Google will not support Cloud Print, its cloud-based printing solution starting 2021

Last week, Google notified its users that Cloud Print, Google’s cloud-based printing solution will not receive any support after December 31, 2020. The Cloud Print service has been in beta since 2010. It is a technology that enables users to print data from any Cloud Print-aware application like web, desktop, mobile in the network cloud to any printer. Google also advised its users to migrate to an alternate native printing solution before the beginning of 2021.

In the short support note, Google says that it has improved the native printing experience for Chrome OS users and will continue adding new features to it. “For environments besides Chrome OS, or in multi-OS scenarios, we encourage you to use the respective platform’s native printing infrastructure and/or partner with a print solutions provider,” adds Google.

Native print management features currently or will be supported by Chrome OS by the end of 2019

Admin console interface will manage thousands of CUPS-based printers for users, devices, and managed guests by organizational unit.

The admin console policy will manage user printing defaults for 2-sided (duplex) and color.

Support for advanced printing attributes like stapling, paper trays, pin printing.

The admin console policy will include user account and filename in IPP header of print job over a secure IPPS connection. This will enable third-party printing features such as secure printing and print-usage tracking.

PIN code printing will also be managed by the admin console policy. It will allow users to enter pin code when sending the print job. It will also release the print job for printing the pin code into the printer keypad.