Following the announcement of Windows 11, Microsoft workers have also wanted to show the news of Universal Printing. This function arises from the need to be able to access reprographic resources from anywhere. For this, before it was necessary to make use of VPN for Windows and now it is simpler, although it is still valid.
The Universal Printing is a modern printing solution that businesses can use to manage their printing infrastructure through Microsoft’s serverless cloud services. Since the release of Windows 10, version 1903, a new universal print driver was introduced. The advantage of this driver is that it is no longer necessary to have printer drivers on desktops. There is a single driver to rule them all.
Universal Printing is subject to having a valid subscription to Microsoft 365 for business. That is why this solution will not be valid for everyone but it is very interesting. Let’s see the news that they have incorporated.
Windows 11 will also improve Universal Printing
With Windows 11 too user experience is improved in several ways. The first is by adapting the experience to make it similar to the Windows 11 experience. Thus, both solutions go hand in hand and connect with each other.
In addition, they have added features with the environment in mind in Universal Printing. Has been added the ability to include a PIN to a print job, so the job will not print until the user enters the same PIN at the printer. This is one more reason to upgrade your existing printer to Universal Print ready firmware, if available.
Some will see this as increased security, but most of us think of this as functionality that will reduce waste of paper and toner and it will offer users some privacy when printing. Print jobs will not go to waste in the printer. This functionality is also coming to Windows 10, version 21H2, which will be released later this year.
Microsoft incorporates the Print Support Application (PSA)
With Windows 11, support for the Print Support Application (PSA) is included in Windows. Windows includes a printer class driver based on the printing protocol Mopria standards-based. This allows a simple and hassle-free printing experience and eliminates the need for users to install additional software or custom drivers to connect and print to their Mopria-certified printers. The Universal Print Driver in Windows 11 can be extended by printer manufacturers or Managed Printing Software (MPS) solutions with additional custom features and workflows by posting a PSA on the Microsoft Store.
These apps for UWP they are not controllers and they run in the context of the user. When installed on the user’s Windows 11 device, the PSA may run in the background to process print jobs for the corresponding printer, or it may offer an advanced printing user interface to address scenarios such as:
- Printer specific custom advanced finishing options.
- Add accounting and workflow information.
- Add a watermark (optional or forced)
Lastly, Microsoft has confirmed that PSA will also come to Windows 10 21H2 in order not to differ from Windows 11. This continues to offer maximum compatibility for those computers that cannot update.