Microsoft Universal Print now in public preview, easing printer management for IT departments

Universal Print (Image credit: Microsoft)

What you need to know

Microsoft's Universal Print is available in public preview.
The feature makes it easier for IT departments to manage printers through the cloud.
The feature launched in private preview in March and is now available in public preview.

Microsoft's Universal Print is now available in public preview. The feature allows IT departments to move Windows Server print functionality to the cloud. With Universal Print, IT departments can view and manage printers through the cloud, which makes it easier to manage printers within an organization. Microsoft announced that Universal Print was in private preview in March this year, but it is now available in public preview.

When Microsoft initially announced the feature in private preview, the company highlighted that there's no learning curve for people to print, stating people "can continue to print from their Windows devices or Office as they always have."

Microsoft states that printer manufacturers are working on native for support for Universal Print. The feature does work with a Universal Print proxy application, but the best experience for the feature will come on devices that natively support it.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.