How to Share Printers on Windows

If in one room there is only one printer and many computers, you can connect all of them with printer sharing. How to share printers on windows is actually easy as long as you know the steps.

There are many advantages that you can get by sharing a printer. For example, it is more cost-effective because it only requires one printer for many computers.

In addition, all computers can also use the printer without having to be directly connected to the device.

How to Share Printers on Windows

There are 3 main steps that need to be done to connect one printer to all devices.

There is also one condition that must be met before you share a printer, namely all computers or laptops must be connected to the same network, can use Wi-Fi or LAN.

Then also the main computer must be connected to the printer.

1. Enable Settings File and Printer Sharing

The first step that must be done is to activate the File and Printer Sharing option. This setting is done on a computer or laptop that is directly connected to the printer. For convenience, this computer is referred to as the main computer.

Here are the settings you have to do on your main computer or laptop:

1. First, click the Start Button first.
2. After that, select Control Panel.
3. You can also use keyboard shortcuts in the form of Windows and X then select the Control Panel option.
4. If you have entered the Control Panel, select the Network and Internet menu.
5. Click on the Network and Sharing Center submenu.
6. Now click on the Change Advanced Sharing Settings option.
7. Look under the File and printer sharing section.
8. Select Turn on file and printer sharing by clicking on the radio button next to it.
9. Scroll to the bottom, find Password protected sharing.
10. Here select the Turn off password protected sharing option.
11. When finished, click on the Save Changes button at the bottom right.

After following all the steps above, you have successfully enabled printer sharing on the main computer. Before proceeding to the next step, you should make sure that the printer is connected to the device.

Don’t forget to check whether the driver is installed properly? We recommend trying to use the printer to print one document first to be sure. If it works well, you can move on to step two.

2. How to Set Printer in Windows

Still on the main computer, now you have to do advanced settings so that the printer can be accessed by other computers. This step is called printer sharing.

In this step, you will directly connect with the printer. Therefore, in the previous step you need to make sure that the printer is properly connected to the computer. Pay attention to the steps below:

1. Open the Start menu first by clicking the Start button in the corner of the screen.
2. You can also open the Start menu by clicking the Start button on the keyboard.
3. Click on the Devices and Printers menu.
4. Look in the Printers and Faxes section. Find the name of the printer that is currently connected to the main computer.
5. Right click on the printer.
6. Select the Printer Properties option.
7. A moment later a new window or window will appear, namely the Properties window.
8. There are several tabs, click on the Sharing tab.
9. After that put a check mark on the Share this printer option.
10. If so, click on the Apply button.
11. Continue by clicking the OK button.
12. Connect Printers with Multiple PCs

After doing the first and second steps, it means that the main computer has allowed the printer to be accessed by other computers or laptops. Now the one who has to connect the other computer or laptop, in order to communicate directly to the printer.

Prepare the devices that will be connected to the printer, for example, such as laptops and PCs. Make sure that all the devices are turned on and connected to the same network, either using LAN or Wi-Fi.

Only then do the steps below:

1. On devices other than the main computer, first click on the Start menu.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Now click on the Network and Internet menu.
4. Click on the Network and Sharing Center sub menu.
5. After that, select the Change Advanced Sharing Settings option.
6. Look under the File and printer sharing section.
7. Click on the radio button in the Turn on file and printer sharing option to activate the option (Like the first method above).
8. Now open Windows File Explorer by clicking on its icon or using the Windows shortcut and the letter E on the keyboard.
9. Look in the left sidebar, select Network.
10. Find the name of the main computer that you previously connected to the printer.
11. When you find the name, double-click it to open.
12. In it, you will see the printer icon along with its name. Right-click on the printer.
13. Select the Connect option.

The printer driver will be automatically installed on the computer or PC connected to the printer.

Perform the third step above until all computers or laptops are connected to the printer. It turns out that sharing a printer on Windows is very easy, right?