Microsoft is changing how Windows communicates with printers. As a result of this change to print policies, ALL print vendors — including Lexmark — must develop solutions to enable full functionality of their printers when they are used with Windows operating systems. The change doesn’t go into full effect until 2027. This will affect ALL print vendors, not just Lexmark.
Lexmark is in the process of developing its solution. We anticipate releasing our solution in Q2 2025, well ahead of Microsoft’s complete transition. Organizations need to be aware that enabling the new Windows policy before Q2 of next year will find significant changes to their printer operations. Customers should work with their Lexmark representative when considering this change.
As of the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft’s Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP) introduces advanced security by transitioning exclusively to IPP Class Drivers for printing. This limits the use of traditional v3/v4 drivers. WPP is disabled by default until 2027 and must be enabled manually to allow organizations time to evaluate and prepare for this shift in print management.
Lexmark anticipates the release of our Print Support App (PSA) in Q2 2025 to provide full support for advanced Lexmark printing functions within WPP-enabled environments.
We highly recommend working with your Lexmark representative before taking any action.
Activating WPP will remove all existing v3/v4 drivers, print ports and preconfigured printer settings. Customers will still be able to print but full functionality (including finishing options and toner density control) will be lost. Reverting to previous drivers after enabling WPP may require full manual reinstallation of the drivers, a laborious process, as these configurations are not automatically restored.
Advanced print management through Lexmark Cloud Print Management (CPM) and Managed Print Services (MPS) will be lost because CPM and MPS depend on these drivers.
Without the Lexmark PSA, the IPP Class Driver lacks granular control over print job settings, including toner density adjustments, potentially increasing toner usage for MPS customers. The Lexmark PSA will address these limitations, allowing full access to job-level management features and cost control.
Enterprises and network-reliant printing environments may find remaining with traditional v3 drivers preferable to ensure consistent access to Lexmark’s advanced features until PSA availability.
Again, we recommend working with your Lexmark representative before taking any action.
Lexmark is committed to supporting our customers through this transition to WPP and continues to work closely with Microsoft. Our upcoming Print Support App (PSA), expected in Q2 2025, will restore advanced functionalities for seamless integration into WPP environments.
For questions or further assistance, please reach out to Lexmark Support.