Printer on Windows 11 Arm: Setup for Copilot+ and Arm PCs

Arm-based Windows laptops, including many of the Copilot+ PCs sold with Snapdragon processors, run Windows 11 just like other PCs, but drivers are the one place where the difference shows. Setting up a printer on Windows 11 Arm is usually easier than people expect, because most current printers no longer need a maker’s driver at all. This guide explains which printers work out of the box, when the processor type matters and what to do when a printer will not install.

Why Arm makes a difference for printers

Apps on an Arm PC can often run even if they were built for traditional Intel and AMD processors. Drivers are different. Microsoft’s Arm FAQ is direct about it: drivers for hardware only work if they are designed for a Windows 11 Arm-based PC, and if a driver does not work, the hardware that relies on it does not work either. Peripherals work when the drivers they depend on are built into Windows 11, or when the hardware maker has released Arm64 drivers.

For printers, that splits them into two groups:

• Printers that use the driver built into Windows. Microsoft says Windows 11 Arm-based PCs support most printers, including printers that support the Mopria standard. These install and print without anything from the maker.
• Printers that need the maker’s driver. These work only if the maker publishes an Arm64 version.

Step 1: check what you have

Your PC. Open Settings, System, About and look at System type. An Arm PC lists an ARM-based processor.

Your printer. Search the Mopria certified products list for the exact model number, including any letters at the end. If it is there, setup should be straightforward. Many printers that support AirPrint for Apple devices also support Mopria, but check rather than assume.

Step 2: connect the printer

• Wi-Fi or Ethernet: the printer must be on the same network as the laptop. If it is not on Wi-Fi yet, see our wireless printer setup guide. Many thin Arm laptops have no Ethernet port, which makes a network printer the most convenient choice.
• USB: many Arm laptops only have USB-C ports, so you may need a USB-C to USB-B cable or an adapter. Our guide to connecting a printer to a laptop with USB covers the cables.

Step 3: add the printer in Windows

The steps are the same as on any Windows 11 PC:

1. Select Start, Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Printers & scanners.
2. Next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device.
3. When your printer appears, select Add device next to it.

If it is not listed, choose to add it manually and use its IP address; our Windows 11 add printer guide walks through that, and finding the printer’s IP address shows where to get it. Print a test page when it is added.

Step 4: add maker software only if you need it

Once the printer prints, think about whether you need anything else. Ink levels and basic settings are often visible in Windows or on the printer’s own web page. Microsoft’s Arm FAQ also mentions Print Support Apps, companion apps that add the maker’s extra features on top of the Windows print system, without a full traditional driver.

If you want the maker’s full software, open the printer’s download page and look for a version marked Arm64 or Windows on Arm. If there is only an x64 driver, do not force it: a driver that is not designed for Arm will not work, and the built-in driver you already have is the better option.

Scanners and multifunction printers

The same driver rule applies to the scanner half of an all-in-one. Microsoft’s FAQ says peripherals work when the drivers they depend on are built into Windows or when the maker has released Arm64 drivers, and scanners are no exception. Many current multifunction printers scan with Windows’ built-in support, so the scan option in Printers & scanners or the Windows Scan app works without extra software. If yours shows no scanner after the printer is added, check the maker’s site for an Arm64 scanner driver or app. Our printer scanner setup guide shows where scanning lives in Windows 11.

A quick checklist before you rely on an Arm PC

• The printer model appears on the Mopria certified list, or the maker lists Arm64 support.
• The printer is on your Wi-Fi network, with its address reserved in the router.
• You have the right USB-C cable or adapter if you print over USB.
• Any feature you need from the maker’s software, such as scanning to a folder, has an Arm64 version or a Print Support App.

If the printer will not install

What you see	What to try
Printer not found on the network	Check both are on the same Wi-Fi; see connect a printer to a new Wi-Fi network
Found, but installation fails	Remove it, restart, add it again; see remove a printer in Windows 11
Maker’s driver will not install	Look for an Arm64 version, or use the built-in driver instead
No Arm64 driver and not Mopria certified	Check for a firmware update, share it from another PC, or consider replacing it

For an older printer with no Arm support, a printer shared from another Windows PC on your network, or a small print server, can act as a go-between. Our printer sharing guide and Raspberry Pi print server guide cover both. A firmware update sometimes adds driverless printing too; see how to update printer firmware.

Buying a printer for an Arm laptop

If you are choosing a new printer and use an Arm PC, a Mopria certified model with Wi-Fi is the safest choice: it works with Windows’ built-in printing, it also works with Windows protected print mode, and phones can print to it too. Our guide to Windows protected print mode explains how that setting relates to Mopria printers.