Microsoft will not present new drivers from printer producers through Windows Update beginning in 2025, the corporate has announced. Microsoft says doing so will make Windows 11 much more safe.

Up to now, printer producers can have their drivers licensed by Microsoft, and Microsoft then distributes them through Windows Update. Starting in 2025, nevertheless, Microsoft will not settle for new drivers from producers. The proprietary drivers, installers, and instruments of the printer producers haven’t been needed since Windows 10 21H2’s launch in 2021, as a result of since then Windows has supported Mopria-compliant community and USB printers with the common Microsoft IPP class driver (Mopria is an affiliation of printer and scanner producers to supply drivers for printers, multifunction, gadgets and scanners. Windows helps Mopria). There are also printer support apps in the Windows Store that provide further prospects.

By switching from the Win32 framework to the UWP software program growth framework, reliability and efficiency would improve. Printer producers would not should develop their software program from scratch as a result of their printers can be supported by all Windows variations and editions.

Above all, Microsoft desires to enhance the safety of Windows by utilizing just a few central IPP drivers as a substitute of many various proprietary printer drivers from particular person system producers. Security holes in proprietary printer drivers typically go unnoticed for years and thus stay in Windows. This makes Windows as an entire extra weak to assaults.

Microsoft safety knowledgeable Johnathan Norman writes on X (previously Twitter): “We are making some big changes to Print in Windows. This is the first step towards a more secure and modern printing system.”

Norman puts it this fashion: “In the near future, Windows will default to a new print mode that disables third-party drivers for printing.”

From 2025, Microsoft will not present new proprietary printer drivers through Windows Update. However, Microsoft will proceed to offer present licensed printer drivers through Windows Update after 2025. The printer producers can also nonetheless replace present drivers.

From 2026 onwards, Microsoft will give choice to IPP drivers over proprietary drivers and from 2027 onwards, Microsoft can even not permit updates of present proprietary drivers — excluding safety updates. However, even after 2027, Windows will permit customers to put in printer drivers supplied by producers as standalone set up packages through their web sites.

This article was translated from German to English and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.