Security Policy Errors

How to Block Printer Connections in Intune Without Blocking Headphones

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent all users from connecting printers via USB, network, or Bluetooth, while ensuring that wired and wireless headphones remain fully functional.

Product: Microsoft Intune
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Configuring enterprise endpoint security policies to restrict unauthorized printer hardware without disrupting employee audio communication tools.
Observed behavior: A targeted device-control and endpoint-security policy is required to block specific printer device classes without globally disabling Bluetooth or audio devices.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative access to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center and gather the specific device class GUIDs or hardware IDs for the printers you intend to block.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Device Control Policies for Specific Device Classes

Use Microsoft Intune's endpoint security features to specifically target printer device classes, ensuring general Bluetooth and audio connections remain active for headphones.

Blocking all Bluetooth or generic USB device classes will inadvertently disable wireless headphones. To avoid this, you must configure policies that specifically target the printer device class GUIDs.

Identify Printer Device Classes

Locate the specific hardware IDs or device class GUIDs associated with the printers you wish to block (e.g., the standard PrintQueue or Printer device classes).

Navigate to Endpoint Security

Log in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center, and go to 'Endpoint security' followed by 'Attack surface reduction'.

Create a Device Control Policy

Create a new policy using the 'Device control' profile. Add rules specifically designed to prevent the installation and connection of the identified printer device classes.

Deploy to a Pilot Group

Assign the new configuration policy to a small pilot group of users. Test the deployment to verify that printers are successfully blocked while wired and Bluetooth headphones continue to function normally.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Advanced device-control scenarios, such as granular restrictions on specific hardware IDs across network and Bluetooth protocols, may require integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Solution 2

Consult Microsoft Enterprise Support for Advanced Scripts

Enterprise device management can be highly specific. If standard policies do not cover all network printer scenarios, consult Microsoft Q&A for advanced configuration scripts.

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While configuring Microsoft Intune policies for secure device management, consider deploying WPS Office for your organization. It is a powerful, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that is fully compatible with all major document formats, making enterprise deployment seamless and cost-effective.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the enterprise or free version installer.
2. Deploy via Intune: Package the installer as a Win32 app and deploy it seamlessly to your endpoint devices using Microsoft Intune.
3. Enjoy Seamless Compatibility: Open, edit, and save Microsoft Office files instantly without any formatting loss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my wireless headphones stop working when I block printers via Intune?

This typically occurs if the endpoint security policy globally blocks all Bluetooth connections or generic USB device classes. To fix this, you must target specific printer hardware IDs rather than the entire Bluetooth protocol.

How do I find the device class GUID for printers?

You can find device class GUIDs in the Windows Device Manager. Right-click a connected printer, select 'Properties', navigate to the 'Details' tab, and select 'Device class guid' from the Property dropdown menu.

Do I need Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to block Bluetooth printers?

While basic USB device control can be managed natively through Intune, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides more granular, advanced control over specific hardware IDs and custom Bluetooth device restrictions.

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