Sharing a printer

[greshoff]

Please excuse my ignorance when it comes to working with networks.

I have 2 Windows 10 computers and I want to share a wired printer. The printer is connected to computer A via USB and is shared. I have tried to search for the printer on computer B and tried to add it using the printer name but computer be just cannot see the printer.

I have checked the following settings-
Turn on network discovery is enabled in Network and Sharing Center. Turn on file & printer sharing is checked.
In Services – Function Discovery Provider host & Function Discovery Resource Publication are both set to Automatic (Delayed Start)

Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks

[IAmATeaf]

Never done this myself but isn’t there an option within the printer config itself to then share it out?

[greshoff]

There is and the printer is shared

[PC-LAD]

Not sure you can view another pc's device in windows. The device has to be network biased, If you pay as much as 40quid for new ink, you might as well get a new printer when you next run out if you want network or email printing. But there is likely other options to get to the outcome you want with your current printer, I just wouldn't know what it is.

[greshoff]

Thanks Anyway

[spacein_vader]

In my experience with printer sharing in Windows then even with a printer designed for it you need to follow the instructions to the letter, use the correct incantations and even then a virgin sacrifice during a full moon may be required for it to work properly.

[PC-LAD]

In my experience with printer sharing in Windows then even with a printer designed for it you need to follow the instructions to the letter, use the correct incantations and even then a virgin sacrifice during a full moon may be required for it to work properly.

Indeed, I once had to travel to the Himalayan Mountains just to find an ancient sea water pool that had the squid which could provide me with the correct ink for my printer.

[DDY]

I hate to ask the obvious, but you have 'shared' the printer on the host machine, right?

As in; settings > devices > printers and scanners > "your printer name here" > manage > printer properties > sharing > tick 'share this printer'

It used to about half that before Windows 10, but still, sharing USB only printer connected to a Windows machine over the local network is still perfectly possible.

With Windows 10 it's usually picked up by the other networked machine in the same 'printers and scanners' box as above when you click 'add a printer or a scanner'. If not try the 'the priner that I want isn't listed' option and use one of the many options, punching in the \\hostname\printername should do it, otherwise you've probably not shared the printer or the network settings are wrong e.g. machine are on a different subnet.

[greshoff]

I hate to ask the obvious, but you have 'shared' the printer on the host machine, right?

As in; settings > devices > printers and scanners > "your printer name here" > manage > printer properties > sharing > tick 'share this printer'

It used to about half that before Windows 10, but still, sharing USB only printer connected to a Windows machine over the local network is still perfectly possible.

With Windows 10 it's usually picked up by the other networked machine in the same 'printers and scanners' box as above when you click 'add a printer or a scanner'. If not try the 'the priner that I want isn't listed' option and use one of the many options, punching in the \\hostname\printername should do it, otherwise you've probably not shared the printer or the network settings are wrong e.g. machine are on a different subnet.

Yes the printer is shared and I have tried adding the printer by name but the printer can't be seen

[lodore]

Are both computers on the same workgroup?
1. Search for this pc from the start menu
2. right click on this pc and click on properties.
3. Check the workgroup to confirm both computers are on the same.
If they are not click on change settings and amend both to the same then restart.

Are both computers set to private network?
1. search for control panel from the start menu.
2. search for network and sharing centre from the search in the top right hand corner of the control panel.
3. Next to network it should say either Private or public.

If one or both are not set to private then let me know which version of windows 10 you are running as the steps have changed in later versions.
1. Search for winver from the start menu. The number required is something like 1909

It will also by worth trying to search for any shared printers /file shares for the computer. On the computer which isn't sharing the printer.
In the start menu search for the computer using the following example "\\mycomputer\" without speechmarks then press enter. this should show the shared printer in control panel and should allow you to install it.

[Jonj1611]

Do you have any firewalls apart from the standard windows one?

[greshoff]

Do you have any firewalls apart from the standard windows one?

No other firewalls installed

[greshoff]

Are both computers on the same workgroup?
1. Search for this pc from the start menu
2. right click on this pc and click on properties.
3. Check the workgroup to confirm both computers are on the same.
If they are not click on change settings and amend both to the same then restart.

Are both computers set to private network?
1. search for control panel from the start menu.
2. search for network and sharing centre from the search in the top right hand corner of the control panel.
3. Next to network it should say either Private or public.

If one or both are not set to private then let me know which version of windows 10 you are running as the steps have changed in later versions.
1. Search for winver from the start menu. The number required is something like 1909

It will also by worth trying to search for any shared printers /file shares for the computer. On the computer which isn't sharing the printer.
In the start menu search for the computer using the following example "\\mycomputer\" without speechmarks then press enter. this should show the shared printer in control panel and should allow you to install it.

Thanks. Both are set to private. One is running windows 10 pro and the other w10 home. Both are fully updated to the latest build

[fredwck]

I used to have a lot of problems with this setup too and it's due to one PC can't connect to the other pc. Do check the workgroup as suggested as that was my problem most of the time. Sometimes pc A can see B but not B to A so you can try connect printer to B

Alternatively, try getting these USB to Ethernet Print Servers if it isn't expensive.

As my needs got greater I ended up with a network printer that supports airprint and mopria. That just works.