License & Subscription Issues

How to Add a Universal Print License to Microsoft 365 E5 Developer

Nimra Malik Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to acquire and assign a Universal Print license within a Microsoft 365 E5 Developer tenant.

How to Add a Universal Print License to Microsoft 365 E5 Developer

Product: Microsoft 365 E5 Developer
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up cloud-based printing capabilities in a Microsoft 365 developer environment.
Observed behavior: The user requires exact steps to navigate the admin center to purchase, locate, or assign Universal Print licenses, accounting for entitlement variations.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using an account with Global Administrator or Billing Administrator privileges.

Solution 1Recommended

Purchase and Assign Universal Print via the Admin Center

This is the primary method to acquire and distribute Universal Print licenses to users within your tenant.

Depending on your exact developer program entitlement, Universal Print may be available as an add-on or standalone service in the billing portal.

Navigate to Purchase Services

Search for Universal Print

Use the search bar on the Purchase services page to look for 'Universal Print'. Once located, select the 'Buy now' button.

Complete the Checkout Process

Choose the required number of licenses for your environment, proceed to checkout, and complete the transaction.

Assign Licenses to Users

Go to Users > Active users in the admin center, select the users who need printing access, and assign the newly acquired Universal Print licenses to their accounts.

Purchase and Assign Universal Print via the Admin Center

Availability: If Universal Print is unavailable for purchase in your specific E5 Developer tenant, you may need to review Microsoft's licensing documentation or contact Microsoft support for eligibility details.

Solution 2

Verify Existing Subscription Entitlements

Check if Universal Print is already bundled with your current developer or enterprise subscriptions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Universal Print not showing up in my Purchase services list?

Availability is tied strictly to your developer program entitlement and region. Some free developer tenants are restricted from adding certain commercial add-ons. If it is missing, contact Microsoft support to verify your tenant's eligibility.

Do I have to pay for Universal Print in an E5 developer tenant?

If your developer tenant qualifies for the inclusion of Universal Print under standard E5 commercial rules, a base allocation of print jobs is included. Otherwise, you may need to purchase it as a standalone subscription add-on.

Can I test print capabilities without a Universal Print license?

Universal Print specifically requires cloud licensing. However, you can still test standard local or traditional network printing in your developer environment without assigning Universal Print licenses to your users.

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