Dell Open Print Driver Download and Setup Guide
Dell's universal print driver, last updated in 2017 with no Windows 11 listing
Representative photo — fsse8info CC BY-SA 2.0
The Dell Open Print Driver was Dell's universal Windows driver, covering 56 Dell printer models plus generic PCL5, PCL XL and PostScript output for other devices. It let one driver serve a mixed fleet, which was useful when Dell printers sat alongside other brands. Development has stopped: the last release is A16 from 2017, it is not listed for Windows 11, and Dell left the printer market around 2020. It still installs on older systems, but anyone on a current Windows build should plan for a different approach.
Version and licence: Free, but effectively frozen. The last release is A16 from 2017, about 13.43 MB, listed for Windows XP through Windows 10 and Server 2003 through 2016. There is no Windows 11 listing, and Dell exited the printer business around 2020, so do not expect further updates. About 13.43 MB.
Download Dell Open Print Driver
What it does
- Covers 56 Dell printer models from one driver
- Generic PCL5, PCL XL and PostScript output for other devices
- Standard Windows print dialog with common options
- Suitable for print server deployment on supported Windows versions
- Small download compared with most universal drivers
How to install it
Step 1
Confirm your Windows version, since A16 is listed only up to Windows 10 and Server 2016.
Step 2
Download the Dell Open Print Driver A16 from the Dell drivers page.
Step 3
Extract the package to a local folder and run the installer as an administrator.
Step 4
Enter the printer's IP address, or let it search the network.
Step 5
Choose the emulation, PCL5, PCL XL or PostScript, that your printer supports.
Step 6
Set the installed options manually in Printer Properties, since automatic detection is unreliable with a driver of this age.
Step 7
Print a test page. If output is garbled, try a different emulation.
Step 8
If it will not work on Windows 11, add the printer using the built-in IPP or class driver instead.
Which printers it supports
56 Dell printer models plus generic PCL5, PCL XL and PostScript devices. Dell branded printers were discontinued around 2020.
When Dell Open Print Driver will not work
Correct, the driver stops at Windows 10 in Dell's listing. On Windows 11, add the printer using the built-in IPP or class driver, which handles basic printing on most PCL and PostScript devices without a manufacturer driver.
The emulation is wrong for the device. Switch between PCL5, PCL XL and PostScript in the driver settings, and check what the printer itself reports on its configuration page.
Dell exited the printer business around 2020. Start at the Dell support home page and search the model, and expect only the original Software Suite and legacy drivers rather than new releases.
Try compatibility mode for Windows 7 and run as administrator. If it still fails, use the generic Windows driver route, since a 2017 driver has no path forward.
Set them manually in Printer Properties, Device Settings. Automatic configuration in a driver this old rarely works with current network configurations.
Printers that use Dell Open Print Driver
Frequently asked questions
Is this driver still supported?
No. A16 from 2017 is the last release, there is no Windows 11 listing, and Dell left the printer market around 2020.
What should I use on Windows 11?
Add the printer with the built-in IPP or class driver, which prints to most PCL and PostScript devices without a manufacturer driver.
Does it work with non-Dell printers?
It includes generic PCL5, PCL XL and PostScript output, so it can drive other devices, but a current universal driver from that printer's own maker is a better choice.
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