Microsoft Universal Print: Your Cloud Printing Guide

Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud printing service, affirming cloud printing's role in modern IT environments. This guide explains what Microsoft Universal Print is, how it works, its pricing structure, and which printers it supports.

What is Microsoft Universal Print?

Microsoft Universal Print is an Azure service that allows Windows machines to send print jobs via a cloud print service to compatible printers. For printers without direct support, a Universal Print Connector can be installed on a local print server. This service ensures print jobs are temporarily stored in the cloud, then downloaded and processed, enabling easy printer discovery through detailed location information.

The Printer Working Group protocol is used for printing. The print job is stored temporarily in the cloud, then the client is informed via notification, and the print job is downloaded and processed. Enabled printers can be found through extensive location information, provided they are marked as discoverable in the Universal Print admin portal.

Microsoft Universal Print Pricing: What Does it Cost?

Microsoft Universal Print is included with various Microsoft 365 and Windows 10 Enterprise subscriptions. While some subscriptions offer 100 print jobs per month, others provide 5 per user per month. For higher print volumes, businesses can purchase additional page packs, available in units of 500 or 10,000, with a 500-unit package costing $25 per month.

Microsoft Universal Print is part of these subscriptions:

• Microsoft 365 Enterprise F3, E3, E5, A3, A5
• Windows 10 Enterprise E3, E5, A3, A5
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium
• Universal Print (standalone)

However, while Microsoft 365 E3, E5 users have access to 100 print jobs per month, other licenses only allocate for 5 print jobs per user per month. If print volumes are higher, businesses can purchase Universal Print page packs.

Microsoft Universal Print Pricing: Additional Print Job Packages

Customers can add additional volume add-on packages. These are available in units of 500 or 10,000 with a 500-unit package costing $25 per month. At approximately 5 pages per print job, this is roughly equivalent to the cost of paper.

Microsoft Universal Print Supported Printers

To use Universal Print, you need printer models that have native support or require a Universal Print Connector for existing devices. Not all printer models are compatible, so checking the list of Universal Print Ready printers online is essential. You can also verify compatibility with Microsoft's connector software or consider third-party connectors with wider printer support.

To use Universal Print, you need printer models that already support Universal Print. For all other printers, especially existing, in-market printers, a Universal Print Connector is required to include them in cloud printing.

Unfortunately, Universal Print will not work with all printer models. It is possible to check the list of Microsoft Universal Print supported printers online and see if a printer is Universal Print Ready – i.e. if your printer model supports native Universal Print registration without a connector. Another option is to check if your printers are compatible with the Microsoft’s connector software. Third-party connectors with wider printer support are also available on the market.

Microsoft Universal Print Setup

Setting up Microsoft Universal Print involves fulfilling prerequisites, activating the service in your tenant, and acquiring an always-on PC for connector installation. Once these steps are complete, you can install the connector, register printers, and share them with your users.

Once you have fulfilled the prerequisites, activated universal print in your tenant and acquired an always on PC on which it is to be installed, you are ready to install the connector, register printers and finally share these with your users.

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• Walkthrough for the Microsoft Universal Print setup
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How Does ezeep Support Universal Print?

ezeep enhances Universal Print capabilities with its own connector, a reliable and cost-effective hardware device, making traditional Windows print servers obsolete. This integration provides added benefits beyond Microsoft's native solution.

With the ezeep Universal Print Connector, an easy-to-use and cost-effective hardware device is available, so that Windows print servers can be completely omitted.

Why Use ezeep?

ezeep goes beyond simply supporting the Microsoft solution by offering distinct advantages that extend functionality and efficiency for cloud printing environments. This includes flexible licensing models, broader device support, and optimized performance.

What additional advantages does ezeep offer compared to Microsoft's Universal Print solution?

• Flat fee for cloud printing – ezeep's licensing is per user, not by print volume. This means you don't have to worry about adhering to the volume limits of Microsoft Universal Print.
• Printing with end devices that are not integrated into the Microsoft Entra ID
• Support for printing for guests
• Sign-up options: In addition to logging in via a Microsoft account, Google, Apple, or simply email login is available.
• Support for printing from macOS, iOS, Android, and Chromebook devices.
• Support for printer properties even from printers that don't have direct Universal Print support
• Support for label and wide format printers

Specific, but not limited, to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365:

• Highly optimized print speeds through streaming and other optimization technologies
• Automatic creation of printers to ensure that the user always gets the right printer without having to search for it

In addition, ezeep offers:

• Secure pull printing
• Reports and monitoring
• Printer Profiles for cost-saving and productivity-enhancing default printer settings
• Quotas, payment options, and much more

Microsoft Universal Print offers critical cloud printing capabilities. Combine it with ezeep for extended device support, flexible licensing, and enhanced management. Discover how ezeep can improve your printing environment today.