Lexmark’s naming is compact and easy to misread: MS and CS are single-function printers, MX and CX are multifunction devices, and the suffix letters describe wireless, duplex, Touch Screen and finishing options. A driver package that matches the series but not the exact suffix can print basic pages while hiding the feature that justified the purchase. Updating printer drivers Lexmark devices starts with the full model code from the configuration page.
Lexmark’s Universal Print Driver is widely used in managed environments and is often a sensible default for standard office output. Yet Lexmark MFPs also carry scan profiles, accounting, card authentication and finishing options that may depend on the model-specific driver or additional software. Treat the UPD as a fleet tool, not as proof that every feature will remain available.
Need the general process first? Read the complete guide to updating printer drivers, including the five-stage framework and platform checks.
01 Manufacturer context
Why updating printer drivers Lexmark is different
Lexmark publishes model-specific PCL and PostScript drivers, a Universal Print Driver, full software packages and macOS/Linux packages for selected devices. The UPD can cover many models with one package, which reduces server sprawl and makes driver updates more predictable. Model-specific drivers remain valuable for colour accuracy, finishers, scan utilities and accounting integrations. Some Lexmark devices also support embedded solutions that run on the device itself and are unaffected by a client driver update.
Scan workflows are a frequent casualty of a clean reinstall. The printer queue can be recreated in minutes, while scan-to-network, LDAP address books and shortcuts may take much longer. Export the device configuration where supported, record the scan destinations and test a scan before declaring the update complete. On a print server, keep the UPD version and the exception list in the same change record.
MS · MX · CS · CX · B · XM · MB · XC
Lexmark Universal Print Driver, model-specific PCL/PostScript, full software package, macOS PKG, Linux packages
Windows 11 / 10 / Server · macOS 14+ · Linux via CUPS
02 Windows 11 & 10
Updating printer drivers Lexmark on Windows
Install the UPD for standard fleet output or the model-specific package where finishing, scan or accounting is required. Remove the existing queue first if the driver family is changing. Verify the port and the installed driver name in Printer Properties.
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01
Record the baseline and clear the old queue
Note the exact model code, port, current driver version and any custom defaults. Remove the affected queue and, where relevant, its dedicated port. Restart before installing. This prevents Windows from silently reusing the stale driver.
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02
Download the matching package from Lexmark
Select the exact model, Windows version and architecture. Verify the digital signature and release notes. If you need scan, fax, finishing or accounting features, confirm that the package includes those components rather than assuming they are bundled.
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03
Install deliberately, not by automatic discovery
Run the signed installer and add the printer on the intended port. For a network device, use a fixed address or DHCP reservation. If a generic queue already exists, remove it before adding the new one so the driver choice is unambiguous.
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Reapply options and test real output
Reselect installed trays, finishers, colour profiles and authentication settings. Print from two applications, test duplex and colour, then reboot and print again. If scanning is part of the workflow, test it separately.
03 macOS 14 and later
Updating printer drivers Lexmark on macOS
Use the Lexmark macOS package and add the queue with the model driver rather than a generic PostScript entry. AirPrint may provide basic output but can omit finishing and accounting. Test scanning through the vendor utility or Image Capture.
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Remove the existing queue before downloading
Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners and remove the device. This clears stale driver references and prevents macOS from quietly reusing a generic PostScript queue. Note any presets or custom paper sizes first.
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02
Choose AirPrint or the vendor package on purpose
If basic printing is enough, readding the device as an AirPrint queue is the most maintainable path. If you need scanning, specialty media, colour profiles or finishing, install the current Lexmark package and select the vendor driver explicitly.
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03
Verify scan support outside the print dialog
Open Image Capture or the manufacturer’s scan utility and confirm the scanner is visible. A print queue can be healthy while scanning is absent. If the scanner is missing, fix discovery or the scan component before changing the print driver again.
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04
Test, then record the working configuration
Print a real document, a colour page and a duplex job where supported. Note the queue protocol, driver version and macOS release. macOS updates occasionally replace a vendor queue with a generic one, so the record is your baseline.
04 Linux & CUPS
Updating printer drivers Lexmark on Linux
Lexmark publishes Linux packages for selected models, while CUPS can often drive PCL or PostScript queues. Driverless IPP may work on newer devices. Validate scan and finishing support separately, because CUPS printing says nothing about the MFP’s other functions.
Start with discovery, not a download
Check whether the device advertises IPP Everywhere or AirPrint before installing a vendor package. A driverless queue is often more maintainable, even if it exposes fewer specialty settings.
Validate the queue and the job
After adding or updating the queue, print a real document and check duplex, media size and colour. For label or POS devices, confirm the command language and calibration separately.
Linux support is model-dependent. Where the manufacturer does not publish a current package, a driverless queue or a validated generic PCL/PostScript driver may be the only supported option. Treat unsupported features as unavailable rather than “almost working.”
05 Field notes
Lexmark driver traps to avoid
The three patterns below account for a disproportionate share of Lexmark driver support cases. They are worth checking before you download another package.
UPD can mask model-specific capabilities
A universal queue may print perfectly while offering no finisher, accounting or colour controls. Inventory the features each department needs before standardising on the UPD, and keep a model-specific exception list for high-value devices.
The suffix is part of the model
Wireless, duplex, touch-screen and finishing variants can require different packages or configuration. Use the full model code from the device configuration page. Series-level downloads are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Scan profiles live outside the driver
Reinstalling a print driver does not recreate short-cut numbers, LDAP settings or scan-to-folder credentials. Back up or document them first. Test a real scan before closing the change.
06 Coverage
Lexmark models and series covered
This guide applies to the Lexmark families below. Model suffixes and regional variants matter, so use the label on the device or the configuration page before choosing a package.
The list is illustrative, not exhaustive. A driver page may cover additional models or exclude older regional variants. Always compare the exact model and release notes before installing.
07 Questions
Updating printer drivers Lexmark: FAQs
01 Is the Lexmark Universal Print Driver safe to use?
Yes for standard office output when you have validated the feature set. It is widely deployed and reduces maintenance. It may not expose every finishing, accounting or scan feature, so keep model-specific drivers for devices that need them and document the exceptions.
02 Why is my Lexmark scanner missing after a driver update?
The print queue and the scan software are separate. Install the model-specific scan component or full package, confirm the scanner is enabled on the device, and test from the vendor utility. A UPD installation alone may not install scan support.
03 How do I identify my exact Lexmark model?
Print the device configuration page or check the label on the printer. Use the full code, including suffix letters. The series name identifies a family; the suffix determines features and sometimes the correct driver package.
08 Source of record
Official Lexmark driver sources
This site does not host or mirror driver installers. Use the manufacturer’s support portal and verify the package before installation.
Manufacturer portals can change without notice. If a link no longer resolves, navigate from the manufacturer’s main support site and search the exact model. Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.