1. Eleven Yu (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 10,681 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2020-12-15T06:31:34.05+00:00

    Hi,

    Removing all the local printers is very difficult since they are home printers and all the users all still at home. Below thread provided a way to use script to delete printers added manually but it needs to know the printers' name or IP address. I think it is a challenge based on your situation.
    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/72e6dc05-27c0-4df7-b7a5-7936e565bea9/how-to-use-the-group-policy-to-remove-the-printers-which-were-installed-manually?forum=winserverGP

    You can try below GPO setting to permit users to connect only to specific print servers that you trust.
    Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Printers : Point and Print Restrictions
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/group-policy/point-print-restrictions-policies-ignored#how-to-permit-users-to-connect-only-to-specific-print-servers-that-you-trust

    Hope the information helps you.

    Thanks,
    Eleven

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  1. Ed R 136 Reputation points
    2020-12-16T03:18:02.527+00:00

    I figured. Preventing printing is near impossible. Some printers have web servers where you can upload documents - no printer installation needed. If you're not blocking storage devices and file sharing websites, users can move a document to another location.

    I did enable in Group Policy User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Printers - Disable the addition of printers. This at least throws up a road block for future printer installations.

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