Why a Pantum Printer Doesn’t Work on an ARM Windows 11 Laptop and How to Fix It

Last Updated on 10.06.2026 by DriverNew

New lightweight and powerful laptops based on ARM processors (for example, with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus chips) run on a special version of the operating system called Windows 11 ARM.

Many owners of such laptops encounter the following issue: when trying to install the driver for a Pantum printer or MFP, the official setup program throws an error, freezes, or fails to detect the device.

In this article, we will explain in simple terms why this happens and provide step-by-step instructions on how to make your Pantum hardware print and scan.

How to Check the Processor Type on Your Laptop

If you do not know what type of processor is installed in your device, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button in the bottom corner of the screen and select System.
2. In the opened window, look for the Processor or System type line.
3. If it says ARM64 or mentions the Snapdragon (Qualcomm) brand, your laptop belongs to the new type, and you need to use the instructions from this article.

The Main Cause of the Problem: Architecture Conflict

An ARM processor is installed inside your laptop, which is designed differently than classic Intel or AMD processors (x86/x64 architecture).

• Regular apps (browsers, messengers, games): Windows 11 ARM can automatically translate their code on the fly using the built-in Prism emulator. Therefore, they work without issues.
• Device drivers: A driver is a deep system component. Windows prohibits emulating drivers for security and stability reasons. A driver must be written strictly for the ARM64 architecture.

The core of the Pantum issue: Currently, Pantum releases installers only for standard processors (x86/x64). The brand does not have native drivers for Windows 11 ARM. Because of this, the classic installation method via a USB cable using the official .exe file will not work.

Method 1. Connecting Print via Wi-Fi or Network (Most Reliable)

If your Pantum model name includes the letters W (Wi-Fi) or NW (Network + Wi-Fi), you can do without the official driver. Windows 11 ARM can print to network devices using the universal built-in Microsoft PCL6 Class Driver or Mopria Print Device.

Step 1. Connect the printer to the router

The printer and the laptop must be connected to the same home or office network.

• If the printer has a screen, set up the connection to your Wi-Fi via the printer menu.
• If there is no screen, temporarily connect the printer to the router using a network cable (Ethernet).

Step 2. Find out the printer’s network IP address

Every device on the network is assigned its own address (for example, 192.168.1.15).

• Press the Menu/Copy button on the MFP, find the Information Report item, and print the Configuration Report.
• Find the IP Address line on the printed sheet and write down these numbers.

Step 3. Add the printer in Windows 11

1. Open laptop Settings (press the Win + I key combination).
2. Go to the Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners section.
3. Click the Add device button.
4. Wait for 10–15 seconds. The link “The printer that I want isn’t listed” will appear. Click the Add manually button next to it.
5. Select the “Add a printer using an IP address or hostname” option and click Next.
6. In the “Hostname or IP address” line, enter the numbers you wrote down in Step 2, then click Next.
7. The system will detect the printer. If Windows prompts you to choose a driver, select Microsoft PCL6 Class Driver or Mopria Print Device.

Method 2. Manual Print Installation via USB

If you have a basic printer model (connects only via USB cable) or lack a Wi-Fi connection, the standard installer will not run. You can try to “force” the system to accept the driver files directly.

Step 1. Extract the driver files

1. Download the official driver for your model from the Pantum website. This will be a file with a .exe extension.
2. Do not double-click to run it. Download and install the free 7-Zip (or WinRAR) archiver program.
3. Right-click the downloaded Pantum driver file, select 7-Zip → Extract to…. You will get a regular folder with files.

Step 2. Installation via Device Manager

1. Connect the printer to the laptop via a USB cable and plug the printer into a power outlet.
2. Right-click the Start button at the bottom of the screen and select Device Manager.
3. In the device list, find the item with a yellow exclamation mark (it is usually located in the Other devices section and named after your printer).
4. Right-click it and select Update driver.
5. Choose the “Browse my computer for drivers” option.
6. Click the Browse button and specify the folder where you extracted the driver in Step 1, then click Next.

Note: This method enables the print function only.

How to Set Up Scanning on Windows 11 ARM (Free Methods)

Since the standard Windows scanning service (TWAIN/WIA) cannot function without an official ARM64 driver, regular scanning software will not detect a Pantum MFP. Popular third-party applications like VueScan are also useless in this case, as they do not support Pantum hardware in their device database.

Nonetheless, you can start scanning completely free of charge using the built-in network functions of the device.

Option A. Scanning via Any Web Browser (Web Scanning)

Most network-enabled Pantum MFPs (with Wi-Fi or Ethernet support) have their own internal management website. You can scan documents directly through it.

1. Make sure that the MFP and the laptop are connected to the same router.
2. Open any browser on your laptop (Edge, Chrome, etc.).
3. Enter your MFP’s IP address into the address bar (how to find it is described in Method 1, Step 2) and press Enter.
4. On the opened Pantum management page, find the Scanning (or Web Scan) tab.
5. Place a document on the MFP glass and click the Scan button directly on the browser screen. The finished image will open in a new tab, and you can save it to your laptop as a regular picture or a PDF file.

Option B. Autonomous Scanning (Without a Computer)

If your MFP is connected to a network, it can send documents bypassing the laptop’s operating system entirely.

• To a network folder (SMB): Create a shared network folder on your laptop and grand access to it. In the printer’s web interface, specify the path to this folder once. After that, you can walk up to the MFP, press the “Scan → to network folder” button on its panel, and the finished files will appear on your laptop on their own.
• To a USB flash drive: If your Pantum modification features a USB port on the front or rear panel for flash drives, simply insert a storage device there. Select the “Scan to USB” item on the MFP screen. Once the job is done, transfer the flash drive to your laptop.

Option C. Using a Smartphone as an Intermediate Link

Since mobile operating systems have no compatibility issues, official Pantum applications run perfectly there.

1. Install the free Pantum APP on your phone (from Google Play or the App Store).
2. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the MFP.
3. Place a document in the MFP, open the app on your phone, and start scanning.
4. Save the received file to any cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive) or send it to yourself via a messenger. The file will instantly become accessible on your ARM laptop.

A Guide for Future Purchases

If you are only planning to buy a printer or MFP for your Windows 11 ARM laptop, pay attention to the following characteristics in the product description:

• Look for the “Mopria Certified” label: This means the device is guaranteed to work on any operating system (including Windows ARM, Android, and macOS) without installing any proprietary manufacturer drivers at all.
• Choose network models: The presence of an Ethernet port (network wire) or a Wi-Fi module almost always resolves compatibility issues with ARM processors due to universal network printing protocols and built-in web interfaces.