How to Network a Printer to Share It With Other Devices

Enable this one setting in your printer's properties to share it with the whole network

By
Bradley Mitchell
Bradley Mitchell
Writer
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • University of Illinois
An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking.
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Updated on July 24, 2024
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
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Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • First, turn on file and printer sharing in the Network and Sharing Center area of Control Panel.
  • Then, open the printer's properties and turn on Share this printer in the Sharing tab.
  • Modern versions of macOS can automatically add most printers. Configure it manually via System Preferences. 

This article explains how to add a printer to your home network using an Ethernet or wireless connection on Windows and Mac devices.

Add a Network Printer in Windows

All modern versions of Windows include a printer-sharing feature that allows a computer to share its printer. This method requires the printer to be on and connected to a networked computer.

  1. Enable file and printer sharing. This option is buried in some advanced sharing settings, which you can access through Settings or Control Panel, depending on your Windows version.

    Advanced Sharing Settings in Windows with the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option highlighted

  2. Open the Start menu and search for printers. Choose Printers & scanners from the list, or Devices and Printers in some versions of Windows.

    A screenshot of Windows' Start menu with the Printers & Scanners option highlighted

  3. Select the printer you want to share and then go to Printer properties > Sharing. Select the Share this printer check box.

    Printer settings in Windows with the Sharing tab and Share checkbox highlighted

  4. Change the share name if you want, then press OK to save.

When another computer adds the printer, they will need the right printer driver. This should be a seamless process as long as the PC that shared the printer has the correct drivers installed. If other computers can't print to the shared printer, they should visit the manufacturer's website to get the correct printer drivers.

Network Printers Using Non-Windows Devices

Operating systems other than Windows incorporate slightly different methods to support network printing:

  • Current versions of macOS can automatically detect and add certain kinds of printers, with manual configuration options in the Print & Scanners section of System Settings. Older versions of Mac OS X provided a utility called Print Center for setting up printers connected to Mac computers.
  • AirPrint enables wireless printing abilities on Apple devices, including the iPhone and iPad. AirPrint support requires using a specially manufactured printer of the same brand.
  • Different Unix and Linux distributions provide generic support for network printing. User interface details differ, but most are based on a common Unix printing mechanism called CUPS.

Using Wireless Printers on a Network

Network printers for home and small businesses look similar to other types. However, these printers feature other connection methods like an Ethernet port or built-in Wi-Fi.

For Ethernet-capable printers, connect the printer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable. For Wi-Fi-capable printers, connect the printer to Wi-Fi so that any device on the network can see it. Wi-Fi printers can typically be configured through a screen on the front of the printer. The screen also displays error messages that are helpful in troubleshooting problems.

When a printer is available over the network, any device that can communicate with it can add the printer. There's no need to go through the steps above to share it. For example, once your Wi-Fi printer is connected to the network, this is how it works to add that printer to Windows 11.

Some home printers offer Bluetooth network capability, usually enabled by an attached adapter rather than being built-in. Bluetooth printers are designed to support general-purpose printing from cell phones. Because it is a short-range wireless protocol, phones running Bluetooth must be placed close to the printer to work.

Wireless Printer Adapters

Many older printers don't support Wi-Fi, but that doesn't mean you need to buy a new printer just to use it on your network. A wireless printer adapter is a special-purpose gadget that bridges these printers to a wireless home network. To use one, attach the printer to the adapter and then connect that to the router.

FAQ
  • How do I find a printer on a network?

    To find a printer on a network in Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. To find a printer on Mac, try to print something, then select the Printer field and choose Add Printer.

  • How do I print from an Android phone to a network printer?

    To print from an Android phone, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Printing, then turn on Default Print Service, or tap Add service to use a third-party app. To print from an app, tap Menu > Print and select a printer.

  • Why can't I find a printer on my network?

    Your printer may be offline. To fix it when your printer is offline, reboot your device, power cycle the printer, and check the network connection status. Confirm the printer isn't set for offline use. If you still have trouble, update the driver and reinstall the printer.

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