How to Connect a Copilot+ PC to Legacy Enterprise Printers?

You just unboxed your shiny new Copilot+ PC. It runs on an ARM based Snapdragon X Elite or Plus chip. Everything feels fast, modern, and exciting. Then you walk over to the office printer, hit print, and nothing happens.

This is a real problem that thousands of IT professionals and employees face right now. Copilot+ PCs use ARM64 architecture, and most legacy enterprise printers were built for x86 Windows systems. The drivers don’t match. The old software won’t install. And your IT department may not have a quick fix ready.

Legacy enterprise printers from brands like HP LaserJet 4000 series, older Xerox WorkCentres, and Ricoh Aficio models often rely on manufacturer drivers that were never updated for ARM. These printers still work perfectly fine, but the software bridge between them and your new PC is broken.

The good news? There are real, tested solutions. You can get your Copilot+ PC talking to that decade old office printer. This guide walks you through every method, from quick fixes to advanced workarounds. Whether you are an IT admin managing a fleet or an employee trying to print a report, you will find your answer here.

Let’s fix this problem together.

Key Takeaways

Legacy printer connectivity is the most common hardware issue reported by Copilot+ PC users in enterprise environments. The ARM64 chip architecture creates a driver gap that did not exist with traditional x86 Windows laptops. Here are the essential points you need to know before diving into the solutions.

ARM64 driver availability is limited for older printers. Most printer manufacturers stopped releasing new drivers for models older than five to seven years. This means your Copilot+ PC cannot find a native ARM64 driver for many legacy devices.

Windows built in driver emulation can help but has limits. Microsoft includes an x86 emulation layer called Prism in Copilot+ PCs, but printer drivers often interact with the kernel at a level where emulation does not always work reliably.

Print servers offer the most reliable enterprise solution. A shared print server running x86 Windows can handle driver translation, letting your ARM64 client PC print without needing a local driver at all.

Universal Print from Microsoft is a strong cloud based alternative. It removes the need for local drivers entirely by routing print jobs through the cloud, though it requires specific licensing.

Generic drivers like Microsoft IPP Class Driver work for basic printing. You lose advanced features like stapling, duplex control, and tray selection, but basic print jobs will go through.

Testing and planning before a full rollout saves time and money. IT teams should audit their printer fleet and test ARM64 compatibility before deploying Copilot+ PCs across the organization.

Why Copilot+ PCs Struggle With Legacy Printers

The core issue comes down to processor architecture. Traditional Windows PCs use x86 or x64 processors from Intel or AMD. Copilot+ PCs use ARM64 processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. These two chip families speak fundamentally different instruction sets.

Printer drivers are small software programs that translate your print commands into a language the printer understands. Most legacy enterprise printer drivers were compiled specifically for x86 architecture. They simply cannot run natively on ARM64 hardware.

Microsoft does include an emulation layer that can run many x86 applications on ARM. However, printer drivers are different from regular apps. They often install at the kernel level or interact directly with the Windows print spooler service. This deep system integration means emulation frequently fails or causes instability with printer drivers.

Manufacturers like HP, Canon, Ricoh, and Xerox have released ARM64 native drivers for their newer models. But printers that are seven, ten, or fifteen years old? Those are off the update list. The manufacturers have no financial reason to write new ARM64 drivers for discontinued products.

This creates a real gap in enterprise environments. Many companies run printers for a decade or longer. A $10,000 enterprise printer from 2015 still prints perfectly, but it now lacks software support for the newest PCs. Understanding this root cause helps you pick the right solution from the options below.

Check ARM64 Driver Availability First

Before trying any workaround, check if an ARM64 native driver already exists for your printer. This is the simplest and best solution if available. A native driver will give you full feature access including duplex printing, tray selection, and finishing options.

Visit your printer manufacturer’s official support website. Enter your exact printer model number. Look for a driver download section and filter by operating system. Select Windows 11 ARM64 or Windows on ARM if that option exists. Download and install it directly.

You can also check through Windows Update. Go to Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Click “Add device” and let Windows search. Sometimes Microsoft hosts ARM64 drivers through its Windows Update catalog that are not listed on the manufacturer’s site.

Another useful resource is the Microsoft Update Catalog website. Search your printer model there and look for ARM64 compatible drivers. IT administrators can download these drivers and deploy them across the organization using group policy or endpoint management tools.

Pros of native ARM64 drivers: Full feature support, best performance, no workarounds needed, and stable long term operation. Cons: Very few legacy printers have ARM64 drivers available, and some available drivers may still be in beta or have minor bugs.

If you find a native driver, install it and you are done. If not, keep reading for the next best options.

Use the Microsoft IPP Class Driver

The Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) Class Driver is a universal driver built into Windows 11. It works on ARM64 Copilot+ PCs without any extra downloads. Many legacy enterprise printers that support network printing also support IPP, even if they are old.

To use this method, make sure your printer is connected to the network. Open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Click “Add device” and wait for Windows to scan. If your printer appears, Windows will often automatically assign the IPP Class Driver.

If the printer does not appear automatically, click “Add manually” and choose “Add a printer using an IP address or hostname.” Enter the printer’s IP address. Under device type, select IPP device. Windows will connect using the IPP Class Driver.

This driver supports basic printing functions. You can print documents, set page size, choose orientation, and sometimes select print quality. However, you will lose access to advanced features like specific tray selection, stapling, hole punching, watermarks, and detailed color management.

Pros of the IPP Class Driver: Built into Windows, works on ARM64 natively, no additional software needed, supports most network printers made after 2005. Cons: Limited feature set, no access to device specific finishing options, print quality settings may be basic, and some very old printers may not support IPP at all.

For basic office printing tasks like documents, emails, and spreadsheets, the IPP Class Driver is often good enough. It serves as a reliable quick fix while you explore more complete solutions.

Set Up a Shared Print Server

A shared print server is the most reliable solution for enterprise environments with many legacy printers. This approach moves the driver problem away from the Copilot+ PC entirely. The print server handles all driver communication with the printer, and the client PC just sends the print job to the server.

Here is how it works. You set up a Windows Server or even a standard x86 Windows PC as a print server. Install the legacy x86 printer drivers on that server. Share the printers over the network. When a Copilot+ PC connects to the shared printer, Windows uses a technology called Point and Print that can render the print job on the server side.

To configure this, enable “Render print jobs on client computers” to No in the printer sharing settings on the server. This forces all print rendering to happen on the server using the x86 driver. The Copilot+ PC sends raw document data to the server, and the server converts it into printer language.

On the Copilot+ PC, add the printer by typing the server path. Open Run with Windows key plus R, type the server path like \printserver\printername, and press Enter. Windows will connect to the shared printer without needing a local driver.

Pros of a print server: Full driver feature support, works with any legacy printer, centralizes printer management, and scales well across large organizations. Cons: Requires a dedicated server or PC, adds a single point of failure, needs IT setup and maintenance, and introduces slight network dependency for printing.

This is the go to solution for most enterprise IT departments. It also makes future PC migrations easier since the driver management stays on the server.

Deploy Microsoft Universal Print

Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud based printing service that eliminates local driver requirements. It runs as part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and works natively on ARM64 Copilot+ PCs. This is a modern solution that many organizations are adopting.

Universal Print works by connecting printers to the Microsoft cloud through a small software connector installed on an x86 PC or server near the printer. This connector handles the driver translation. The Copilot+ PC sends print jobs to the cloud, and the connector delivers them to the printer.

To set it up, you need a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes Universal Print licenses. E3, E5, and some Business Premium plans include them. Install the Universal Print Connector software on a Windows x86 machine on the same network as your legacy printers. Register your printers through the Microsoft Entra admin center (formerly Azure AD).

On the Copilot+ PC, go to Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners, and click “Add device.” If your organization has configured Universal Print, the registered printers will appear automatically. No local driver installation is needed.

Pros of Universal Print: No local drivers needed, works natively on ARM64, cloud managed and easy to scale, integrates with Microsoft Entra ID for access control, and supports mobile printing too. Cons: Requires Microsoft 365 licensing with additional costs, depends on internet connectivity, introduces cloud latency for print jobs, and still needs an on premises connector PC for legacy printers.

Universal Print is especially useful for hybrid workplaces where employees move between offices and need to print at different locations.

Try the Manufacturer’s Universal Print Driver

Many major printer manufacturers offer their own universal print drivers (UPDs) that support a wide range of their printer models with a single driver package. Some of these UPDs have been updated to include ARM64 support.

HP Universal Print Driver, for example, supports hundreds of HP LaserJet and Color LaserJet models. Check the HP support website for the latest version and verify ARM64 compatibility. Similarly, Ricoh offers a Universal Print Driver, and Xerox has its Global Print Driver that covers many older Xerox devices.

To use a manufacturer UPD, download it from the official support page. Run the installer on your Copilot+ PC. During installation, the driver will search for compatible printers on your network. Select your legacy printer and complete the setup.

These universal drivers often provide more features than the Microsoft IPP Class Driver but fewer features than the original model specific driver. You may get access to duplex printing, basic tray selection, and print quality settings. However, advanced finishing options might still be missing.

Pros of manufacturer UPDs: Better feature support than generic drivers, single driver covers many models, often updated more frequently than model specific drivers, and some now support ARM64 natively. Cons: Not all manufacturers have released ARM64 versions, feature support varies by printer model, and the UPD may not support very old printer models in the lineup.

Check your manufacturer’s website regularly. ARM64 driver support is expanding as Copilot+ PCs gain market share. A driver that does not exist today may be released next quarter.

Use Printer Emulation Modes

Many legacy enterprise printers support emulation modes like PCL5, PCL6, or PostScript. These are standardized printing languages that work across many driver types. You can sometimes connect your Copilot+ PC to a legacy printer by using a generic PCL or PostScript driver instead of the model specific one.

To try this, add the printer manually on your Copilot+ PC. Go to Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Click “Add manually” and enter the printer’s IP address. When Windows asks for a driver, click “Have Disk” or browse the built in driver list.

Look for generic options like “MS Publisher Imagesetter,” “Generic / Text Only,” “HP LaserJet Series PCL6,” or “Microsoft PS Class Driver.” These generic drivers send standard PCL or PostScript commands that most enterprise printers understand.

You may also need to configure the printer itself to accept a specific emulation mode. Access the printer’s built in web interface by typing its IP address into a browser. Navigate to the printing settings or PDL (Page Description Language) section. Set the default mode to PCL6 or PostScript 3.

Pros of emulation modes: Uses built in Windows drivers, no additional software needed, works on ARM64, and supported by most enterprise printers made in the last 20 years. Cons: Very limited feature support, may produce unexpected formatting results, no access to any device specific features, and print quality may vary.

This method works best as a temporary fix while a better solution is set up.

Connect Through a Raspberry Pi Print Server

For smaller offices or remote locations, a Raspberry Pi can serve as an inexpensive print server. The Raspberry Pi runs Linux and uses CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) to handle print jobs. It acts as a translator between your Copilot+ PC and the legacy printer.

Set up a Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Pi OS. Install CUPS using the terminal command sudo apt install cups. Connect the legacy printer to the Raspberry Pi via USB or configure it for network printing. Add the printer through the CUPS web interface at https://localhost:631 on the Pi.

Share the printer using Samba or the built in IPP sharing in CUPS. On your Copilot+ PC, add the printer using its IPP address. The URL format is typically ipp://raspberrypi.local:631/printers/yourprintername.

The Raspberry Pi handles all the driver work on the Linux side. Your Copilot+ PC just sends a standard IPP print job. CUPS has excellent support for older printers through its extensive driver database.

Pros of a Raspberry Pi print server: Very low cost (under $50), low power consumption, extensive legacy printer support through Linux drivers, and easy to set up. Cons: Requires some Linux knowledge, limited to smaller environments, adds another device to maintain, and may have slower processing for complex print jobs.

This is a creative and budget friendly solution that works surprisingly well for small teams.

Configure Print Management With Intune

For organizations using Microsoft Intune for device management, you can deploy printer configurations to Copilot+ PCs at scale. Intune supports printer provisioning through various methods that work with ARM64 devices.

Create a device configuration profile in the Intune admin center. You can deploy Universal Print printer connections automatically to enrolled Copilot+ PCs. This means employees get their printers configured without any manual steps on their end.

For shared print server connections, use Intune PowerShell scripts to map network printers during device enrollment. Write a script that adds the shared printer path and deploy it to the relevant device group. The script runs during enrollment and the printer appears ready to use.

You can also use Intune Win32 app deployment to install manufacturer universal print drivers on Copilot+ PCs. Package the ARM64 driver installer as a Win32 app, set detection rules, and assign it to your device groups. This automates driver installation across your ARM64 fleet.

Pros of Intune deployment: Scales to thousands of devices, requires no manual user intervention, supports zero touch provisioning, and integrates with existing Microsoft endpoint management. Cons: Requires Intune licensing, needs IT expertise to configure, initial setup can take time, and troubleshooting remote deployment issues can be difficult.

Plan your Intune printer policies alongside your Copilot+ PC rollout. Test configurations on a pilot group of devices before deploying organization wide.

Troubleshoot Common Connection Failures

Even with the right approach, you may run into errors. Here are the most common problems and their fixes.

“Driver is unavailable” error appears when Windows cannot find a compatible driver. This usually means no ARM64 driver exists locally or through Windows Update. Try the IPP Class Driver method or connect through a print server instead. Do not attempt to force install an x86 driver binary on an ARM64 system as it will fail.

“Access Denied” when connecting to a shared printer often relates to Point and Print security restrictions. Microsoft tightened these policies in recent updates. Your IT admin needs to configure the “Point and Print Restrictions” group policy to allow connections to your specific print server. The server’s address must be in the trusted list.

Print jobs get stuck in the queue and never print. Open the Services app and restart the Print Spooler service. If that does not help, clear the print queue folder at C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and restart the spooler again.

Printer appears but prints garbled text or symbols. This means the wrong driver or emulation mode is selected. Switch to a PostScript driver if available, or change the emulation mode on the printer’s web interface. PCL and PostScript mismatches are a common cause of garbled output.

Network printer not found during scanning. Verify the printer and PC are on the same network subnet. Some enterprise networks segment traffic, and mDNS or WSD discovery packets may not cross subnet boundaries. Use the direct IP address method instead of automatic discovery.

Plan Your Enterprise Printer Strategy for ARM64

IT departments should treat the transition to Copilot+ PCs as a printer infrastructure planning opportunity. A proactive approach prevents helpdesk tickets and frustrated employees.

Start with a printer fleet audit. List every printer model in your organization. Check each model against the manufacturer’s ARM64 driver support page. Categorize printers into three groups: ARM64 driver available, partially supported through UPD or IPP, and not supported at all.

For printers with no ARM64 path, evaluate their remaining useful life. If a printer is nearing end of life, plan a replacement with a model that has confirmed ARM64 support. If the printer has years of life left, set up print server or Universal Print connectivity.

Create a standardized printing configuration for all Copilot+ PCs. Document which connection method each printer uses. Include this information in your IT onboarding process and internal knowledge base.

Test every printer connection method in a lab environment before production deployment. Print test pages that include color, graphics, duplex, and special features. Verify that output quality meets your organization’s standards.

Budget for the transition. Print servers need hardware. Universal Print needs licensing. New printers need capital expenditure. Present a clear cost comparison to management showing the tradeoffs between keeping legacy printers with workarounds versus replacing them with ARM64 compatible models.

Future Outlook for ARM64 Printing Support

The printing landscape for ARM64 is improving rapidly. Microsoft has been working with major printer manufacturers to expand the ARM64 driver ecosystem. Each Windows Update brings new drivers to the catalog.

The Mopria Alliance, which develops universal printing standards, has been promoting IPP Everywhere as a driverless printing standard. Newer printers that support IPP Everywhere work on any operating system without any driver installation. This trend benefits ARM64 PCs significantly.

Microsoft continues to improve its emulation layer for ARM64. Future updates may allow better compatibility with x86 printer drivers through improved emulation. However, relying on future emulation improvements is not a solid current strategy.

More printer manufacturers are releasing ARM64 native drivers each month. HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Ricoh, Xerox, and Lexmark have all expanded their ARM64 support since Copilot+ PCs launched. Check for updates quarterly as new drivers are released on a regular basis.

The shift to cloud printing through services like Microsoft Universal Print and Google Cloud Print alternatives also reduces the importance of local drivers. As cloud printing adoption grows, the ARM64 driver gap will matter less and less.

Within two to three years, the legacy printer driver problem should shrink significantly. Until then, the solutions in this guide will keep your Copilot+ PCs printing reliably.

Quick Reference: Choosing the Right Solution

Selecting the best method depends on your specific situation. Here is a clear breakdown to help you decide.

If you have a single user who needs to print to one legacy printer, start with the IPP Class Driver or manufacturer universal print driver. These are the fastest solutions with minimal setup.

If you manage a team of 5 to 50 users with several legacy printers, a shared print server is your best option. It provides full feature support and centralizes management. A Raspberry Pi can work for very small teams on a tight budget.

If you run an enterprise with hundreds of users, combine a print server infrastructure with Microsoft Universal Print and Intune deployment. This gives you scalability, automation, and centralized control.

If you only need occasional printing, consider whether a different PC or virtual desktop could handle print jobs while your Copilot+ PC handles everything else. Some organizations keep one x86 PC specifically for legacy printer access during the transition period.

Always start with the simplest solution and escalate only if needed. Many users find that the IPP Class Driver handles 80% of their printing needs without any additional infrastructure. Test basic printing first before investing time in more advanced setups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install x86 printer drivers on a Copilot+ PC?

You cannot install x86 printer drivers directly on a Copilot+ PC in most cases. The ARM64 version of Windows 11 includes an x86 emulation layer for applications, but printer drivers operate at the system level where emulation does not fully apply. Attempting to install an x86 driver may result in an error message or system instability. Always look for an ARM64 native driver or use one of the alternative methods described in this guide, such as the IPP Class Driver or a print server.

Will Microsoft release more ARM64 printer drivers in future updates?

Microsoft actively works with printer manufacturers to add ARM64 drivers to the Windows Update catalog. Each monthly and feature update for Windows 11 often includes new printer drivers. You should regularly check for Windows Updates and also visit your printer manufacturer’s website for newly released ARM64 drivers. The driver library is growing steadily as Copilot+ PCs become more popular in enterprise and consumer markets.

Does Universal Print work without an internet connection?

No, Microsoft Universal Print requires an active internet connection because it routes print jobs through the Microsoft cloud. If your internet goes down, you will not be able to print through Universal Print until connectivity is restored. For environments where internet reliability is a concern, a local print server is a better choice. Some organizations use both methods, with Universal Print as the primary option and a local print server as a backup.

Can I use a USB connected printer with a Copilot+ PC?

Yes, you can connect a USB printer to a Copilot+ PC if an ARM64 driver is available for that printer. Windows will attempt to find a compatible driver through Windows Update when you plug in the USB cable. If no ARM64 driver is found, the printer will appear as an unrecognized device. In that case, try the manufacturer’s universal print driver or check the Windows built in driver list for a generic PCL or PostScript driver that may work with your printer.

How do I know if my legacy printer supports IPP?

Check your printer’s specifications page on the manufacturer’s website or access the printer’s built in web interface by entering its IP address in a browser. Look for supported protocols or printing languages in the network settings section. If IPP or AirPrint is listed, your printer supports IPP. Most enterprise network printers manufactured after 2005 include some level of IPP support. You can also try adding the printer as an IPP device in Windows and see if it connects successfully.

Is there a performance difference when printing through a print server versus directly?

There is a slight delay when printing through a print server because the print job travels from your PC to the server and then to the printer. For standard office documents, this delay is usually less than a few seconds and barely noticeable. Large files with heavy graphics may take slightly longer. The performance difference is a small price to pay for full feature access and reliable printing from your Copilot+ PC to legacy enterprise printers.