Share a printer as a network printer

In order to properly share a printer across a trusted network, the network needs to be set as Private. To verify that the current trusted network is set to Private, or to set it to Private, follow these steps:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Network & Internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & internet

2. In the Network & internet window, select either Wi-Fi or Ethernet .

3. If your network is listed in the Wi-Fi or Ethernet pane, select it. 

4. Under Network profile type, select Private network.

The settings to share devices, including printers, are normally turned on by default for Private networks. To verify that sharing settings are turned on, or to turn them on if they're turned off, follow these steps:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Network & internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & internet

2. In the Network & internet window, select Advanced network settings.

3. In the Advanced network settings window, select Advanced sharing settings.

4. In the Advanced sharing settings window, expand the Private networks section, and then make sure both Network discovery and File and printer sharing are switched On.

   Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Printers & scanners shortcut:
   
   Open Printers & scanners

2. In the Printers & scanners window, select the desired printer to share.

3. In your <Printer> window, select Printer properties.

4. In the printer Properties window, select the Sharing tab.

5. In the Sharing tab:

   1. Select Change Sharing Options.

      Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

   2. Select Share this printer.

   3. Note the Share name of the printer. This share name is used when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices. If desired, the Share name of the printer can be changed.
      
      

   4. When done, select OK.

The name or IP address of the primary Windows device needs to be determined before the shared printer can be installed on other Windows devices.

Determine the name of the primary Windows device:

1. On the Windows device where the printer is directly connected, select Start and then select Settings > System > About .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following About shortcut:
   
   Open About

2. In the System > About window, the name of the primary Windows device can be found under Device specifications and next to Device name. Make a note of this name for use when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices.

Determine the IP address of the primary Windows device:

1. On the Windows device where the printer is directly connected, select Start and then select Settings > Network & internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & internet

2. In the Network & internet window, select either Wi-Fi or Ethernet .

3. If your network is listed in the Wi-Fi or Ethernet pane, select it. 

4. Scroll down to see the IP address of the primary Windows device found next to IPv4 address:. Make a note of this IP address for use when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices.

To install the printer that was shared on another Windows device in the same Private network:

1. On another Windows device on the same Private network as the primary Windows device, select Start and then select Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Printers & scanners shortcut:
   
   Open Printers & scanners

2. In the Printers & Scanners window, select Add device next to Add a printer & scanner.

3. A list of printers is displayed. It might take a few minutes for the list of printers to finish populating. Next to the desired printer select Add Device. The printer installs.

4. If the desired printer isn't displayed, next to The printer that I want isn't listed, select Add a new device manually. In the Add printer window that opens:

   1. Select Select a shared printer by name.

   2. Enter the name or IP address of the primary Windows device along with the share name of the printer using one of these formats:

      Alternatively, the Browse button can be used to select the primary Windows device and shared printer.

      Tip: The name and IP address of the primary Windows device can be obtained by following the steps in the section Determine the name or IP address of the primary Windows device. The share name of the printer was set in the section Share the printer on the primary Windows device. If adding the printer by name fails, then try adding by IP address instead, and vice versa.

      • \\computer_name\printer_name

      • \\ip_address\printer_name

      • http://computer_name/printer_name/.printer

      • http://ip_address/printer_name/.printer

   3. If prompted to do so, enter the credentials for the primary Windows device.

   4. Select Next. The Windows Printer Installation window appears and installs the printer.

   5. When the printer installation finishes successfully, select Next and then Finish.

In order to properly share a printer across a trusted network, the network needs to be set as Private. To verify that the current trusted network is set to Private, or to set it to Private, follow these steps:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Network & Internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & Internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & Internet

2. In the Status window, under either Wi-Fi or Ethernet , select the Properties button.

3. Under Network profile, select Private.

The settings to share devices, including printers, are normally turned on by default for Private networks. To verify that sharing settings are turned on, or to turn them on if they're turned off, follow these steps:

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Network & Internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & Internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & Internet

2. In the Status window, under Advanced network settings, select Network and Sharing Center.

3. In the Network and Sharing Center window that opens, on the left-hand side, select Change advanced sharing settings.

4. In the Advanced sharing settings window that opens:

   1. Expand the Private section.

   2. Under Network discovery, select Turn on network discovery.

   3. Under File and printer sharing, select Turn on file and printer sharing.

   4. Select the Save changes button.

      Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Printers & scanners shortcut:
   
   Open Printers & scanners

2. Select the desired printer to share and then select the Manage button.

3. In the Manage your device window, select Printer properties.

4. In the printer Properties window, select the Sharing tab.

5. In the Sharing tab:

   1. Select the Change Sharing Options button.

      Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

   2. Select the Share this printer checkbox.

   3. Notate the Share name: of the printer. This share name is used when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices. If desired, the Share name of the printer can be changed.
      
      

   4. When done, select the OK button.

The name or IP address of the primary Windows device needs to be determined before the shared printer can be installed on other Windows devices.

Determine the name of the primary Windows device:

1. On the Windows device where the printer is directly connected, select Start and then select Settings > System > About .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following About shortcut:
   
   Open About

2. In the About window, the name of the primary Windows device can be found under Device specifications and next to Device name. Make a note of this name for use when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices.

Determine the IP address of the primary Windows device:

1. On the Windows device where the printer is directly connected, select Start and then select Settings > Network & Internet .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Network & Internet shortcut:
   
   Open Network & Internet

2. In the Status window, under either Wi-Fi or Ethernet , select the Properties button.

3. The IP address of the primary Windows device can be found under Properties and next to IPv4 address:. Make a note of this IP address for use when setting up the shared printer on other Windows devices.

To install the printer that was shared on another Windows device in the same Private network:

1. On another Windows device on the same Private network as the primary Windows device, select Start and then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners .
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Printers & scanners shortcut:
   
   Open Printers & scanners

2. In the Printers & Scanners window, under Add printers & scanners, select Add a printer or scanner.

3. A list of printers is displayed. It might take a few minutes for the list of printers to finish populating. Choose the desired printer and then select the Add Device button.

4. If the desired printer isn't displayed, select The printer that I want isn't listed. In the Add printer window that opens:

   1. Select Select a shared printer by name.

   2. Enter the name or IP address of the primary Windows device along with the share name of the printer using one of these formats:

      • \\computer_name\printer_name

      • \\ip_address\printer_name

      • http://computer_name/printer_name/.printer

      • http://ip_address/printer_name/.printer

   Alternatively, the Browse button can be used to select the primary Windows device and shared printer.

   Tip: The name and IP address of the primary Windows device can be obtained by following the steps in the section Determine the name or IP address of the primary Windows device. The share name of the printer was set in the section Share the printer on the primary Windows device. If adding the printer by name fails, then try adding by IP address instead, and vice versa.

5. If prompted to do so, enter the credentials for the primary Windows device.

6. Select the Next button. The Windows Printer Installation window appears and installs the printer.

7. When the printer installation finishes successfully, select the Next button and then the Finish button.