WINDOWS 10 PRINTER SHARING NOT WORKING

• On the Devices and Printers screen, select and right-click on your printer.
• Click on the Printer Properties option.
• Go to the Sharing tab.
• Now, check if there is a checkmark beside the printer that you wish to share.
• If not, click the checkbox.

If the shared printer is not working even after it is configured correctly, try the simple troubleshooting instructions given below.

Simple solutions

• Restart the printer with which you’re encountering the issue.
• Check whether your printer and the Windows 10 computer are connected to the same network. If not, connect them now.
• Set the printer (with which you’re encountering the issue) as the default one on your computer.

Now, check if the shared printer is working on your Windows 10 computer. If not, try some advanced troubleshooting methods given below.

Advanced methods

Method 1: Restart your Windows 10 computer

Restarting the computer is the right choice to resolve these kinds of issues. To do the same, carry out the steps given below.

Method 2: Enabling “Printer Sharing”

• Open the Control Panel screen.
• Select the Network and Sharing Center option followed by Change advanced sharing settings. Now, below the Network discovery section, check if the Turn on network discovery option is selected. If not, select it.
• Similarly, check if the Turn on file and printer sharing option is selected below the File and printer sharing option.

Now, check if the shared printer is working. If not, try the next method.

Method 3: Allow “Printer Sharing” in Firewall settings

If you’re using a firewall on your computer, configure its settings to allow “printer sharing.” To achieve this task, follow the instructions given here.

• Click on the Windows Defender Firewall option on the Control Panel screen.
• Now, in the opened window, click the "Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall" option.
• Locate the File and Printer Sharing option under the Allowed apps and features section and enable it.
• If you find that the problem remains, just move on to the next solution.

Method 4: Providing the necessary permissions

If you haven’t provided the permission to manage your printer, there is a chance for you to encounter these kinds of issues. To check and allow the permissions, follow the instructions below.

• Click on the option named "Hardware and Sound” on the Control Panel screen of your Windows 10 computer.
• Locate and click on the Devices and Printers option.
• On the opened screen, select and right-click on the printer with which you’re encountering the issue.
• Select the Printer Properties option from the menu.
• Now, click on the Security tab of the Properties dialog box.
• Choose the user account for which you wish to provide permission.
• Click the Allow button beside all the permissions.
• Save the settings.

*Note: Make sure that your Windows 10 computer’s network settings are also configured correctly.

Method 5: Running the built-in printer troubleshooter

• On the Control Panel screen, click the Troubleshooting option.
• Select the View all option.
• Click Printer > Next.
• Run the troubleshooting process by following the prompts displayed on the screen.
• In case the “Windows 10 printer sharing not working” problem persists, execute the next troubleshooting method given below.

Method 6: Using the Run app

• Open the Run application.
• Now, run the “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” command.
• After running the above command successfully, restart your Windows 10 computer.

Now, check if the shared printer is working on your Windows 10 computer.