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Has Microsoft Replaced Your OEM Printer Driver?

Microsoft’s Windows printer-driver policy now prefers the built-in IPP class driver on covered releases, but manufacturer drivers remain installable. Compatibility depends on your printer and the features you need.
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Partly. As of October 5, 2026, Windows 11 and later, plus Windows Server 2025 and later, are configured to prefer Microsoft’s built-in IPP class driver. That is a change in driver ranking—not a universal removal of printer manufacturers’ drivers. Whether it works for your printer, and for the features you use, depends on the model and its capabilities.

What Microsoft changed

Windows 10 version 21H2 introduced built-in support for Mopria-compliant printers connected over network or USB through the Microsoft IPP Class Driver. With compatible devices, Microsoft’s aim is to reduce the need for manufacturer-supplied installers, drivers, and utilities. Print Support Apps can provide device-specific customization alongside the built-in driver. Microsoft describes the policy and its scope here.

The policy milestones for Windows 11 and later and Windows Server 2025 and later are:

Date Change Practical meaning
January 15, 2026 Microsoft stopped routinely publishing new printer drivers to Windows Update for the covered platforms. Updates to existing drivers may still be considered case by case.
July 1, 2026 Windows changed its printer-driver ranking to always prefer the Windows IPP inbox class driver. Compatible printers may use the built-in driver in preference to an OEM driver.
July 1, 2027 Third-party driver updates are no longer allowed through this process except for security-related fixes. Existing drivers can still be installed from Windows Update, and users can install manufacturer-provided packages.

These are policy milestones, not a promise that every printer will switch on a particular date. Microsoft’s policy page explains the covered releases and continuing installation options.

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Does Windows use its own printer driver now?

On the covered Windows versions, the ranking change means Windows always prefers its IPP inbox class driver when choosing among applicable printer drivers. “Prefer” does not mean that Windows has removed every OEM driver or that every printer uses the inbox driver. Microsoft’s built-in path is for Mopria-compliant printers; the specific model, connection, and functions required determine whether it is suitable.

Can you still install your printer manufacturer’s driver?

Yes. Microsoft says vendor-supplied printer drivers can still be installed through separate installation packages, and existing drivers can still be installed from Windows Update. The ranking change should therefore not be read as a ban on using an OEM package. Microsoft’s FAQ also says there are no plans to disable print features specifically related to the legacy v3/v4 driver platform.

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For new printer-driver submissions targeting Windows 11 and later or Windows Server 2025 and later, Microsoft’s procedure effective January 15, 2026 blocks submissions by default and requires manual review with justification documents. The listed exception categories include printers that cannot support Mopria, fax devices, ARM64 additions, and drivers targeting Windows 10 22H2 or earlier or Windows Server 2022 or earlier; security fixes and other tightly justified cases are also addressed. See Microsoft’s printer-driver submission instructions for the current procedure.

Will the IPP inbox driver work with your printer?

The policy alone cannot establish compatibility for an individual printer. Check the exact model’s support information and whether the built-in path supports the functions you rely on. Microsoft describes IPP support for network printing, IPP Fax Out for fax, and WS-Scan or eSCL for scanning on network multifunction devices. USB multifunction devices can expose endpoints through IPP Over USB, with eSCL for scanning. Those standards paths are not proof that a particular printer implements every endpoint.

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  • Confirm the printer and connection: verify Mopria compliance and whether it supports IPP over the connection you use.
  • Check every function you need: printing, scanning, and faxing can depend on different protocols or endpoints.
  • Look for OEM-only features: an OEM driver or utility may provide options the built-in path does not.
  • Account for your Windows setup: the policy scope differs by Windows release, and Microsoft lists architecture-specific exceptions in its submission guidance.
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What Microsoft recommends for printer developers

Microsoft’s Windows driver documentation calls the modern print platform its preferred way to communicate with printers. For printer-device development on Windows 10 and 11, it recommends the IPP inbox class driver together with Print Support Apps for customizing the print experience. That recommendation describes Microsoft’s development direction; it does not guarantee feature parity on every existing printer. See Microsoft’s V4 printer-driver guidance.

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