• To share printer on Windows 11, open Settings > Printers & scanners , choose the printer to share, click on “Printer properties,” open the “Sharing” tab, click “Change Sharing Options,” check “Share this printer,” and click “OK.”
  • You may also need to change the network profile type to “Private” from Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet or Wi-Fi to enable print sharing on Windows 11.

On Windows 11 , it’s possible to share a printer in the network when it doesn’t have a wired or wireless connection. You can complete this task using the Windows 11 print server feature that allows converting any local printer (such as those using a USB or DB-25 cable) into a network printer quickly.

In this guide , you will learn the steps to share a USB printer on Windows 11 over the network.

Share printer on Windows 11

To share a printer in the network on Windows 11 from Settings, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.
  2. Click on Network & internet .
  3. Click the Ethernet or Wi-Fi tab. Quick note: If you have a wireless connection, you will need to click the network properties option to access the connection settings.
  4. Under the “Network profile type” section, select the Private option to enable print sharing on the computer.
  5. Click on Bluetooth & devices .
  6. Click the Printers & scanners tab.
  7. Select the USB printer to share over the network.
  8. Click the Printer properties tab.
  9. Open the Sharing tab.
  10. Click the Change Sharing Options button (if applicable).
  11. Check the Share this printer option.
  12. (Optional) Choose a new name for the printer.
  13. Click the Apply button.
  14. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the USB printer will now be available in the network for anyone to connect.

Connect to shared printer

The process of connecting a shared printer to a computer in the local network is easy, but it’s not the same as installing a wireless printer .

To install a shared printer on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Bluetooth & devices .
  3. Click the Printers & scanners setting.
  4. Click the Add device button and wait a few moments.
  5. Click the Add manually option.
  6. Check the Select a shared printer by name option.
  7. Confirm the network path of the printer – for example, \10.1.4.120\HP Network Printer . Quick note: If the computer name doesn’t work, use the IP address for the computer sharing the printer.
  8. Click the Next button.
  9. Click Next to install the shared USB printer on Windows 11.
  10. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the print jobs will go through the network to the computer with the print server and to the USB printer. Users will only be able to print as long as the computer sharing the printer is turned on.

If you cannot connect to the printer because the system asks for a username and password, open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings , and under the “Password protected sharing,” select the Turn off password protected sharing option and click the Save Changes button. If this doesn’t work, you may need to create a standard local account on the source computer, and use that account to connect to the printer from the destination computer.

  • To install a Wi-Fi printer on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners , click “Add device,” and click “Add device” again for the printer you want to install.
  • If the system can’t find the printer, you can still add it manually using the IP address of the device.

On Windows 11 , you can connect a wireless printer to your computer in at least two ways, including automatically using the “Devices” wizard or manually installing a printer using an IP address.

However, before you can connect to the printer, you have to connect it to the wireless network. The steps will differ depending on the printer, but typically, you must perform this configuration from the printer’s screen. Also, many printers allow you to set up a printer through an Android or iPhone app.

For example, you can connect a wireless HP printer to the network from Setup > Network Setup > Wireless Settings , turn on the “Wireless settings” option, and continue with the on-screen directions. On an Epson printer, you can install the “Epson Smart Panel” app on your phone and use the guided wizard to set up a new product.

If you have a printer connected using a wired (Ethernet) connection, you don’t even need to go through the setup. You only need to know the printer’s IP address, which you can get by going to Setup > Network Setup > Ethernet Settings and using the “ View Ethernet Details” option.

You can always check with your printer manufacturer’s support website to get more specific instructions for your printer.

In this guide , I will teach you the steps to add a printer to Windows 11 wirelessly.

Connect wireless printer on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can use the “Printers & scanners” settings to add a printer automatically or manually with its IP address. You would typically use the automatic method and the IP address steps if the system isn’t finding the device in the network. You can also fix the most common printer issues with these instructions.

Method 1: Install a Wi-Fi printer automatically

To add a network printer wirelessly on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Bluetooth & Devices .
  3. Click the Printers & scanners page.
  4. Click the “Add device” button in the “Add a printer or scanner” setting.
  5. Click Add device to install the wireless printer to Windows 11.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will automatically set up the wireless printer.

Method 2: Install Wi-Fi printer from IP address

If Windows 11 can’t find the wireless printer, you can add the device using an IP address using these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Bluetooth & Devices .
  3. Click the Printers & scanners page.
  4. Click the “Add device” button in the “Add a printer or scanner” setting.
  5. Click the “Add a new device manually” option for the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option.
  6. Select the “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname” option.
  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Select the Autodetect option in the “Device type” setting.
  9. Check the “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” option.
  10. Confirm the IP address of the printer. Quick tip: This information can be found in the printer’s settings.
  11. Click the Next button to install the wireless printer on Windows 11. Quick note: If the setup doesn’t recognize the printer, you may have to select the brand and model from the wizard to install the correct drivers. If you can’t find the printer, click the “Windows Update” button to download the driver library. (This action can take a long time.)
  12. Confirm the printer’s name.
  13. Click the Next button.
  14. Select the “Do not share this printer” option.
  15. Click the Next button.
  16. (Optional) Click the “Print a test page” button to test the printer connection.
  17. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, you can start printing from your laptop or desktop computer.

If you no longer need the device, you can remove the wireless printer from Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners by selecting the printer and clicking the “Remove” option.

Installing a printer using the Settings app will only install the basic driver for printing. You must install the manufacturer’s software if you want to use the additional printing functionalities.

Update August 19, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

Did your printer stop working? Follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the problem on Windows 11.