Universal Print integration with OneDrive should help avoid PrintNightmare issues
Printer drivers can be a headache for IT admins, but Universal Print can eliminate the need for installing them on PCs.
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What you need to know
Microsoft rolled out Universal Print earlier this year. It moves print management to the cloud, which should simplify things for IT admins. Starting this week, Universal Print will work with OneDrive, allowing people to print content directly from the web.
Microsoft explains the benefit of Universal Print in aTech Community post. Without a feature like Universal Print, IT admins would have to install printer drivers on devices. In organizations with many PCs or printers, Microsoft says the “experience can range from inconvenient to completely unmanageable.”
With Universal Print, “people across the organization can access a printer in the cloud from anywhere with an internet connection and securely print over Zero Trust Networks without the need for a VPN connection to their organization’s network,” says Microsoft.
Universal Print allows people to print documents without having to install printer drivers. With support for OneDrive, someone could print a document directly from the web to any printer in an organization.
To use Universal Print, a person needs to select a document and clickPrint. They’ll then see printers hosted by their organization, even if a specific printer isn’t installed on their device.
Printers can be difficult to manage across a large organization. They’ve also been the center of an ongoing security saga.PrintNightmarevulnerabilities have led toemergency patches from Microsoftand achange in which types of users can install printer drivers. Avoiding all of this with Universal Print with OneDrive should simplify the printing process for organizations.
Universal Print with OneDrive will be available later this week. Note that printers have to be compatible with Universal Print to utilize the feature. Microsoft has alist of these deviceson its website.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
