Windows 11 S Mode — can’t install printer driver (safe workarounds & options)

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Windows 11/10, Printers, Networking, Group Policy, Print Servers

Windows 11 S Mode printing — Microsoft Store apps, IPP class driver, Mopria/AirPrint alternatives, switching out of S Mode

Technician

Hey! If Windows 11 S Mode won’t let you install a printer driver, that’s by design — S Mode blocks .exe/.msi installers and only allows software from the Microsoft Store. We can still get printing going using a Store printing app (HP Smart, Canon Inkjet/SELPHY, Brother iPrint&Scan), the built-in IPP/Mopria class driver, or we can discuss switching out of S Mode when you need full vendor drivers (scan/fax utilities, advanced finishing).
A couple questions: which printer brand/model, are you on USB or Wi-Fi, and do you see “For security and performance, this mode…” when you try to run the installer?

Customer

It’s an HP OfficeJet on Wi-Fi. I downloaded the HP installer, but S Mode blocks it. Windows detects the printer yet says it needs a driver. I can’t leave S Mode right now — it’s a school laptop.

Technician

Understood. S Mode is a locked-down edition of Windows 11 that only installs apps from the Microsoft Store and uses Microsoft Defender for security. Traditional driver packages (.exe, .msi) are blocked. But the good news: most modern printers support IPP Everywhere/Mopria, which S Mode can use without a vendor installer. We’ll try three options in order: (1) HP Smart (Store app), (2) Add device → IPP class driver, (3) temporary cloud options (web print, Universal Print), leaving switching out of S Mode as a last resort if you need advanced features like scan to network folder, fax drivers, or custom finishing.

Customer

I have HP Smart installed from the Microsoft Store, but it still says “driver unavailable.” What next?

Technician

Let’s add it with the Microsoft IPP Class Driver (Mopria):
1) Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device and wait for the printer to appear via mDNS/Bonjour as IPP or AirPrint.
2) If you don’t see it, choose “Add manually” → Add a printer using a TCP/IP address, enter the printer’s IP, and select Device type: Web Services (HTTP/IPP).
3) When prompted for a driver, select Microsoft IPP Class Driver. This is supported in Windows 11 S Mode and provides reliable printing without running blocked installers.
4) Open HP Smart again just for supplies/scan via app; printing will use the class driver.

Customer

That worked for printing! But I also need to scan to PDF from the glass. Does S Mode allow the scanner driver?

Technician

You have a few S-Mode-friendly choices:
• Use the Windows Scan app (Microsoft Store) — it talks to devices that expose WIA/IPP Scan over the network.
• Many brands add scanning inside their Store apps (HP Smart, Brother iPrint&Scan, Canon IJ).
• If the device supports Scan to Email or Scan to Cloud from the panel, you can bypass Windows drivers entirely.
If you require TWAIN add-ins, OCR suites, or enterprise features that only ship in a .exe, that’s when we consider switching out of S Mode.

Customer

Suppose I eventually need the full driver with duplex scanning and fax. What’s involved in leaving S Mode? Any risks?

Technician

Switching out of S Mode is free but one-way. Steps: Settings → System → Activation → Switch to Windows 11 Home/Pro → Open Store → Get. After that you can run vendor .exe installers, WHQL drivers, TWAIN, OCR, and advanced utilities. Risks: reduced lockdown (you’ll rely on normal Windows security), and some schools/organizations require S Mode — check with IT before switching. If you can’t switch, we’ll keep using IPP/Mopria or cloud workflows.

Customer

What if the printer is old USB-only and doesn’t show up as IPP? Windows just says “driver not available.”

Technician

For legacy USB printers that lack IPP/Mopria:
• Try Settings → Add device → Add manually → Add a local printer and choose Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Generic/Text Only as a basic fallback (works for simple text).
• If the device supports Wi-Fi Direct or an optional network card, enable it — many older models then expose AirPrint/IPP which S Mode can use.
• Otherwise, printing may require the vendor .exe and therefore leaving S Mode or printing through another PC acting as a print server.

Customer

This is a managed laptop. Are there enterprise options that still keep S Mode?

Technician

Yes. IT can deploy printers to S-Mode devices using Microsoft Universal Print (Azure AD) or by publishing IPP queues that use the built-in Microsoft IPP Class Driver. Store apps can be pushed via Intune. This preserves the S-Mode security posture while enabling printing without vendor installers.

Customer

After adding the IPP class driver, a test page prints. Any final checks so it stays reliable?

Technician

Final checks:
• Give the printer a static IP so the IPP queue doesn’t break after DHCP changes.
• Keep the Microsoft Store apps (HP Smart/Brother/Canon) updated for scanning and supplies.
• In Printers & scanners, set the IPP queue as Default and remove other stale entries to avoid confusion.
• If you later switch out of S Mode, uninstall the class driver before installing the full vendor driver package to avoid duplicate queues.

Customer

Perfect — printing works in S Mode and I can scan with HP Smart. Thanks!

Technician

Summary: When Windows 11 S Mode can’t install printer drivers, use a Microsoft Store app and the Microsoft IPP Class Driver (Mopria/AirPrint). For advanced features, consider a managed Universal Print queue or a one-way switch out of S Mode to install the full vendor driver. Need tailored help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Windows 11 S Mode blocks a printer driver: install the brand’s Microsoft Store app (HP Smart/Brother/Canon), add the printer with the Microsoft IPP Class Driver (Mopria/AirPrint), and set a static IP. If you need full vendor features or legacy USB drivers, switch out of S Mode via Activation (one-way). Enterprises can deploy Universal Print IPP queues.

FAQ

Step-by-step (Windows 11 S Mode)

1. Install the brand’s Microsoft Store app (HP Smart, Brother iPrint&Scan, Canon IJ, Epson Smart Panel).
2. Settings → Printers & scanners → Add device. If not found, choose Add manually and enter the printer’s IP; pick Microsoft IPP Class Driver.
3. Print a test page; set the queue as Default and assign a static IP on the printer.
4. If advanced finishing/TWAIN/OCR is required, evaluate policy and switch out of S Mode to install the full vendor driver package.

Note for mixed environments (macOS)

1. macOS natively supports AirPrint/IPP; add one queue only to avoid duplicates.
2. For legacy models, install the vendor package on macOS or use the printer’s network/IPP mode.

Sources

• Microsoft — Windows 11 in S Mode FAQ
• Microsoft — Switch out of S Mode
• Microsoft — Mopria/IPP class driver support
• Microsoft — Universal Print overview

Matt ● replies in < 1 min

Technician Expert

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trusted by 27,000+ customers

Alex · Expert's Assistant

Start Chat

5 Tech Support Specialists are online right now.