Printer LAN Sharing Setup

The whole process has two parts: first, share the printer on the host computer that the printer is connected to, then add the network printer on the other client computers that need to use it.

Step 1: Set up sharing on the host computer connected to the printer

This is the computer directly connected to the printer via USB cable or network.

1. Turn on network discovery and sharing (the most critical step)

1. Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings
2. Click Advanced sharing settings
3. In the window that opens, make sure the options under Private networks are checked:
   • Turn on network discovery
   • Turn on file and printer sharing
4. In the All networks section, choose Turn off password protected sharing (suitable for a home or trusted internal network), or set a password according to your security needs
5. Click Save changes

2. Share the specific printer

1. Go back to Settings and open Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Find the printer you want to share in the device list and click into Printer properties
3. Switch to the Sharing tab
4. Check Share this printer, and set a simple, memorable share name below (e.g., HP_LaserJet_Office). Remember this name—you'll need it later
5. Click Apply and OK

3. Note down the host's key information (choose either method)

To make it easier for clients to connect, you need to know the host's network identifier. Note down either of the following:

• Computer name: right-click This PC on the desktop, choose Properties, and find the Device name
• IP address: search cmd in the Start menu to open Command Prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter, then find the IPv4 Address (usually in 192.168.x.x format)

Step 2: Add the shared printer on the client computers

The client computers and the host need to be on the same LAN.

1. Open the Add Printer screen

1. Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Click Add a printer or scanner
3. Wait for the system to search automatically. It usually can't find it automatically, so just click the "The printer that I want isn't listed" option that appears below

2. Connect by manually entering the path

1. Select "Select a shared printer by name"
2. In the input box, use the host information you noted earlier, in one of the following two formats:
   • Using the computer name: \\HostComputerName\PrinterShareName (e.g., \\DESKTOP-PC123\HP_LaserJet_Office)
   • Using the IP address: \\HostIPAddress\PrinterShareName (e.g., \\192.168.1.100\HP_LaserJet_Office)
3. Click Next
4. The system will connect to the host and look for the driver. You may need to choose to install the driver as prompted, or wait for the system to finish automatically
5. Once done, you can print a test page to confirm the connection works

Troubleshooting

If the steps above fail, check the following in order:

1. Check network connectivity

On the client computer, press Win + R to open the Run box, type cmd and press Enter, then type:

ping HostIPAddress

For example: ping 192.168.1.100

If you get replies, the network is connected. If it shows "Request timed out," check whether both computers are on the same Wi-Fi/router, or whether the host's firewall is blocking ICMP echo.

2. Host firewall and sharing services

1. On the host, open Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through the firewall
2. Make sure "File and Printer Sharing" is allowed on both Private and Public networks
3. Check whether the services are running: press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter, find the "Server" and "Print Spooler" services, and make sure their status is "Running"

3. Host credential issues

When the client connects, it may pop up a window asking for a username and password. Try entering the host's login username and password. If the host signs in with a Microsoft account, the password is usually the Microsoft account password.

4. Driver issues

If the client reports a missing driver during connection, you can go into Printer properties on the host, click "Additional Drivers" on the Sharing tab, and check the driver for the matching system bitness (such as x64) to prepare drivers in advance for clients on different systems.

Note: The methods above apply to the most common sharing between Windows 10/11. If your network also has older systems like Windows 7, you may need to make sure the additional drivers are installed on the host.