Are you familiar with Microsoft's new Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP) and what it means for organizations that rely on network printing?
What exactly is Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP)?
WPP is a security feature that leverages the modern Windows print architecture and the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), allowing for secure and driverless printing. By eliminating the need for third-party print drivers, WPP significantly reduces vulnerabilities, streamlines the printing experience, and strengthens the overall security of Windows devices.
Print drivers as you know them…
In the past, Microsoft prioritized backward compatibility. Microsoft has historically accepted hardware manufacturer-specific drivers for its operating systems. This approach inadvertently left print components such as Print Spoolers open to security threats.
Why should you care?
As an IT, security, or business professional, understanding WPP is critical to continue functional printing and keep end-user efficiency. When you switch on Windows Protected Print Mode, the existing print queues and drivers on the computer will be permanently deleted.
Of course, these improvements introduce new considerations for businesses. For example, accessing advanced features now requires installing a manufacturer-specific Print Support App (PSA) on each user’s workstation. These PSAs can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, obtained directly from the printer manufacturer, or deployed through IT management tools like Intune and Winget.
Areas of impact for daily print users include:
- If your printer is not Mopria-certified, it will stop working immediately once WPP is enabled
- Feature limitation without Print Support App (PSA)
- Loss of advanced finishing, including hole punch and tray selection by default
- Loss of user code use by default
- Loss of Secure Printing by default
- Print Manufacture-specific Print Support App
- Each manufacturer will develop their own PSA that will then need to be installed on each user workstation
- Existing scripts that system admins may have in use, such as printui scripts to manage printers, won’t work anymore
In a Windows print setup, the spooler currently runs with system privileges and must load code over the network. This makes the entire operating system vulnerable to malware. Attacks such as Print Nightmare enabled hackers to exploit this vulnerability to install programs remotely.
How does it work?
WPP is the Microsoft IPP Class Driver, a universal driver for Windows 10 (21H2) and later that enables plug-and-play printing for Mopria-certified network and USB printers without requiring manufacturer-specific software.
Since WPP operates over IPP (which is built on HTTP), users can print securely and reliably over the network without traditional print drivers.
Enabling WPP will automatically remove all existing TCP/IP print queues, manufacturer drivers, and even virtual drivers (like "Print to PDF" or Fax). Disabling WPP does not restore them; you must reinstall them manually.
Supported Devices and timeline for transition
Currently, WPP is supported on Windows 11 24H2 (released October 1, 2024) and Windows Server 2025. Despite some early-2026 confusion, Microsoft confirmed that legacy drivers already installed will continue to work, but the automated distribution via Windows Update is being phased out in favor of Mopria-certified standards
Microsoft’s rollout plan includes some important milestones:
- October 1, 2024 - Release of WPP as an optional security feature for Windows 11 Pro
- Early 2025 – Initial support for IPP/AirPrint; WPP available for testing
- January 15, 2026 – No new third-party drivers published to Windows Update; existing drivers updated only on a case-by-case basis
- July 1, 2026 – Windows begins to prioritize the built-in IPP Class Driver over manufacturer-specific drivers
- July 1, 2027 – WPP becomes the default, with legacy driver updates ceasing entirely (except for security critical fixes)
**In late February 2026, Microsoft clarified that they are not "breaking" old printers by force-deleting legacy drivers already on your system, but the automated installation of new legacy drivers via Windows Update is effectively dead.
How can ImageNet Consulting help?
To prepare for these changes, it’s important to have a technology partner who understands the impacts Microsoft is driving. Assessing which printers in your environment are WPP-compatible, considering how WPP will affect your existing print setup, and developing a comprehensive print strategy moving forward will help mitigate impacts to your business.
If your organization is looking for guidance during this transition, ImageNet’s expertise can help.
We offer and can aid with:
- Cloud-based print management
- Driver deployment modernization and management
- Secure follow-me printing
- Managed Print Infrastructure
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