Summary
- Windows now prefers built-in IPP driver over legacy V3/V4; built-in will become default.
- Windows Ready Print (IPP + Mopria) enables driverless printing for many modern printers.
- Older printers need vendor drivers; Protected Print Mode will block them unless you or admin disable it.
If you rely on an older printer, Microsoft's gradual discontinuation of support for traditional printer drivers might force you to get a new one in the future. According to Microsoft's official roadmap, Windows now prioritizes its built-in Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) driver over legacy V3 and V4 drivers when installing compatible printers. The plan is to make the built-in driver the default and move away from third-party drivers entirely.
The transition began on July 1, 2026, when Microsoft changed Windows' driver-ranking system to always prefer the Windows IPP inbox class driver. As we previously covered, Windows Ready Print allows for installing printers without downloading a manufacturer's driver package or working through a separate installation wizard.
Your older printer isn't dead
But Windows is slowly moving on
Introduced earlier this year, Windows Ready Print relies on two important factors — IPP and Mopria. IPP, or Internet Printing Protocol, is the common language that Windows uses to communicate with printers over a network or USB connection. Mopria is an industry certification that tells your PC that the printer supports standardized, driverless printing.
The good thing about Windows Ready Print is that it eliminates the need for each manufacturer to maintain and update separate Windows drivers. This allows Microsoft to provide built-in security and also creates a more universal printing protocol. Companies can then use Print Support Apps to provide additional controls and features for their printers.
Printer models began shipping with Mopria certification from the mid-2010s onward. If you have a relatively modern printer manufactured in the last ten years, there's a good chance that it will work perfectly fine on Windows 11 through Windows Ready Print. However, if you use older printers, things can get a bit more complicated.
Devices that lack IPP or Mopria support still require a legacy driver from their manufacturer. Multifunction printers can also depend on proprietary software for scanning, faxing, color management, or other advanced controls that go beyond what Microsoft offers with its universal driver.
The problem with third-party drivers is that they expand the attack surface, which gives hackers and bad actors more potential routes into your system. A few years ago, the PrintNightmare vulnerability showed how dangerous weakness in Windows' printing stack can become. Attackers were able to remotely execute malicious code through the Windows Print Spooler service. Windows' standardized driver can help remove some of those potential entry points.
For now, this seems to be only a compatibility issue with newer software that leaves legacy drivers unaffected. However, with Windows Protected Print Mode set to become the default at an unspecified future date, you won't be able to install third-party drivers or use printers that don't support the aforementioned protocols while the mode is enabled.
That is, unless you manually turn it off under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Windows protected print mode. If you're working on a managed PC where an administrator has enforced Protected Print Mode through Group Policy, you'll have to contact the administrator to turn it off for you.
Your old receipt printers and fax machines can still be connected to your Windows 11 PC, but by planning to make Windows Protected Print Mode the default, Microsoft wants to ensure that you understand when you're manually disabling its added security protections.