From 2026, Microsoft is changing how Windows handles printer drivers, and it has understandably caused some worry in IT teams. Here is the short version: your printers will not stop working overnight. Windows is simply moving to a built-in, standards-based driver, and manufacturers' own drivers are being phased out of Windows Update over 2026 and 2027. For most businesses the practical answer is to plan, not panic – and this guide explains exactly what is changing and what to do about it.
What is actually changing?
Microsoft is retiring the old model where every printer needs its own manufacturer driver delivered through Windows Update, and replacing it with a single built-in driver based on open standards. It is a phased change with three dates that matter, taken from Microsoft's published end-of-servicing plan:
- 15 January 2026 – Microsoft stopped publishing new V3 and V4 (legacy) third-party printer drivers to Windows Update.
- 1 July 2026 – Windows changes its driver ranking so the built-in IPP class driver is preferred by default when more than one driver is available.
- 1 July 2027 – except for security-related fixes, third-party printer driver updates are no longer allowed through Windows Update.
Crucially, this is about how drivers are distributed and ranked, not a switch that disables your hardware. Manufacturer drivers you already have can still be installed and used.
What is the IPP class driver (and Mopria)?
The IPP class driver is a single, built-in Windows driver based on the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and Mopria standards. Rather than installing a bespoke driver per model, Windows speaks a common language directly to the printer. Mopria certification is the industry standard that makes this work: a Mopria-certified printer exposes its features – print, scan, finishing – over IPP so it works without a manufacturer driver at all.
The upside is real: fewer drivers to manage, fewer driver-related crashes, and one model that works across Windows and ARM64 devices without vendors shipping multiple binaries. Most modern business multifunction printers are already Mopria-certified, which is why this change is a gentle transition for a well-specified fleet.
Will my printer stop working in 2026?
No. This is the question we are asked most, and the answer is reassuring: existing printers keep working, and Microsoft has stated it has no plans to deliberately disable current printing features. What changes is that Windows will stop delivering new legacy drivers and will prefer its own IPP driver when it can.
The friction shows up in specific situations rather than across the board – a brand-new PC that can no longer pull an old driver from Windows Update, or a niche device whose advanced features were only exposed through a proprietary driver. For everyday printing on modern devices, most users will not notice a thing.
Who actually needs to worry?
If your fleet is modern and Mopria-certified, this is largely a non-event. The businesses that need to plan are those still running older or specialist hardware. The devices most likely to need attention are:
- Ageing printers and copiers that pre-date IPP/Mopria and rely entirely on a manufacturer driver.
- Specialist units – label printers, barcode and receipt printers, and some production or finishing equipment.
- Devices whose bespoke features (advanced finishing, secure-release, accounting codes) were only available through the proprietary driver.
- New Windows 11 and ARM64 rollouts that expect to fetch a driver from Windows Update that is no longer published.
What should businesses do now?
The right response is a short, calm plan rather than a rushed replacement programme. Here is the order we would work through it for a client:
- Inventory your printers and how each is driven. List every device and note whether it uses a manufacturer driver or the built-in Windows one.
- Check IPP/Mopria certification. Confirm which devices are already Mopria-certified – those are future-proof.
- Test the built-in driver on one device. Prove the IPP class driver handles your real-world printing, scanning and finishing before you roll it out.
- Flag the exceptions. Identify non-IPP and specialist devices that will need a manufacturer's Print Support App or eventual replacement.
- Fold replacements into your refresh cycle. Retire the at-risk hardware at its natural end of life, not in a panic – and specify Mopria-certified devices next time.
- Consider cloud printing. If you are re-planning anyway, it is a good moment to look at Microsoft Universal Print and retiring your print servers.
How managed print takes this off your plate
The simplest answer for most businesses is not to manage this transition device by device at all. A Managed Print Service keeps your fleet standardised on modern, IPP/Mopria-certified hardware, handles drivers and firmware centrally, and plans replacements around your usage rather than a Microsoft deadline. When the standards shift, a managed fleet simply keeps working.
It is also why device choice matters. The current HP A3 multifunction printers we supply are IPP and Mopria-certified out of the box, so they are already on the right side of this change. If you would like a hand auditing what you run today, our IT support and print teams can do it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my printer stop working when Windows changes drivers in 2026?
No. Existing manufacturer drivers still install and keep working, and Microsoft has said it will not deliberately disable current printing features. The change is that Windows Update no longer distributes new legacy drivers and now prefers its built-in IPP driver, so the impact is gradual rather than overnight.
What is the IPP class driver?
The IPP class driver is a single, built-in Windows print driver based on the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and Mopria standards. Instead of installing a manufacturer's driver, Windows talks to any IPP or Mopria-certified printer directly, which is simpler to manage and works across devices, including ARM64 PCs.
What is Mopria certification?
Mopria is an industry standard for driverless printing. A Mopria-certified printer exposes its features – print, scan and finishing – through IPP, so it works with the built-in Windows and Android print systems without a bespoke driver. Most modern business printers are Mopria-certified.
Do we need to replace our printers?
Not immediately. Modern IPP or Mopria-certified devices are already covered. The printers to plan around are older or specialist units that are not IPP-capable, such as some label printers and legacy machines. Fold their replacement into your normal refresh cycle rather than doing it in a panic.
What should we do first?
Inventory your printers and how each one is driven, check which are IPP or Mopria-certified, and test the built-in Windows driver on one device. From there you can plan any replacements calmly and, if it is simpler, hand the whole thing to a managed print provider.
Plan the change with us
Mastercopy has been keeping print running smoothly for businesses across Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees and the wider North East for over 30 years, through more platform changes than this one. We will audit what you run, tell you plainly which devices are future-proof and which need a plan, and keep the whole fleet on the right side of Microsoft's roadmap.
To review your printers and drivers before the July 2026 change lands, call the Mastercopy team on 01642 750404 or email sales@mastercopy.co.uk.
