PaperCut MF v26 is out, and if your office runs PaperCut for print management, don’t just click upgrade and walk away. This release modernizes how users sign in, tightens security, and — here’s the kicker — automatically shuts off support for older devices the moment you upgrade. Some of that is great news. Some of it can knock a copier offline on a Monday morning. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s New in PaperCut MF v26
The headline feature is a unified authentication model. Sign-in now works the same way across every interface — the admin console, the user web portal, and Print Deploy. Even better, v26 adds SAML 2.0 single sign-on support, so your team can log in with the same credentials they already use for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Fewer passwords to remember, fewer help desk tickets, and a smaller attack surface. What’s not to like?
Print Deploy also picks up Windows ARM64 driver matching, which matters more every month as ARM-based Windows laptops show up in offices. And a next-generation Ricoh embedded client is targeted for release with version 26.0.3, currently expected on or about July 30, 2026.
PaperCut MF v26 Can Disable Older Copiers — Automatically
This is the part that deserves your full attention. Version 26 enforces PaperCut’s end-of-life device policy, which automatically disables all end-of-life embedded clients — on Ricoh devices and every other manufacturer’s — as soon as the server upgrades. This is not optional, and there is no grace period. It’s enforced immediately upon upgrade.
Translation: if your fleet includes older machines running an end-of-life PaperCut MF embedded client, those devices lose their PaperCut functions — secure print release, copy tracking, scan workflows — the day you move to v26. Nobody wants to discover that from an angry phone call. Before any upgrade, someone needs to audit the fleet, identify affected devices, and plan replacements or workarounds. That’s exactly the kind of homework a good service partner does for you.
Cloud Scanning Now Requires Active Maintenance and Support
Another change worth flagging: PaperCut Cloud Services now require an active Maintenance & Support agreement to keep eligible cloud-based scan features running. Let your M&S lapse and those capabilities stop. The admin console now displays warnings when M&S is nearing expiration or has already expired, which is helpful — but only if somebody is actually looking at the admin console. If ABS manages your PaperCut MF environment, that’s our job, not yours.
A PaperCut Price Increase Lands July 20, 2026
One more date for the calendar: PaperCut has announced a global pricing increase effective July 20, 2026. If a print management project has been sitting on your someday list, getting it quoted before the increase is worth a phone call. The good news? Customers with current Maintenance & Support can upgrade to PaperCut MF v26 without paying an additional license fee. The upgrade itself is free — the planning is what counts.
For the full technical rundown, see the official What’s New in PaperCut MF page, and check Ricoh USA for device compatibility details on Ricoh hardware.
What This Means for Tallahassee Businesses
Plenty of law firms, medical offices, and state agencies around Tallahassee run PaperCut MF for secure print release and print tracking — it’s one of the most common requests we get. The v26 release is a good update: modern sign-on, better security, cleaner user experience. But the automatic end-of-life enforcement means upgrading without a fleet audit is asking for trouble.
Advanced Business Systems supports print management across Canon, Kyocera, Ricoh, and Toshiba equipment in Tallahassee, Thomasville, and throughout North Florida and South Georgia. Before you upgrade, we’ll check every device in your fleet against the end-of-life list, plan the timing, and make sure secure print keeps working for the people who depend on it. Call (850) 222-2308 and we’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to pay to upgrade to PaperCut MF v26?
A: No — if your Maintenance & Support agreement is current, the v26 upgrade carries no additional license fee. If M&S has lapsed, get it reinstated before the July 20, 2026 price increase.
Q: Will PaperCut MF v26 break my older copiers?
A: The copiers keep copying, but end-of-life embedded clients are automatically disabled on upgrade — meaning features like secure print release stop working on those devices. An audit before upgrading tells you exactly which machines are affected.
Q: What happens if I just skip the upgrade?
A: Nothing right away, but you miss the security improvements and SAML single sign-on, and cloud scan features still require active Maintenance & Support regardless of version. Staying several versions behind eventually becomes its own risk.