How to Share Printer on LAN Network in Windows

Companies normally use network printers for printing documents. But network printers are costly and small companies usually go for USB printers. So, you might need to approach the computer that has the printer connected to print your documents. But a lot of prints might be a problem unless you share that printer on the LAN network.

After you share the printer on the LAN network, you can use your colleague’s printer to print your documents without going to their desk. Yes, it is possible. You can use Windows Printer sharing to solve your printer problem. Not only you, but everyone in the same Local Area Network can share a single USB printer connected to a computer.

SEE ALSO: How to Turn ON Your Computer from the Network via Wake-on-LAN?

Share your Colleague’s Printer on the LAN Network

Before we move to the steps, let’s see what we will require to share the printer. The first thing we are going to need is that the computer having printer should be connected to the same LAN network as of other computers. And the second thing that we need is the IP address of that computer (connected to the printer).

NOTE: Please note that after installing the KB5005565 update in Windows 10, printer sharing stopped working. If you are still facing this issue, try installing KB5007253 or the latest Windows update to fix this issue.

Step 1: Turn ON Printer Sharing to Share the Printer on the LAN Network

First of all, you have to enable File and printer sharing on both computers. So, right-click on the Network icon on the bottom right corner of your desktop and select “Open Network and Sharing Center“. You can also search “network and sharing” in the Control Panel.

Right-click on Network icon and select Open Network and Sharing Center
Right-click on the Network icon and select Open Network and Sharing Center

Network and Sharing Center will open, click on “Change advanced sharing settings” in the left pane. We need to change the sharing settings to share the printer on the LAN network.

Click Change Advanced Sharing Settings
Click Change Advanced Sharing Settings

In Advanced sharing settings, you have to change two settings i.e. Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing. Check the radio buttons next to these two settings and click on Save Changes. You may require the Administrator’s permission for this, click Yes when prompted.

Turn on network discovery and File and printer sharing to share printer on LAN network in windows
Turn on network discovery and File and printer sharing

Now, after enabling network sharing, we just need to share the printer on the LAN network.

INFO: You have successfully enabled Printer and file sharing on your computer. Now, go to the computer that has the printer connected to it and enable Printer and file sharing on that computer also.


Step 2: Go to Devices and Printers in Control Panel

On your computer, open Control Panel from Start.

Open Control Panel In Windows 10
Open Control Panel from the Start

After that, search for “devices and printers” in the Control Panel. Select Devices and Printers from the search results as shown in the screenshot below. After you share the printer on the LAN network, we will add it via Devices and Printers.

Search and open Devices and Printers from Control Panel
Search and open Devices and Printers from Control Panel

Step 3: Add a Printer in Control Panel

In the Devices and Printers window, click on the Add a Printer button at the top bar.

Click Add Printer button at the top bar
Click Add a Printer button at the top bar

Windows will look for printers connected to your PC. But the printer we want is not connected to our PC. So, we will have to do it the other way. Now, click the “Printer that I want isn’t listed” link at the bottom.

Click "The Printer that I want isn't listed" link at the bottom to share printer on lan network
Click the “The Printer that I want isn’t listed” link at the bottom

A new window will open where you will see a list of available options to connect a printer. We will use the second option since we are connecting a shared printer. So, click on “Select a shared printer by name” and type the address of the printer in the box provided. Use the following format to enter the printer address:

\\<ipaddress of colleague's computer>\<PrinterName>

In our case 192.168.1.7 is the IP address of a colleague’s computer and HP LaserJet P1008 is the printer’s name. After entering the printer address, click Next to proceed. Remember, your system will only be able to connect to the printer if you share it on the LAN network from another computer.

Connect a shared printer to your PC
Connect a shared printer to your PC

Step 4: Connect the Shared Printer and Install Printer Driver

If you have entered the Printer Address correctly, Windows will connect to the printer and prompt for the credentials of the other computer. Enter the Username and Password of that computer and click OK.

Enter credentials to connect to the printer
Enter credentials to connect to the printer

The printer installation will start. The system will prompt you to install the drivers for the printer. So, click on the Install driver button to continue driver installation.

Click Install Drivers to install printer drivers
Click Install Driver to install printer drivers

Windows will copy driver files to your computer.

Printer Driver installation in progress
Printer Driver installation progress

You may see a UAC prompt while installing, click OK to confirm the installation.


Step 5: Print the Test Page from the Shared Printer

You have successfully installed the printer. You can now print your documents using this printer without going to your colleague’s computer. So, click Next to continue.

Click Next to finish printer installation - share printer on lan network windows
Click Next to finish the printer installation

You can now print a test page by clicking the Print a test page button. After that, click Finish to exit the wizard.

Print a test page - share printer on LAN network windows
Print a test page

Now, that printer will be listed among your printers. You can use this printer to print your documents directly from your computer.

Shared printer added to the list of printer - Share printer on LAN Network
Shared printer added to the list of printer

SEE ALSO: How to CredSSP Encryption Oracle Remediation Error in Remote Desktop?

Share Printer on LAN Network and Use it as Network Printer

You can connect this shared printer to multiple computers. Now, you can print documents directly from your PC without going to that computer. Just press Ctrl + P, and in the print dialog box, select the recently connected printer and click Print

Please note that your colleague’s computer must be turned on to use that printer from your computer. If you face any problems regarding printer installation, comment below.

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