Enable “Secure PIN Printing” on home network printers — hold & release jobs safely

Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Windows 11/10, macOS (Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey), Printers, Networking, Office Equipment

Set up Secure Print / PIN release on Windows 10/Windows 11 or Mac — HP, Epson, Canon, Brother

Technician

Hey! Let’s enable Secure PIN Printing so your documents are held at the printer until you enter a PIN code. Tell me your brand — HP, Brother, Canon, or Epson — and whether you print from Windows 10/11, macOS, or phones via AirPrint. We’ll set up confidential print/private printing and make it the default.

Customer

We have a Brother laser on our home Wi-Fi. I need confidential printing so the kids don’t pick up my payroll docs. I don’t see a secure print or PIN option in Windows 11 — can you help?

Technician

Absolutely. When secure print or PIN release is missing on Windows, common reasons are:
• You’re using a generic IPP class driver that hides Hold Print/Secure Job features.
• The vendor package isn’t installed (Brother/HP/Canon/Epson add the secure print modules).
• The queue is set to AirPrint/Generic PCL/PS without the confidential print capability.
Plan: install the correct vendor driver, enable Secure Print, set a PIN/password, and save a PIN print preset.

Customer

Great — where exactly do I turn on Hold Print (PIN) in Windows 11?

Technician

Enable Secure PIN Printing — Windows 10/11:
1) Install the vendor package (Brother Full Driver, HP Full Feature/Universal, Canon UFR II/Generic Plus, Epson Driver & Utilities). This exposes Secure Print/Confidential options.
2) Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → choose your printer → Printing preferences.
3) Open the Job Type/Advanced tab and set Job Type = Secure Print, PIN printing or Hold print. Enter a PIN code (4–8 digits).
4) Click Save/Apply and Set as default so every job is held for PIN release at the device.
Tip: choose IPPS (encrypted printing) or enable “Require PIN to print” in the driver where available.

Customer

Thanks. My wife prints from a MacBook and iPhone. Can we do secure print with macOS and AirPrint?

Technician

Enable Secure Print on macOS:
• Re-add the printer in System Settings → Printers & Scanners. Prefer the vendor driver (Brother/HP/Canon/Epson), or AirPrint if the vendor supports Secure Release via AirPrint.
• In any app choose File → Print, open Job Handling / Finishing / Advanced, then set Job Type = Secure Print/Confidential. Enter your PIN. Save as a preset called “PIN Release”.
• iPhone/iPad: many home models don’t support AirPrint PIN. Workaround: print to macOS with the preset, use the vendor mobile app (HP Smart, Brother iPrint&Scan, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel), or send to a print server that enforces PIN.

Customer

How do I release the job at the printer? I don’t want it to print until I’m standing there.

Technician

PIN release workflow: walk to the device → press Secure Print/Held Jobs on the panel → select your username/job → enter the PIN → tap Print or Delete after print. This prevents unattended printing and protects confidential documents at home.

Customer

Any brand-specific tips? Our office HP has “PIN printing”, the Brother at home says “Secure Print”, and my parents use a Canon inkjet.

Technician

Secure print — HP / Brother / Canon / Epson:
• HP: In the HP driver open Job Storage or Private Job; choose PIN to print. HP Smart app can store a release code on some models.
• Brother: In preferences set Job Type = Secure Print; enter a 4-digit PIN. Release via Secure Print on the LCD.
• Canon: UFR II/Generic Plus → Output Method = Secured Print. Set a password, then release from Secured Print on the device.
• Epson: Use Confidential Job or Job Arranger Lite with a password; mobile support via Epson Smart Panel varies by model.

Customer

Can we make printing more secure overall? The printer is on our home Wi-Fi router.

Technician

Great question. Best practices for home printer security:
• Use WPA2/WPA3 and a strong Wi-Fi passphrase; place the printer on a guest VLAN or IoT network if your router allows.
• Prefer IPPS (HTTPS) over IPP; disable open protocols you don’t need (FTP/Telnet/HTTP).
• Set a printer admin password and disable cloud printing features you don’t use.
• If privacy is critical, connect by USB and keep PIN print release enabled so pages still wait for you.

Customer

The Secure Print option disappeared after a Windows Update. Do I need to reinstall every time?

Technician

You shouldn’t. Windows likely replaced the vendor driver with a class driver. Fix once:
• Remove the printer and delete its driver package (Print Management → All Drivers) → restart.
• Install the manufacturer’s full package to restore secure print components.
• Optionally turn off automatic driver changes in Device Installation Settings.

Customer

Any app tips? We mainly use Word and Adobe Acrobat.

Technician

Word/Office: choose the PIN Release preset and verify Secure Print in Printer Properties.
Adobe Acrobat/Reader: click Properties/More Settings → set Job Type = Secure/Private and enter the PIN.
Google Docs/Browsers: open the System Dialog (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Option+P) to access the vendor driver’s Secure Print panel.

Customer

Perfect — PIN printing works from both PCs and Macs now. Thanks!

Technician

Summary: To enable secure PIN printing at home, install the vendor driver, set Job Type = Secure/Private/Hold Print, create a PIN, and save a preset on Windows/macOS. Use IPPS, protect the admin panel with a password, and release jobs at the device. Need hands-on help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Secure PIN Printing is missing on Windows 10/Windows 11/Mac: install the manufacturer driver, set Job Type = Secure/Private, create a PIN, and enable IPPS (HTTPS) where available. Save a PIN Release preset and release jobs at the panel.

FAQ

Step-by-step (Windows 10/11)

1. Install the brand’s full driver (HP/Brother/Canon/Epson) to expose Secure Print.
2. Open Printing preferences → set Job Type = Secure/Private/Hold and create a PIN.
3. Enable IPPS printing if supported and set the preset as default.
4. Release the job at the panel via Secure/Held jobs using your PIN.

Step-by-step (macOS)

1. Re-add the printer using the vendor queue or compatible AirPrint profile.
2. In the print dialog set Job Type = Secure/Private, enter your PIN, and save as a preset.
3. If mobile is needed, use the vendor app (HP Smart, Brother iPrint&Scan, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel).

Sources

• Microsoft — Troubleshoot printer problems (Windows 10/11)
• Apple — macOS printing help
• HP — Drivers & Software
• Brother — Full Driver & Software Package
• Canon — UFR II / Generic Plus drivers
• Epson — Drivers & Utilities

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