Fix Printer Sharing Error on Windows 10/11
These troubleshooting guidelines can be used to fix almost any issue with printer sharing in Windows 11.
Although while some contemporary printers may have a built-in print server that makes it simple to share the device with other computers on the network, Windows 11 can still be used to share a printer with other users if it doesn't.
However, you can use a number of troubleshooting techniques to fix this issue on Windows 11 if the printer sharing isn't working, you can't discover the printer in the network, or for any other reason.
You will learn how to troubleshoot and resolve issues when sharing a printer on the network from this tutorial.
Fix printer sharing by updating driver
To fix a shared printer on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options tab.
Under the “Additional options” section, click the Optional updates setting.
Select the printer driver update.
Click the “Download and install” button.
Once you complete the steps, try to send a print job to confirm the printer is working.
Fix printer sharing by removing recent update
To remove a problematic update conflicting with the printer driver or networking settings, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Update history tab.
Under the “Related settings” section, click the Uninstall updates option.
Click the Uninstall button for the most recent update.
After you complete the steps, you may need to restart the computer, and upon restart, send a new print job to confirm the printer is working.
Fix printer sharing with Troubleshooter
To run the printer troubleshooter to resolve common sharing problems, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Bluetooth & devices.
Click the Printers & scanners tab.
Under the “Related settings” section, click the Troubleshoot option.
Select the shared printer with the problem.
Click the Next button.
Continue with the on-screen directions (if necessary).
Once you complete the steps, the Troubleshooter should be able to detect and resolve the sharing or any other problem affecting the printer.
Fix printer sharing with firewall troubleshooting
To resolve firewall problems sharing a printer on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Windows Security.
Click on Firewall & network protection.
Click the active network – for example, “Private network.”
Turn off the “Microsoft Defender Firewall” toggle switch.
Clear the “Blocks all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed apps” option.
Once you complete the steps, try to print one more time, and if the print job is sent successfully, then the problem may be related to the firewall configuration.
Allow printer over firewall
To allow a printer over the firewall on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Windows Security.
Click on Firewall & network protection.
Click the “Allow an app through firewall” setting.
Click the Change settings button.
Check the “Network Discovery” option with the Private option (and select the Public option if you are in a public network).
Check the “File and Printer Sharing” option with the Private option (and choose the “Public” option if you’re in a public network).
Windows 11 fix printer sharing not working
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TWEET SHARE SUBMIT
Although modern printers can come with a built-in print server to make it easy to share the device with computers in the network, you may still use Windows 11 to share a printer with other users if it doesn’t have that functionality.
However, if the printer sharing isn’t working, you’re unable to find the printer in the network, or for whatever other reason, you can use several troubleshooting steps to resolve this problem on Windows 11.
This guide will teach you the different ways to troubleshoot and fix problems when sharing a printer on the network.
Fix printer sharing by updating driver
Fix printer sharing by removing recent update
Fix printer sharing with Troubleshooter
Fix printer sharing with firewall troubleshooting
Fix printer sharing with reshare configuration
Fix printer sharing by updating driver
To fix a shared printer on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options tab.
Advanced options
Under the “Additional options” section, click the Optional updates setting.
Optional updates
Select the printer driver update.
Click the “Download and install” button.
Once you complete the steps, try to send a print job to confirm the printer is working.
Fix printer sharing by removing recent update
To remove a problematic update conflicting with the printer driver or networking settings, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Update history tab.
Update history
Under the “Related settings” section, click the Uninstall updates option.
Uninstall updates
Click the Uninstall button for the most recent update.
Windows 11 uninstall update
After you complete the steps, you may need to restart the computer, and upon restart, send a new print job to confirm the printer is working.
Fix printer sharing with Troubleshooter
To run the printer troubleshooter to resolve common sharing problems, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Bluetooth & devices.
Click the Printers & scanners tab.
Printers & scanners
Under the “Related settings” section, click the Troubleshoot option.
Troubleshoot
Select the shared printer with the problem.
Shared printer troubleshoot
Click the Next button.
Continue with the on-screen directions (if necessary).
Once you complete the steps, the Troubleshooter should be able to detect and resolve the sharing or any other problem affecting the printer.
Fix printer sharing with firewall troubleshooting
To resolve firewall problems sharing a printer on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Windows Security.
Click on Firewall & network protection.
Click the active network – for example, “Private network.”
Network firewall
Turn off the “Microsoft Defender Firewall” toggle switch.
Disable firewall to fix printer sharing
Clear the “Blocks all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed apps” option.
Once you complete the steps, try to print one more time, and if the print job is sent successfully, then the problem may be related to the firewall configuration.
Allow printer over firewall
To allow a printer over the firewall on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Windows Security.
Click on Firewall & network protection.
Click the “Allow an app through firewall” setting.
Allow an app through firewall
Click the Change settings button.
Check the “Network Discovery” option with the Private option (and select the public option if you are in a public network).
Check the “File and Printer Sharing” option with the Private option (and choose the “Public” option if you’re in a public network).
Allow printer through firewall
If you’re troubleshooting devices that use the SMB protocol, refer to this Microsoft documentation page.
Fix printer sharing with reshare configuration
To reshare a printer, you must first stop the current configuration and reconfigure the share settings.
Stop printer share
To stop sharing a printer on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Bluetooth & devices.
Click the Printers & scanners tab.
Select the shared printer in the network.
Click the Printer settings tab.
Click the Printer properties setting.
Click the Sharing tab.
Clear the “Share this printer” option.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
After completing the steps, confirm you can print to the printer locally and then share the printer again.
Start printer share
To share a printer in the network on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Bluetooth & devices.
Click the Printers & scanners tab.
Select the shared printer in the network.
Click the Printer settings tab.
Click the Printer properties setting.
Click the Sharing tab.
Check the “Share this printer” option.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
Once you complete the steps, you should be able to print again to the shared printer.