Setting up a printer on a Copilot+ PC isn’t quite the same as setting one up on a traditional Windows laptop.
Copilot+ PCs using Qualcomm Snapdragon processors run Windows on ARM64, so any traditional printer drivers probably won’t be compatible. The easiest option (for individuals) is usually Windows’ built-in IPP/Mopria printing. But for organizations juggling mixed printer fleets and hundreds of devices, PaperCut Mobility Print provides a driver-free way to connect ARM64 PCs to existing printers. And do it at scale.
Why is setting up a printer on a Copilot+ PC different?
Many Copilot+ PCs (like Microsoft’s Surface Pro with Snapdragon X Elite, Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, HP OmniBook X, and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x) use Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, which are based on the ARM64 architecture. (If you need an ARM crash course, we’ve got you covered.)
For IT managers, that’s a problem, because traditional Windows printer drivers are often designed for x64 PCs. While Windows on ARM can emulate many x86 and x64 applications, it can’t emulate printer drivers. For that, you need appropriate ARM64 support.
But here’s the good news: you don’t necessarily need an ARM64-specific driver to set up printing on your snapdragon laptop.
See, Windows 11 supports most printers, including printers using the Mopria printing standard, and modern IPP printing can dodge the need for a traditional manufacturer driver altogether. Let’s tackle these in more detail…
Option 1: Use Windows built-in IPP/Mopria printing
For a home user, or someone setting up a single Copilot+ PC, this is the first option to try.
If your printer supports IPP or Mopria, Windows may be able to detect and install it using its built-in printing support (rather than relying on a specific printer driver).
How to add a printer to a Copilot+ PC
- Turn on the printer and connect it to your network.
- Make sure your Copilot+ PC is connected to the same network.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click Add device.
- Wait for Windows to search for available printers.
- Select your printer and choose Add device.
- Print a test page.
Microsoft actually recommends this method specifically for ARM PCs, because manufacturer installation programs usually error on ARM.
If Windows can’t find the printer automatically, select the option to add it manually instead and follow the available options.
Why this works
With IPP/Mopria printing, Windows can communicate with a compatible printer using a standard printing protocol rather than relying on a printer-specific x64 driver.
This is why checking Mopria certification is useful when buying or troubleshooting printers for ARM64 PCs. (Mopria has a handy list, if you need to check your specific device.)
Just remember, basic compatibility doesn’t necessarily mean every printer feature will be available. Functionality like advanced finishing, authentication or manufacturer-specific functions may need additional support.
Option 2: Download a native ARM64 printer driver
If Windows’ built-in printing doesn’t provide the functionality you need, check the printer manufacturer’s website for a native ARM64 driver.
Search for your exact printer model and terms like:
- Windows 11 ARM64
- Windows on ARM
- ARM64 printer driver
- Snapdragon compatibility
- Print Support App
Most manufacturers already have dedicated driver pages for this kind of thing now.
Pro tip: Don’t assume ‘Windows 11’ automatically means ARM64-compatible. Windows 11 runs on both x64 and ARM64 hardware, so you need to double-check.
If an ARM64 driver is available for your machine – huzzah! – install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If that fails, return to Windows’ built-in Add device process.
Option 3: Connect via a print server
In large, enterprise-scale environments, printers are likely already managed through a central print server.
In that case, individual users don’t necessarily need to install a printer directly on their Copilot+ PC. The organization’s print infrastructure can manage the whole connection centrally.
This is particularly handy when an organization has:
- Hundreds or even thousands of printers
- Centralized printer management
- Existing Windows print servers
- A random mix of ARM64 and x64 computers
- Printers that don’t have native ARM64 drivers
Just keep in mind, simply having a print server doesn’t automatically eliminate every ARM64 compatibility issue. The client-side print workflow still needs to support the ARM64 device. It’s one reason why organizations deploying Copilot+ PCs should test their existing print queues before rolling out ARM64 devices at scale.
Option 4: Go driver-free with PaperCut Mobility Print
For organizations with mixed printer fleets and Copilot+ PC deployments, PaperCut Mobility Print is a particularly good solution, because it sidesteps the driver issue completely.
Mobility Print uses IPP-based printing, and it supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 clients on both x64 and ARM64. In other words, the print management server acts as your go-between translator.
The basic architecture looks like this:
Copilot+ PC > IPP > PaperCut Mobility Print > existing printer
With PaperCut installed, your ARM64 laptop doesn’t need the manufacturer’s traditional driver. Mobility Print provides the print queue, while the Mobility Print server communicates with the printer.
For organizations, this means it’s possible to introduce Snapdragon PCs without first replacing a fleet of existing printers.
How to set up Mobility Print
The exact process can vary, but here are the CliffsNotes:
- Install Mobility Print on a server or computer with access to printers.
- Select the printers you want to make available.
- Share the Mobility Print setup link with users or deploy the client through your existing management tools.
- Install the Mobility Print client on the Copilot+ PC.
- Select the printers the user needs.
- Print normally from Windows applications.
What about a mixed x64 and ARM64 fleet?
This is where Mobility Print really shines. Whatever your fleet mix, and whatever processors they’re running, the IPP and print management layer allows for a seamless connection (and user-friendly printing).
So instead of creating a completely separate print environment for every device architecture, IT can provide one consistent print service across the entire fleet.
PaperCut also supports ARM64 printing through Print Deploy including the use of our Global Print Driver for cross-platform compatibility. Basically, this allows you to deploy a single print queue to both x64 and ARM64 Windows computers. Very handy in large deployments.
Troubleshooting: what if my printer won’t work?
If your Copilot+ PC still can’t print, and you’re considering hitting it with a stick, work through these checks instead:
Check the basics
- Make sure the printer is switched on.
- Confirm the PC and printer are on the same network.
- Restart both devices.
- Check that the printer isn’t showing any errors or offline status.
Try Windows’ built-in installation again
Remove the printer from Printers & scanners, restart your PC, and select Add device again.
In general, it’s better to use Windows’ own printer installation process (rather than a manufacturer’s installer) on any ARM64-based PCs.
Check for ARM64 support
Check the manufacturer’s website for your exact model and confirm whether an ARM64 driver or Print Support App is available. If they are, download and install them.
Check IPP/Mopria support
If your printer is Mopria-certified or supports IPP, try adding it through Windows rather than installing a traditional driver.
Consider your enterprise print infrastructure
If the printer works from x64 PCs but not from Copilot+ PCs, it’s going to be a driver or print architecture issue, rather than anything wrong with the printer itself.
For managed fleets, an IPP-backed solution (like Mobility Print) can remove the need to troubleshoot individual manufacturer drivers on every ARM64 device.
The easiest way to print from a Copilot+ PC
For a single user with a modern printer, it’s always best to start with Windows’ built-in IPP/Mopria printing. It’s intuitive, doesn’t require much (if any) configuration, and often works fine without installing additional software.
If that doesn’t provide all the features you need, look for a native ARM64 driver or Print Support App from your printer manufacturer.
The key lesson here is that moving to ARM64 doesn’t automatically mean replacing your printer fleet. That’s expensive, and often unnecessary. If your printers support modern printing, Windows can probably handle them natively. And if they don’t, an IPP-based print management platform can provide the bridge between any new ARM64 devices and your existing hardware.
Talk to our team about Copilot+ PC printing deployment
