Fix: Printer Sharing Not Working in Windows

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Printer sharing is definitely one of the helpful features. It allows you to share your printer over a network of multiple printers. So anyone can print freely without the hassle of connecting printers to individual computers. But what if printer sharing not working in Windows? This surely can be an irritating problem to deal with.

In case you are dealing with the same problem and looking for a quick solution, then I have got your back. I have mentioned some quick hacks to resolve the error.

Why is Printer Sharing Not Working in Windows?

  • Your firewall settings might be blocking printer sharing. In case that is so, then you have to configure your firewall settings or temporarily disable them to allow your printer to function.
  • Maybe, printer sharing is disabled as a result of printer sharing is not working. So try enabling printer sharing.
  • In the case of outdated drivers, the printer sharing function might not work. So check for outdated drivers and uninstall and reinstall the drivers to fix the issue.

Fix: Printer Sharing Not Working in Windows

How To Fix Printer Sharing Not Working In Windows?

There are several ways to fix printer sharing not working error in Windows. Some of the common fixes are:

  1. Turn On Printer Sharing
  2. Run Printer Troubleshooter
  3. Check If Firewall Is Blocking Printer Sharing
  4. Check for windows updates
  5. Update Printer Driver
  6. Set RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators in Group Policy

Now let me talk about these fixes one by one:

1. Turn On Printer Sharing

share printer in Windows

  • Open Windows Settings using Win + I
  • Navigate to Bluetooth  & devices > Printer & scanners
  • Select the Printer which has the sharing problem
  • Click on the Printer Properties link to open the classic printer properties
  • Switch to Sharing, and check the Share this printer box. Then add a name and apply the changes.

That’s it, your printer sharing is now enabled. Now go ahead and try to print over the network and see if it worked.

2. Run Printer Troubleshooter

I know running a troubleshooter in Windows never gives you any solution. However, sometimes it fixes the issue, and there is nothing wrong with giving it a try. Also, even if it doesn’t fix the issue, it might give you some hints for what to look for. So follow the below steps to run printer troubleshooter:

  • Go to Start Menu and click on Settings.
  • Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  • Over here, look for the Printer and click on the Run button next to it.

run printer sharing troubleshooter

That’s it. Now let the troubleshooter run and see if it has returned with any errors or hints that you can look further.

3. Check If Firewall Is Blocking Printer Sharing

Make sure that your firewall settings are not blocking your printer sharing. To check this, you can simply turn off your firewall for a temporary time. And if it works, then you can reconfigure your firewall settings.

So go ahead and follow the below steps:

Disable Windows Firewall Windows Security

  • Open Microsoft Security from the Start Menu
  • Go to Firewall and network protection
  • Click on Domain Network, Private Network, and Public Network.
  • Turn off the firewall

Now that the Windows firewall is disabled, go and check if you can find the printer in shared devices. If it did, then you need to recheck your firewall settings.

Enable file and printer sharing rule Windows

In the Windows Security, Firewall, and network protection, click on Advanced Settings. You will get to see all the inbound and outbound rules listed.

Locate the File and Printer Sharing rule and make sure it is enabled.

Make sure to turn on the firewall once done. We also recommend not do downloading anything when the firewall is turned off.

4. Check for Windows Updates (Uninstall Any Recent Update That Caused the Issue)

Windows updates can also cause different issues. Like if there is any bug that prevents network printer sharing.

So you must look for Windows updates and uninstall any recent updates that you have installed. To do so, follow the below steps:

  • Open Windows Settings using Win + I
  • Select Windows Update and click on Check for updates button.
  • Now see if there is any update available. If there is, then do install it and see if it fixes the issue.
  • If not, then you can try uninstalling recently installed updates by going to updates history.
  • Click on Uninstall updates located at the bottom.
  • Then uninstall the updates one by one and check if it fixes the issue.

5. Update Printer Driver

Outdated printer drivers can also cause printer sharing not working in Windows error. So it is advised that you update your printer driver manually. For this, you have to first figure out what printer you have and its model. You will need both the printer manufacturing company and its model.

Once you know what printer you have, head over to the manufacturer’s website and look for driver download links. Or you can simply search for your printer model + driver. For instance, if you have HP Deskjet 2723 printer, then you can search for HP Deskjet 2723 driver download and download its driver from the support.hp.com website.

After downloading the driver, simply follow all the on-screen steps and install it on your computer. Then give your PC a restart and see if it worked for you.

6. Set RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators in Group Policy

  • Go to Windows search type down Group Policy Editor and launch it.
  • Then go to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers.
  • Next, set the Limits print driver installation to Administrators setting to Disabled. This will set the registry value of RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators to 1.

Why Is My Shared Printer Not Showing Up?

There can be a wide range of reasons why your shared printer is not showing up. To make your printer online again, here are a few things that you can do:

  • Verify that your printer is turned on and is connected to the network.
  • Make sure you have access to your printer, and your access to the printer is not restricted.
  • Ensure that your printer is actually shared.
  • Make sure that File and Printer sharing and Network discovery are enabled.

How Do I Get My Computer To Recognize My Printer?

Sometimes your computer fails to recognize your computer, and that’s completely fine. There are lots of reasons why this happens. However, to get rid of the error, you can follow these steps:

  • Add a local printer.
  • Try adding a wireless printer.
  • Add a shared printer.
  • Set up HomeGroup
  • Connect to a shared printer on the HomeGroup.
  • Try installing the latest printer driver.

How Do I Reset My Printer in Windows?

There is no option to reset the printer in Windows. But you can always remove your existing printer and add it again. For this, you have to follow the below steps:

  • Go to Windows settings.
  • Bluetooth & devices > Printers & Scanners > Your Printer.
  • Then click on the Remove button and follow the on-screen steps.
  • Once removed, download the latest printer drivers and install them on your computer.

So those were some of the best fixes for printer sharing not working in Windows error. I hope this guide came in handy and helped you fix the issue. In case you are stuck at anything or have any other questions, do comment below.

Nayan Roy
Nayan is a crypto and gadget enthusiast who likes to cover topics related to Tech, Startups, Crypto, Gaming, Windows, and other interesting areas. But when he is not working, you can find him playing games or watch random videos on YouTube.

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