Of all the Windows on ARM growing pains, printers are the most annoying — because printing feels like it should Just Work. You plug in the printer (or find it on the network), Windows tries to install the driver, and… nothing. Or an error. Or a driver that installs but never prints.

The root cause is architectural. Printer drivers often include kernel-mode components, and ARM emulation cannot translate kernel code — a hard limit, not a bug. This is the same wall that blocks certain VPNs and antivirus tools (see our VPN not working on Windows on ARM guide for the cousin of this problem). But printing has excellent workarounds, because the industry built driverless standards precisely for situations like this. If a specific app will not run on your Snapdragon X laptop either, the underlying cause is the same platform difference.

Start with the driverless options — they work more often than you would expect.

Why this happens

  • x86-only printer drivers: The manufacturer’s driver package targets Intel/AMD and cannot install on ARM.
  • Kernel driver components: Print drivers with kernel-mode parts cannot be emulated — a hard architectural wall.
  • Installer architecture checks: Setup programs detect ARM and abort, even when driverless printing would work.
  • Missing ARM64 drivers: The manufacturer never built an ARM version for your model.
  • Old printer firmware: Ancient printers lack the driverless protocols (IPP, Mopria) that make ARM printing easy.
  • Network discovery issues: Separate from drivers, some ARM laptops have trouble discovering network printers initially.

How to fix it

Work through these in order — diagnose first, then act.

Fix 1: Check for an ARM-native driver

The cleanest fix, when it exists.

  1. Go to your printer manufacturer’s official support site and find your exact model.
  2. Look for a Windows 11 ARM64 driver download. HP, Canon, Brother, and Epson have added these for many current models.
  3. If found, download and install it, then add the printer via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  4. Print a test page to confirm.
  5. If no ARM driver exists for your model, do not install the x86 driver hoping it works — it will fail or misbehave. Move to Fix 2.
  6. Bookmark the driver page and check back periodically; manufacturers keep expanding ARM support.

Fix 2: Use driverless IPP printing

The workaround that rescues most network printers.

  1. Make sure your printer is connected to the same network as your laptop (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  2. On the printer’s panel or web interface, confirm IPP is enabled (it usually is by default on printers from the last decade).
  3. On your laptop, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device.
  4. Let Windows discover the printer. When it appears, add it — Windows will use its built-in IPP class driver with no manufacturer software.
  5. Print a test page. For most document printing, IPP output is indistinguishable from the full driver.
  6. If discovery fails, add it manually: choose “Manually add,” select TCP/IP, and enter the printer’s IP address with IPP protocol.

Fix 3: Try Mopria and IPP-over-USB

Driverless printing is not just for network printers.

  1. Check whether your printer supports Mopria (most printers from the last 8-10 years do — look for the logo on the box or specs).
  2. For USB-connected printers, Windows on ARM supports IPP-over-USB: just plug the printer in and let Windows detect it without installing manufacturer software.
  3. If Windows prompts for a driver during USB setup, cancel the manufacturer installer and let Windows use its built-in class driver instead.
  4. Test with a simple document first, then try advanced features (duplex, color settings).
  5. Note that finishing options (stapling, booklet) may be limited under class drivers — acceptable for most home and student use.
  6. For the full feature set on a supported model, circle back to Fix 1’s native driver.

Fix 4: Share the printer from another PC

When the printer absolutely needs its x86 driver, borrow another machine’s.

  1. If you have access to an Intel/AMD Windows PC, install the printer there with the full manufacturer driver.
  2. On that PC, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and enable printer sharing.
  3. On your ARM laptop, add a network printer and browse to the shared printer.
  4. Your laptop sends standard print jobs; the x86 PC renders them with the real driver.
  5. The host PC must be on for printing to work — fine for a home desktop, less ideal otherwise.
  6. A cheap Raspberry Pi or old laptop can serve as a dedicated print server for this purpose.

Fix 5: Use cloud and email printing

Sidestep drivers entirely.

  1. Check if your printer supports email printing (HP ePrint, Epson Email Print, Canon PRINT) — send documents as attachments to the printer’s address.
  2. Use the manufacturer’s mobile/cloud app, many of which have ARM-compatible or web versions.
  3. Google Docs and Office web apps print through the browser’s print dialog using the IPP path from Fix 2.
  4. For occasional printing, a USB stick walked to the printer (or a print shop) beats hours of driver fighting.
  5. These are workarounds, not fixes — but for a printer you use monthly, they are perfectly rational.
  6. If printing is business-critical and none of this works, that is legitimate input for the platform decision in games not running on Snapdragon laptop — the same compatibility lens applies.

Fix 6: Update everything and check firmware

Old software on either side can block even the driverless paths.

  1. Update Windows fully — IPP and USB printing stacks improve with updates.
  2. Update your printer’s firmware from the manufacturer’s site or the printer’s own update function.
  3. After firmware updates, remove and re-add the printer on the laptop so it renegotiates capabilities.
  4. If the printer is very old (10+ years) with no IPP/Mopria support, recognize the limit: a modern printer upgrade may be the rational fix.
  5. When shopping for a replacement, look for “Mopria certified” and “IPP Everywhere” — these guarantee driverless ARM printing.
  6. Keep a note of what worked; printer setups are exactly the kind of thing you will need to redo after a Windows reinstall.

Closing

Printer trouble on ARM laptops looks dire but is usually solvable without any manufacturer driver — IPP and Mopria were designed for exactly this world. Check for a native driver first, fall back to driverless printing, and only then consider sharing or cloud workarounds. The days of mandatory 500 MB printer driver suites are ending, and ARM laptops are just arriving early to the party.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my printer install on a Snapdragon laptop?
Most printer drivers are written for x86 processors and include kernel-level components that ARM emulation cannot translate. The installer either fails or installs a driver Windows on ARM cannot load. The fix is usually an ARM-native driver or driverless IPP printing.
What is IPP and why does it fix ARM printing?
IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) lets Windows talk to the printer directly without any manufacturer driver. Modern network printers support it, and Windows on ARM includes the IPP stack natively — so printing works with zero third-party software.
Do USB printers work on ARM laptops?
Sometimes. If the printer supports driverless USB printing standards (IPP-over-USB / Mopria), Windows can drive it without manufacturer software. Old USB-only printers with x86-only drivers are the hardest case and may need a print server workaround.
Will my printer manufacturer release an ARM driver?
Major makers (HP, Canon, Brother, Epson) have been adding ARM64 drivers for popular models, but older models are unlikely to get them. Check the manufacturer’s site for your exact model before assuming.