Windows 11 is dropping legacy printer driver support
Microsoft is phasing out support for old-school printer drivers in Windows 11, shifting to its own built-in print system based on the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). Traditional drivers from printer makers will be de-emphasized, with updates getting limited by 2027. Protected Print Mode will disable third-party drivers by default, though manual installs remain possible for now. Older or non-Mopria printers may stop working unless compatibility is confirmed.
- Microsoft pushing built-in IPP Class Driver for most printers
- By July 2027, updates for third-party drivers limited to security fixes
- Windows Protected Print Mode blocks non-Microsoft drivers by default
- Unsupported printers may not function unless existing drivers installed manually
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