Devices Enable or Disable Windows Protected Print Mode in Windows 11


WPP_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows protected print mode for all users in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26016 (Canary) and build 26052.1100 (Dev), Microsoft has added Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP).

Windows protected print mode lets your PC exclusively print using the Windows modern print stack which is designed to work with Mopria certified printers only. With Mopria certified printers, users no longer must depend on third-party software installers as well as get additional security benefits. Print devices will “just work” resulting in a safe and streamlined installation and printing process.

By default, Windows protected print is not enabled and there are not any restrictions on the print drivers that can be installed or print functionality.

If you enable this setting, the computer will operate in Windows protected print mode which only allows printing to Mopria certified printers that support a subset of inbox Windows print drivers.

Reference:

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Windows protected print mode.


Turning on Windows protected print mode will automatically remove printers that are not Mopria compatible with Windows protected print mode.



Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Windows Protected Print Mode in Settings
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Windows Protected Print Mode in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Three: Enable or Disable Windows Protected Print Mode using REG file




Option One

Turn On or Off Windows Protected Print Mode in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on Printers & scanners on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Windows_protected_print_mode-1.webp

3 Do step 4 (on) or step 5 (off) below for what you want.


 4. Set Up and Turn On Windows Protected Print Mode

A) Under Printer preferences, click/tap on the Set Up button for Windows protected print mode. (see screenshot below)​

Windows_protected_print_mode-2.webp

B) Click/tap on Yes, continue to approve. (see screenshot below)​

Windows_protected_print_mode-3.webp

C) If printers will be removed, click/tap on Yes, continue to confirm. (see screenshot below)​

Windows_protected_print_mode-4.webp


 5. Turn Off Windows Protected Print Mode

A) Under Printer preferences, click/tap on the Turn Off button for Windows protected print mode. (see screenshot below)​

Windows_protected_print_mode-5.webp

B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)​

Windows_protected_print_mode-6.webp




Option Two

Enable or Disable Windows Protected Print Mode in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Three to configure the same policy.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers

Windows_Protected_Print_Mode_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Printers, double click/tap on the Configure Windows protected print policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (default) below for what you want.

5 Always Enable Windows Protected Print Mode

This will prevent turning off Windows Protected Print Mode in Option One.


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Windows_Protected_Print_Mode_gpedit-3.png

6 Default User-choice Windows Protected Print Mode

This is the default setting to allow using Option One.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Windows_Protected_Print_Mode_gpedit-2.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Three

Enable or Disable Windows Protected Print Mode using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (default) below for what you want.

2 Always Enable Windows Protected Print Mode

This will prevent turning off Windows Protected Print Mode in Option One.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Always_enable_Windows_Protected_Print_Mode.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\WPP]
"EnabledBy"=dword:00000002
"WindowsProtectedPrintGroupPolicyState"=dword:00000001
"WindowsProtectedPrintMode"=dword:00000001

3 Default User-choice Windows Protected Print Mode

This is the default setting to allow using Option One.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Default_user-choice_Windows_Protected_Print_Mode.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\WPP]
"EnabledBy"=-
"WindowsProtectedPrintGroupPolicyState"=-
"WindowsProtectedPrintMode"=dword:00000000

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink
 

Attachments

Last edited:
DO NOT enable WPP if you own a legacy printer that isn't compatible with the Mopria certifying standard. Turning on WPP will forcibly remove older, non-compliant printer drivers and only allow newer, secure drivers.

If you make a mistake and decide to disable WPP, you must re-install the deleted drivers and re-add the same printers. Your PC cannot have a mixed environment where some printers are WPP-compatible, and others are not.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Tutorial updated to add option 1. :alien:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
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    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    Logitech MX Master 3
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    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
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    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
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    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
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    1 TB SSD
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    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
It wasn't very clear, to disable it completely, via registry, how do I do it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 | 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    N.A.V.E ESTELAR | GM5AG0O
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-12700H (24 MB, 4.70 GHz)
    Motherboard
    FCBGA1744
    Memory
    DDR5 24GB '4800 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX™ 3060 6GB
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    Acer Predator 27" XB273 Gx 240Hz
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    PSU
    200W
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    700MB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Total Security
Out of the box, Windows doesn't enable WPP so you don't have to do anything. If you need to switch back to the original state, use the Default_user-choice reg file.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7

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