Microsoft revealed in a brand new doc that it’ll not service third-party printer drivers on units that use Home windows OS, together with Home windows 11.
In accordance the article, Microsoft will enable IPP Class Driver and Mopria-compliant print units, the latter of which obtained native with Home windows 10 model 21H2. These can be supported as a substitute of manufacturer-made drivers through Home windows Replace. Because of this printer producers gained’t have to supply devoted drivers, which is already an enormous profit to them.
On the buyer finish, producers can nonetheless supply print customization through Microsoft Retailer apps. Because of the rather more streamlined and standardized method to drivers, one other shopper profit is that there can be loads of efficiency and reliability enhancements alongside broad compatibility throughout Home windows variations and editions.
The FAQ additionally particulars that Mopria certification can be a compulsory requirement for HLK ({Hardware} Lab Package). It ensures printers can be appropriate with different units, together with PCs, smartphones, tablets, and extra: one other profit for patrons who gained’t must examine compatibility themselves.
In fact, Microsoft has a deliberate timeline to slowly faze out v3 and v4 third-party driver help, which is able to happen over a number of years till 2027. Beneath you may see the total timetable.
| Timeline | Plan |
| September 2023 | Announce legacy third-party printer driver for Home windows finish of servicing plan. |
| 2025 | No new printer drivers can be revealed to Home windows Replace. Current printer drivers on Home windows Replace can nonetheless be up to date. |
| 2026 | Printer driver rating order modified to all the time desire Home windows IPP inbox class driver. |
| 2027 | Aside from security-related fixes, third-party printer driver updates will not be allowed. Current third-party printer drivers may be put in from Home windows Replace or customers can set up printer drivers utilizing printer manufactures installer packages. |
It’s necessary to notice that even when the switchover is full, patrons will nonetheless have entry to any current third-party drivers. This implies your previous printer that’s nonetheless kicking gained’t be rendered ineffective as soon as help ends and solely first-party drivers are up to date.
Home windows 11 continues to be dangerous
This transfer is completely the suitable determination from Microsoft, as first-party drivers make set up and upkeep a lot less complicated. I recall my very own complications monitoring down and putting in previous drivers for my Brother printer; having the choice to simply use one from Microsoft would have saved me loads of bother.
That stated, it will be good if Microsoft may very well be so thoughtful with regards to actually anything involving Home windows 11. For example, its obsession with getting customers to improve to Home windows 11 is annoying at finest and downright enraging at worst. Additionally the tons of bloatware included with pre-built PCs and laptops, the aggressive advertisements within the Begin Menu, the favored options in earlier variations that had been dropped in Home windows 11, and many others.
And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg, with lots extra points and issues which were plaguing the OS. Guess you may’t win all of them. And even most of them.
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