Samsung Printer Driver: Download, Install, and Update on Windows and Mac

Samsung left the printer business in 2017, but your Samsung laser printer doesn't have to retire with it. Here's where the official drivers live now, how to pick the right one, and how to install it cleanly on Windows or Mac.

What the Samsung Printer Driver Does, and Where It Comes From Now

The driver is the software that lets your computer talk to your Samsung printer. When you click Print, it turns your document into a printer language the machine understands (SPL, PCL6, or PostScript, depending on the model) and passes along your settings for paper size, two-sided printing, and toner save. Without the right driver, the printer may show as offline, print pages full of random symbols, or ignore you completely.

Here's the part that catches a lot of Samsung owners off guard: Samsung no longer makes or supports printers. HP took over Samsung's printer business on November 1, 2017, and Samsung's own support pages now send printer owners to HP. Every official Samsung printer driver, utility, firmware file, and manual is hosted on HP's support site today, so that's where this guide will point you too.

Why Samsung Printer Driver Problems Happen

Most Samsung driver trouble comes down to one of these:

• The driver doesn't match the printer's language. Many compact Xpress models, including the M2020 series, only understand SPL (Samsung Printer Language). Put a PCL or PostScript driver on one of those and you'll get garbled output or nothing at all.
• Your operating system moved on and the driver didn't. A driver that ran fine on Windows 10 or an older macOS can misbehave after a major upgrade, especially on models that haven't had a driver update in years.
• It came from an unofficial download site. Repackaged "Samsung driver" installers are often outdated or built for a different model, and some bring extra software along for the ride.
• Old driver files are still hanging around. A previous install that was never fully removed can clash with the new one.
• The installer can't see the printer. A loose USB cable, a printer sitting on a different network, or a Wi-Fi setup that never finished will stop the installation partway through.
• Windows picked a generic driver. On Windows 11, a network printer that supports the Mopria standard can end up on Microsoft's built-in IPP class driver. It prints, but Samsung-specific settings disappear.

How it shows up: "Driver is unavailable" under the printer's name in Windows settings, jobs that pile up in the queue, half-printed pages or pages full of symbols, missing options like toner save, or a scanner that stops responding while printing still works.

Which Samsung Printer Driver Should You Download?

Open your printer's page on HP's site and you'll usually see more than one download. Here's what each one is for:

The one rule that matters most: look up your printer's language before you choose. It's listed as "printer language" or "emulation" in the spec sheet or user guide. If it says SPL only, stick with the model-specific driver or the Samsung Universal Print Driver, which supports SPL. If your printer handles both PCL6 and PostScript, PCL6 is a sensible everyday choice, and PostScript is there for design software that expects it.

What you'll actually see: When we checked HP's download page for the Samsung Xpress SL-M2026 series in September 2026 with Windows 11 selected, it listed the SL-M2020 Series Print Driver in both installer and no-installer versions (V3.00.16.00:01, dated August 1, 2023), the Samsung Universal Print Driver for Windows (V3.00.16.0101:01, dated July 29, 2024), plus Samsung Printer Diagnostics, Easy Printer Manager, Easy Wireless Setup, and Samsung Set IP. Your list will look different depending on your model and operating system.

How to Download the Samsung Printer Driver

There are two official ways to get Samsung drivers, and both run through HP.

Option 1: HP's Software and Drivers Page

1. Find your exact model number. Newer Samsung models start with "SL-" (for example, SL-M2070FW or SL-C480FW), while older ones start with ML, CLP, CLX, or SCX. You'll usually find the model name on the front of the printer and the full model code on the label on the back.
2. Go to support.hp.com and choose Software and Drivers.
3. Type in your model, such as "Samsung Xpress SL-M2070," and select your printer from the results.
4. Check the detected operating system. If HP guessed wrong, click Choose a different OS and pick yours.
5. Expand the driver categories. Samsung drivers usually sit under Driver-Product Installation Software and Driver-Universal Print Driver, with utilities listed under Software.
6. Click Download next to the file you need. It'll save to your Downloads folder.

Option 2: The Samsung Printer Software Installer

HP still hosts Samsung's web-based installer at printersetup.ext.hp.com. You download a small app, connect your printer, and it pulls the right drivers and software for that model, much like the installation CD that came in the box. HP lists it for Samsung laser printers and MFPs on Windows XP SP3 or later, and it offers a Mac version when you visit from a Mac. Inkjet models and some older printers aren't supported.

Keep your internet connection up for the whole install. The installer checks HP's server to decide what to download, and it stops with a network warning if the connection drops.

Skip third-party driver sites. If anything other than support.hp.com or printersetup.ext.hp.com is offering you a "Samsung printer driver," it isn't an official source, however official it looks.

How to Install the Samsung Printer Driver

Turn the printer on before you start and close other programs. Screen names vary a little from model to model, but the flow is the same.

On Windows (Using the Installer)

1. Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
2. Accept the license agreement and click Next.
3. Choose how your printer connects: USB connection, Network connection, or Wireless network connection.
4. Follow the steps for your connection type:
   • USB: Make sure the cable is connected at both ends, then continue to software selection.
   • Network (Ethernet): Plug the printer into your router. For a first-time setup, choose Yes, I will set up my printer's network, then pick your printer from the list the installer finds.
   • Wireless: Connect the printer to your computer with a USB cable first. Choose Yes, I will set up my printer's network, then Using a USB cable, select your Wi-Fi network, and enter the password. Unplug the USB cable once wireless setup finishes.
5. Tick the drivers and apps you want. The list depends on your model.
6. Wait while everything downloads and installs. Some models open extra setup windows along the way, so finish each one.
7. Click Finish, then print a test page from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 10).

On Windows (Without the Installer)

Use this route when the setup wizard fails, when you downloaded the "No Installer" driver, or when you chose Extract while running the Universal Print Driver.

1. Extract the downloaded package to a folder you can find easily.
2. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and click Add device.
3. When The printer that I want isn't listed appears, click Add manually.
4. Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings and click Next.
5. Pick the port. For USB, use the existing USB port (such as USB001). For a network printer, choose Create a new port, select Standard TCP/IP Port, and enter the printer's IP address.
6. On the driver screen, click Have Disk, browse to the extracted folder, and open the .inf file.
7. Select your Samsung model, give the printer a name, and finish. Print a test page to confirm it works.

On a Mac

1. Open the downloaded file, then the Mac_Installer folder, then Mac_Printer, and run the printer driver package.
2. Click Continue, then Install, and enter your Mac password when asked.
3. Click Add Printer when the installer offers it, or Continue if you'd rather add it later.
4. Select your printer, choose the Samsung driver from the Use menu, and click Add.
5. Confirm the printer appears under System Settings > Printers & Scanners (System Preferences on older macOS).

Check macOS support before you download. HP's Mac drivers for many Samsung models haven't kept pace with Apple's updates. In 2025, an HP support representative confirmed that the newest Mac drivers for the Xpress SL-M2070 series only list macOS 13 Ventura and earlier as supported. On a newer Mac, try these instead:

• Add the printer in Printers & Scanners and choose AirPrint or Secure AirPrint from the Use menu, if your model offers it.
• No AirPrint option? Try Generic PostScript Printer or Generic PCL Printer. This only works if your printer understands PostScript or PCL. SPL-only models won't print with a generic driver.
• To scan from a multifunction model without a Samsung scan driver, open Apple's Image Capture app and see whether the scanner shows up there.

How to Update the Samsung Printer Driver

An update is worth doing after a big Windows or macOS upgrade, when a feature stops working, or when HP posts a newer version for your model.

Windows Update

• Windows 11: Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Then open Advanced options > Optional updates, expand Driver updates, and install any entry that names your Samsung printer.
• Windows 10: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, click Check for updates, then click View optional updates.

Don't rely on this route alone. Since January 15, 2026, Microsoft has stopped publishing new third-party printer drivers to Windows Update for Windows 11, apart from approved exceptions. For Samsung printers, HP's download page is now the more dependable place to look.

Manual Update Through Device Manager

Download the newer driver from HP and extract it first. Then:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Print queues, right-click your Samsung printer, and choose Update driver.
3. Select Browse my computer for drivers, point it to the extracted folder, and click Next.

The Search automatically for drivers option only checks Windows' own sources, which rarely hold a newer Samsung driver. If you downloaded the full installer instead, just run it. In most cases it updates the existing driver in place.

Samsung Printer Diagnostics

HP still offers Samsung Printer Diagnostics for Windows, and it's the closest thing Samsung owners have to an automatic updater. Each time you open it, it checks HP's server for the latest software for your printer. It can also update the printer's firmware, set up wireless printing over a USB cable, show toner usage history, and diagnose network and fax problems. Download it from your model's page on HP's site, then open it from the Start menu under Samsung Printers.

Samsung Driver Won't Install? Try These Fixes

• "No Printer Found" during setup. Check that the printer is on and the USB cable is pushed all the way in at both ends. HP suggests trying a different cable, ideally one shorter than 6 feet. For a network printer, make sure it's on the same network as your computer, then click Search again.
• The install fails partway or the driver won't stick. Clear out the old driver first. Remove the printer from Printers & scanners, press Windows + R, type printui /s /t2, and press Enter. On the Drivers tab, select each old Samsung entry, click Remove, and choose Remove driver and driver package. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the computer, try the removal again, and then reinstall.
• There's no model driver for your version of Windows. Try the Samsung Universal Print Driver from the same HP page. HP notes it may not work on every OS build, so if it fails, go back to the most recent model-specific driver.
• Samsung settings are missing after setup. Windows may have assigned a generic driver. Open Printer properties, go to the Advanced tab, and pick the Samsung driver from the Driver list. If it isn't listed, install it first.
• Wireless setup never finishes. Run Samsung Easy Wireless Setup with the printer connected by USB, or work through our guide to a Samsung printer not connecting to Wi-Fi.
• It broke right after a Windows update. Our guide to Samsung printer issues after a Windows update covers the steps for that situation.