Windows 10 Emergency Updates Released To Fix Printing Crashes

Microsoft has released out-of-band non-security updates to fix a know Windows 10 issue causing blue screens when printing to network printers after installing the March 2021 cumulative updates.

According to Microsoft, the cumulative updates released today are addressing “an issue that might cause a blue screen when attempting to print to certain printers using some apps and might generate the error, APC_INDEX_MISMATCH.”

The cumulative updates containing the fix released today are published as optional updates so they will not be installed automatically via Windows Update.

To install the updates manually, you have will have to open Windows Update and ‘Check for updates.’ You’ll then be able to directly click a link to download and install the update or go to the ‘Optional updates available’ area and pick it from the list.

The updates can also be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Catalog using the following links:

• KB5001567 for Win10 v2004/20H2
• KB5001566 for Win10 v1909
• KB5001568 for Win10 v1809 enterprise/education/LTSC 2019
• KB5001565 for Win10 v1803 enterprise/education

After installing this update, Windows 10, version 2004 will be updated to build 19041.868 and Windows 10, version 20H2 to build 19042.868.

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Affected printers and Windows platforms

Printer brands impacted by this known issue include Kyocera, Ricoh, and Dymo.

Microsoft confirmed the known issue causing Windows 10 BSOD crashes after BleepingComputer’s report on a wave of user complaints regarding system crashes when printing.

Since then, there has been a constant stream of complaints that printing is causing Windows 10 to crash with an “APC_INDEX_MISMATCH for win32kfull.sys” blue screen of death crash.

Microsft says that this issue “affects a subset of Type 3 printer drivers and does not affect printer drivers that are Type 4.” To find the printer driver type installed on your system, use the steps available here.

Platforms affected by this issue include both client and server Windows versions:

• Client: Windows 10, version 20H2; Windows 10, version 2004; Windows 10, version 1909; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10, version 1803
• Server: Windows Server, version 20H2; Windows Server, version 2004; Windows Server, version 1909; Windows Server, version 1809; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server, version 1803

The cumulative updates causing Windows 10 blue screens when printing are:

• KB5000802 for Windows 10 2004/20H2 & Windows Server 2004/20H2
• KB5000808 for Windows 10 1909 & Windows Server 1909
• KB5000822 for Windows 10 1809 & Windows Server 2019
• KB5000809 for Windows 10 1803 & Windows Server 1803

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Those who can’t immediately install the out-of-band cumulative updates released today can apply workaround shared by Microsoft over the weekend.