What Is an IPP Printer? IPP, IPP Everywhere & Driverless Printing Explained

Quick answer: An IPP printer is a printer that supports the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), the standard language computers and phones use to send jobs to a printer and get status back. Because an IPP printer describes its own paper sizes, color, duplex and ink levels, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Chromebook and Linux devices can print to it without installing a brand-specific driver. Nearly every network printer sold today is an IPP printer.

Updated November 5, 2026 · By Lauren Elward, Castle Ink

Key Takeaways

• IPP = Internet Printing Protocol, an open standard from the Printer Working Group (PWG). It runs on TCP port 631.
• The PWG says 98% of printers sold today support IPP/2.0, so your printer very likely already is one.
• AirPrint, Mopria and IPP Everywhere are all built on IPP. That's why they work without drivers.
• Windows is switching to IPP. Since July 1, 2026, Windows prefers its built-in IPP Class Driver. Existing drivers keep working.
• IPP reports ink, toner and paper status back to your computer, which a raw TCP/IP port 9100 connection doesn't.
• Use IPPS (IPP over TLS) when offered, keep firmware updated, and never open port 631 to the internet.

What Is IPP?

IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) is a network protocol for sending print jobs to a printer, checking the printer's status and managing the queue. It rides on HTTP, so it works over Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB (IPP over USB). The Printer Working Group, an industry group of printer makers and operating-system companies, maintains it.

IPP started as a Novell proposal in 1996. IPP/1.1 is now Internet Standard 92 (RFC 8011 and RFC 8010), and the PWG publishes newer IPP/2.x versions. Apple's CUPS printing system, built into macOS and most Linux distributions, is the reference implementation.

What Is an IPP Printer?

An IPP printer is any printer with IPP built into its firmware. When your computer asks, the printer replies with a list of its own attributes: supported paper sizes and types, color or monochrome, 2-sided printing, resolution, finishing options, and current ink or toner levels. Your computer builds the print dialog from that answer, so it doesn't need a driver written for that exact model.

That's the big change from the old way. Traditional printers needed a model-specific driver to translate the page into a printer language (PCL, PostScript or a brand's own format). Our guide to what a printer driver is covers the older model.

How Do I Know If My Printer Supports IPP?

Your printer supports IPP if any of these are true:

• It has an AirPrint or Mopria logo on the box, spec sheet or printer. See what AirPrint is.
• It appears on the PWG's IPP Everywhere printer list.
• Its built-in web page (type the printer's IP address into a browser) lists IPP or IPPS under network protocol settings. Here's how to find your printer's IP address.
• It was made in roughly the last ten years and connects by Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Most do.

Very old USB-only printers and some budget models made before about 2014 may not support IPP. Those still need the manufacturer's driver.

What Is IPP Everywhere?

IPP Everywhere is a PWG standard and self-certification program for true driverless printing. The PWG describes it as a standard "that allows personal computers and mobile devices to find and print to networked and USB printers without using vendor-specific software." Certified printers must support IPP/2.0, DNS-SD network discovery, and the PWG Raster and JPEG file formats; PDF and IPP over USB are recommended. It was first published in 2013, and the current version is IPP Everywhere v1.1 (PWG 5100.14).

Is IPP the Same as AirPrint or Mopria?

No, but they all run on IPP. Think of IPP as the road and AirPrint, Mopria and IPP Everywhere as three badges that certify a printer drives on it correctly:

• AirPrint (Apple): driverless printing from iPhone, iPad and Mac.
• Mopria (Mopria Alliance): driverless printing from Android and the basis for Windows' built-in IPP Class Driver support.
• IPP Everywhere (PWG): the open, vendor-neutral version, used by Linux and ChromeOS through CUPS.

Most current printers carry two or all three badges. If AirPrint stops working, our AirPrint troubleshooting guide applies to IPP problems in general.

What Is the Difference Between IPP, LPD and TCP/IP (Port 9100) Printing?

Choose IPP when your computer offers it. A raw TCP/IP connection is fast and simple but mostly one-way, so your computer can't see that the printer is out of paper or low on toner.

Is Windows Replacing Printer Drivers With IPP?

Yes, gradually. In September 2023 Microsoft announced the end of servicing for legacy v3 and v4 third-party printer drivers on Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Its official timeline:

• January 15, 2026: no new third-party printer drivers are published to Windows Update.
• July 1, 2026: Windows ranks its built-in IPP Class Driver first when it installs a printer.
• July 1, 2027: third-party driver updates are limited to security fixes.

Microsoft says "Windows offers inbox support for Mopria compliant printer devices over network and USB interfaces via the Microsoft IPP Class Driver," and that "Existing printer drivers can be installed on Windows PCs, even after the end of servicing." In plain terms, your current printer keeps working, and you can still download a driver from HP, Canon, Epson or Brother if you want brand-specific features.

How Do I Add an IPP Printer in Windows 11?

Most of the time Windows does it automatically. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device and pick your printer; on a Mopria-certified printer Windows installs the Microsoft IPP Class Driver. If the printer doesn't appear, click Add manually, choose Add a printer using an IP address or hostname, and enter the printer's IP address. Some printers also accept a full address such as ipp://192.168.1.25/ipp/print (the path after the address varies by maker). Full steps are in how to add a printer in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

How Do I Add an IPP Printer on a Mac?

Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner or Fax. Network printers usually appear on the Default tab as AirPrint. To add one by address, click the IP tab, enter the printer's IP address, and set Protocol to IPP – Internet Printing Protocol. See how to add a printer to a Mac.

How Do I Use IPP on Android, Chromebook or Linux?

• Android: the built-in Default Print Service and the Mopria Print Service find IPP printers on the same Wi-Fi network. See printing from your phone.
• Chromebook: ChromeOS uses CUPS and IPP, so most network printers show up under Print and scan in ChromeOS Settings. See printing from a Chromebook.
• Linux: CUPS discovers IPP Everywhere printers automatically, and driverless or ippfind lists them from a terminal.

Is IPP Printing Secure?

IPP is safe on a home or office network when you follow three rules:

1. Use IPPS when offered. IPPS encrypts jobs with TLS, the same technology behind HTTPS. A certificate warning on a new printer is common and usually fixable; see the Brother "Invalid Certificate" error guide for an example.
2. Keep firmware updated and change the printer's default admin password.
3. Never expose port 631 to the internet. In September 2024, researchers disclosed flaws in cups-browsed, a Linux printing component that listens on port 631, that could let an attacker add a fake printer. Updated CUPS packages fix it; Windows wasn't affected, and macOS doesn't use cups-browsed.

Why Is My IPP Printer Not Working or Showing Offline?

When a driverless IPP printer stops printing or shows offline, work through these fixes in order:

1. Same network. Your computer or phone and the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Guest networks and "client isolation" block IPP discovery.
2. Restart the printer and router. This refreshes the printer's IP address and its network announcements (Bonjour/DNS-SD).
3. Check that IPP is turned on. Open the printer's built-in web page and confirm IPP (and IPPS, if used) is enabled under network protocols.
4. Re-add the printer by IP address instead of waiting for auto-discovery, and give the printer a reserved IP address in your router so it doesn't change.
5. Allow port 631 through any third-party firewall or security suite.
6. Clear stuck jobs. Restart the print spooler with our print spooler guide.
7. Fall back to the manufacturer's driver if you need a feature the IPP Class Driver doesn't offer.

For offline problems in general, see why a printer keeps going offline. If Windows says the driver is missing, see printer driver is unavailable.

Do You Lose Features With Driverless IPP Printing?

Sometimes. The generic IPP driver handles everyday printing well: paper size and type, color or grayscale, 2-sided, quality and copies. Brand-specific extras such as printhead cleaning, alignment, advanced photo color controls, booklet layouts, or secure-PIN printing may need the maker's app or full driver. On Windows, makers can add these through "Print Support Apps" from the Microsoft Store. HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel and Brother Mobile Connect also handle maintenance on top of driverless printing.

Does IPP Affect Ink, Toner or Compatible Cartridges?

No. IPP changes only how the job travels to the printer, not how much ink or toner a page uses, and it has nothing to do with whether the printer accepts a cartridge. Cartridge acceptance is controlled by the printer's firmware and the cartridge chip; our guide to firmware updates and third-party ink explains that side. One bonus: IPP printers report supply levels to your computer, so you can see when you're running low on HP 67XL ink in an ENVY 6000, Brother TN760 toner in an HL-L2350DW, or HP 414A toner in a Color LaserJet Pro M454 without walking to the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an IPP printer?

An IPP printer is any printer that supports the Internet Printing Protocol, the standard way computers and phones send print jobs to a printer over a network or USB. IPP printers describe their own features, so Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Linux can print to them without a brand-specific driver.

What does IPP stand for?

IPP stands for Internet Printing Protocol. It is an open standard maintained by the Printer Working Group (PWG). The core IPP/1.1 specification is Internet Standard 92 (RFC 8010 and RFC 8011).

Is my printer an IPP printer?

Almost certainly, if it was made in the last decade. The PWG says 98% of printers sold today support IPP/2.0. An AirPrint or Mopria logo means IPP support, and the PWG keeps a list of IPP Everywhere certified printers.

What port does IPP use?

IPP uses TCP port 631. Secure IPP (IPPS) runs IPP over TLS encryption, also on port 631. Raw or JetDirect printing uses port 9100 and LPD uses port 515.

What is the difference between IPP and IPP Everywhere?

IPP is the protocol itself. IPP Everywhere is a PWG certification that adds requirements for true driverless printing, such as IPP/2.0, network discovery (DNS-SD) and support for standard PWG Raster and JPEG files.

Is IPP the same as AirPrint?

No, but AirPrint is built on IPP. AirPrint, Mopria and IPP Everywhere are all logo programs that use IPP underneath, which is why one printer can usually do all three.

Should I use IPP or TCP/IP when adding a printer?

Choose IPP when it's offered. IPP sends status back to your computer, including ink or toner levels, paper-out and jam messages, while a raw TCP/IP (port 9100) connection mostly just sends the job. Use the manufacturer's driver instead if you need brand-only features.

Is IPP printing secure?

IPP itself is safe when you use IPPS (IPP over TLS), keep printer firmware updated and never expose port 631 to the internet. On Linux, keep CUPS and cups-browsed updated; flaws disclosed in 2024 affected systems running cups-browsed on an open network.

Will Windows stop supporting my printer driver?

No. Existing drivers keep working and can still be installed from the manufacturer. Microsoft stopped publishing new third-party drivers to Windows Update in January 2026, made its built-in IPP Class Driver the preferred driver in July 2026, and will limit third-party driver updates to security fixes from July 2027.

Does IPP printing change ink or toner use?

No. IPP only changes how the job reaches the printer, not how much ink or toner is used. IPP printers can report supply levels to your computer, and remanufactured or compatible cartridges work the same under IPP as with a vendor driver.

Keep Your Network Printer Stocked

Castle Ink has supplied remanufactured ink and compatible toner since 2005, with more than 500,000 cartridges shipped and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Orders placed by 4 PM ET Monday through Friday ship the same day, with free shipping over $50. Find your cartridge on Find Ink by Printer, or browse more fixes in the Printer Troubleshooting Center.

Sources

• Microsoft Learn: End of servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows
• Printer Working Group: IPP Everywhere
• Printer Working Group: IPP Everywhere printers list
• Printer Working Group: Internet Printing Protocol workgroup
• RFC Editor: RFC 8011, Internet Printing Protocol/1.1: Model and Semantics
• RFC Editor: RFC 8010, Internet Printing Protocol/1.1: Encoding and Transport
• Wikipedia: Internet Printing Protocol
• Windows Latest: No, Windows 11 isn't killing millions of printers (February 2026)