Xerox Smart Start Download and Setup Guide
Tiny Windows bootstrap installer that finds your Xerox printer and installs the right driver
Representative photo — liewcf CC BY-SA 2.0
Smart Start is a small Windows program that removes the guesswork from installing a Xerox printer. You run it, it scans the network, lists the Xerox devices it finds, and then downloads and installs the correct driver for the one you pick. It replaces the older routine of identifying the model, choosing between driver types and downloading a large package by hand. Because it is a bootstrap, the download itself is tiny and internet access is required at install time. It is Windows only.
Version and licence: Free, Windows only, version 2.5.10.0 at about 6.17 MB, dated June 2026. It is a bootstrap installer, so it downloads the actual driver package after it identifies your printer. About 6.17 MB.
Download Xerox Smart Start
What it does
- Scans the network and lists the Xerox printers it finds
- Downloads and installs the matching driver automatically
- Very small initial download
- Adds the printer queue as part of the same run
- Can install by IP address when discovery does not find the device
- Removes the need to choose between driver variants manually
How to install it
Step 1
Confirm the printer is powered on and connected to the network.
Step 2
Download Xerox Smart Start from the Xerox Smart Start page onto the Windows computer.
Step 3
Run the file; it does not need a full installation and starts scanning immediately.
Step 4
Wait for the device list to appear and select your printer, or choose the option to enter an IP address if it is missing.
Step 5
Accept the licence and let it download the driver package, which needs internet access.
Step 6
Let it create the printer queue and set it as default if you want.
Step 7
Print the test page it offers, then check Printing Preferences for duplex and colour defaults.
Which printers it supports
Current Xerox office printers and multifunction devices, principally the VersaLink and AltaLink families along with many WorkCentre and Phaser models.
When Xerox Smart Start will not work
Discovery does not cross subnets on most networks. Use the option to enter the printer's IP address, which you can read from the device panel or a configuration page.
Smart Start needs internet access to fetch the driver. Check for a proxy or firewall blocking it, pause any VPN, and retry. On an offline machine, download the Global Print Driver separately instead.
If the device reports limited capabilities, Smart Start may fall back to a generic driver. Install the model-specific driver or the Global Print Driver from the Xerox support site for the full feature set.
Confirm the file came from xerox.com, then right-click it, choose Properties and tick Unblock, or use the More info and Run anyway option in SmartScreen.
Smart Start is Windows only. On macOS, download the model's driver from the Xerox support site, or add the printer with AirPrint for driverless printing.
Printers that use Xerox Smart Start
Frequently asked questions
Why is the download so small?
It is a bootstrap installer. It identifies the printer first and then downloads only the driver that machine needs.
Does it need internet access?
Yes, at install time, because the driver is fetched from Xerox rather than bundled.
Is there a Mac version?
No. It is Windows only.
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