How to install USB over IPP in windows 11

Question

How to install USB over IPP in windows 11

Ambigavathi Dhanapal 5

We have a mopria certified label printer. we are able to connect using eternet for Microsoft IPP class driver and working.

How so we connect and install Microsoft IPP class driver for USB printer in Windows 11 25H2?

We have tried all scenario. but it install legacy driver only. Our USB printer in composite mode for install IPP driver.

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Is there any way to force USB legacy to Microsoft IPP driver

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Senthil kumar 1,380

Hi @Ambigavathi Dhanapal

For USB you have download the driver separately and install in your system. IPP class driver not supported for USB.

https://docs.zebra.com/us/en/printers/industrial/zt411-zt421-industrial-printer-user-guide/c-zt4x1-setup/c-zt4x1-connect-the-printer-to-a-device/t-zt4x1-connecting-to-a-computer-using-the-printers-usb-port.html

Thanks.

Ambigavathi Dhanapal 5 Reputation points

2026-06-18T12:01:21.72+00:00

@Senthil kumar from your answer , MS never support Microsoft IPP class driver for USB printer? or will they support it in future? We are developing Print support app for Zebra label printers. We need to know why USB printer is not supported for this driver?
Senthil kumar 1,380 Reputation points

2026-06-18T12:19:11.75+00:00

@Ambigavathi Dhanapal Until now not supported. in future i am not sure.
Ambigavathi Dhanapal 5 Reputation points

2026-06-22T03:29:56.72+00:00

@Senthil kumar thanks for confirm. could you share any document or link which mention about USB over IPP support is not available in current Windows OS?
Senthil kumar 1,380 Reputation points

2026-06-22T04:55:06.6466667+00:00

officially not found any document.
https://github.com/dorssel/usbipd-win?utm_source=copilot.com

attached the github link this only supported USB‑over‑IP solution.

Answer 2

Windows 11 does not provide a supported way to “force” a USB‑connected printer that is already bound to a legacy v3/v4 driver to instead use the Microsoft IPP Class Driver. The modern print platform and Microsoft IPP Class Driver are used automatically only when the device is exposed to Windows as an IPP‑capable printer and the IPP class driver is the preferred match.

Key points from the current platform behavior:

The preferred path for the Microsoft IPP Class Driver is IPP over network (and, for Universal Print, IPP printers registered via the connector). For Universal Print, Microsoft explicitly recommends installing printers via IPP Directed Discovery and using the Microsoft IPP Class Driver rather than legacy drivers.
Windows is moving away from third‑party v3/v4 printer drivers. For Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 and later, the deprecation plan states that Windows will increasingly prefer the inbox IPP class driver when an IPP‑capable device is detected. However, this ranking change applies to scenarios where the device is presented as an IPP printer and a suitable IPP match exists.
There is no documented mechanism in Windows 11 to override Plug and Play matching for a USB composite printer that exposes a vendor‑specific USB printing interface and force it to bind to the Microsoft IPP Class Driver instead of the vendor’s USB driver.

For a Mopria‑certified device, the supported way to use the Microsoft IPP Class Driver is:

Ensure IPP is enabled on the printer and that it is reachable over the network (for example, via Ethernet) with a static IP address.
Install the printer via IPP (for example, IPP Directed Discovery) so that Windows can bind it to the Microsoft IPP Class Driver.
For Universal Print scenarios, register that IPP‑installed printer with the Universal Print connector and use it from there.

If the device is only connected over USB and enumerates as a composite USB printer with its own USB printing interface, the documented guidance is to continue using the manufacturer’s USB driver. To move to the Microsoft IPP Class Driver, the device must be used in an IPP configuration (typically network‑connected) rather than as a USB legacy printer.

References: