Microsoft is testing Windows Protected Print mode for Windows 11

Microsoft is testing the introduction of Windows Protected Print mode in Preview Build 26016 of Windows 11. This new printing protocol is designed for the Mopria standard and should make third-party printer drivers unnecessary.

WPP is based on the current printing protocol Internet Printing Protocol, which is used in Windows, and builds on the printing stack from that protocol, Microsoft explains in a blog post out. The corresponding Windows Protected Print mode can be enabled in the mentioned Canary version of Windows 11 in the Local Group Policy Editor, after which the system can only connect to Mopria printers. The feature is only available in the Preview Build of Windows 11 for now. It is not known when the option will be released for all users.

According to Microsoft, this is safer because it no longer requires third-party drivers. The updated protocol also isolates Print Spooler, which should make any cyber attacks via the printing process more difficult. The company previously announced that it would no longer offer third-party printer drivers via Windows Updates in a few years.