On Windows 10 , you can share a USB printer with other computers in the network, even if the device does not have Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. This is possible thanks to the print server feature available on Windows 10, which allows you to share a USB printer quickly in the network.

Printer sharing is nothing new, it’s a feature that has been part of the operating system for a long time, and you can still use it on Windows 10.

In this guide , you will learn the steps to share a printer on Windows 10 over the network.

  • Share printer on Windows 10
  • Install shared printer on Windows 10

Share printer on Windows 10

To connect a USB printer to a Wi-Fi network without extra accessories, you can use Windows 10 “printer sharing” with these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Select the USB printer to share.
  4. Click the Manage button.
  5. Click the Printer properties link.
  6. Open the Sharing tab.
  7. Check the “Share this printer” option.
  8. (Optional) Change the printer share name as needed.
  9. Click the Apply button.
  10. Click the OK button.

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

Install a shared printer on Windows 10

The process of Installing a shared printer is easy, but it’s not the same as it would be to install a wireless printer .

To install a shared printer to another computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Click the Add printer & scanner button and wait a few moments.
  4. Click the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option.
  5. Check the “Select a shared printer by name” option.
  6. Confirm the printer network path. For example, \computerName\printerName . If the name doesn’t work, you can also use the IP address for the computer sharing the printer.
  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Use the default printer name.
  9. Click Next to install the shared USB printer on Windows 10.
  10. Click the Finish button.

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

Although most modern printers come with a print server, you can still find printers only with USB or parallel cable connectivity. For those situations, Windows 10 offers an easy solution to share a printer with other people over the network.

On Windows 10 , you can share a USB printer with other computers in the network, even if the device does not have Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. This is possible thanks to the print server feature available on Windows 10, which allows you to share a USB printer quickly in the network.

Printer sharing is nothing new, it’s a feature that has been part of the operating system for a long time, and you can still use it on Windows 10.

In this guide , you will learn the steps to share a printer on Windows 10 over the network.

  • Share printer on Windows 10
  • Install shared printer on Windows 10

Share printer on Windows 10

To connect a USB printer to a Wi-Fi network without extra accessories, you can use Windows 10 “printer sharing” with these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Select the USB printer to share.
  4. Click the Manage button.
  5. Click the Printer properties link.
  6. Open the Sharing tab.
  7. Check the “Share this printer” option.
  8. (Optional) Change the printer share name as needed.
  9. Click the Apply button.
  10. Click the OK button.

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

Install a shared printer on Windows 10

The process of Installing a shared printer is easy, but it’s not the same as it would be to install a wireless printer .

To install a shared printer to another computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Click the Add printer & scanner button and wait a few moments.
  4. Click the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option.
  5. Check the “Select a shared printer by name” option.
  6. Confirm the printer network path. For example, \computerName\printerName . If the name doesn’t work, you can also use the IP address for the computer sharing the printer.
  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Use the default printer name.
  9. Click Next to install the shared USB printer on Windows 10.
  10. Click the Finish button.

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

Although most modern printers come with a print server, you can still find printers only with USB or parallel cable connectivity. For those situations, Windows 10 offers an easy solution to share a printer with other people over the network.

On Windows 10 , you can share a USB printer with other computers in the network, even if the device does not have Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. This is possible thanks to the print server feature available on Windows 10, which allows you to share a USB printer quickly in the network.

Printer sharing is nothing new, it’s a feature that has been part of the operating system for a long time, and you can still use it on Windows 10.

In this guide , you will learn the steps to share a printer on Windows 10 over the network.

  • Share printer on Windows 10
  • Install shared printer on Windows 10

Share printer on Windows 10

To connect a USB printer to a Wi-Fi network without extra accessories, you can use Windows 10 “printer sharing” with these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Select the USB printer to share.
  4. Click the Manage button.
  5. Click the Printer properties link.
  6. Open the Sharing tab.
  7. Check the “Share this printer” option.
  8. (Optional) Change the printer share name as needed.
  9. Click the Apply button.
  10. Click the OK button.

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

Install a shared printer on Windows 10

The process of Installing a shared printer is easy, but it’s not the same as it would be to install a wireless printer .

To install a shared printer to another computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Click the Add printer & scanner button and wait a few moments.
  4. Click the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option.
  5. Check the “Select a shared printer by name” option.
  6. Confirm the printer network path. For example, \computerName\printerName . If the name doesn’t work, you can also use the IP address for the computer sharing the printer.
  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Use the default printer name.
  9. Click Next to install the shared USB printer on Windows 10.
  10. Click the Finish button.

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

Although most modern printers come with a print server, you can still find printers only with USB or parallel cable connectivity. For those situations, Windows 10 offers an easy solution to share a printer with other people over the network.

  • To install a wireless printer on Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners , click “Add a printer or scanner,” and click “Add device.”
  • If the printer isn’t listed, choose “The printer that I want isn’t listed,” select “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname,” confirm the IP address, and continue with the wizard.

UPDATED 11/13/2023: Windows 10 makes it easy to install a wireless (Wi-Fi) printer through the Settings app, even when the printer doesn’t show up in the system, and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this setup.

If you have to connect to a printer, you first have to make sure that the printing device is available in the network, and then you can add it to Windows 10 using the “Printers & scanners” settings. If the system can’t find the printer in the network, it’s also possible to install the printer manually using its IP address.

In case you have to connect the printer to the network, it’s recommended to check the manufacturer’s support website to determine the steps to complete this first task because the instructions will be different per manufacturer and sometimes even per device model. However, newer printers automatically detect and configure these settings once you provide a network password. Usually, connecting a printer to the network is as easy as opening the settings on the built-in display on the device, and on the networking settings, open the wireless configuration and launch the wireless setup wizard.

In this guide , I’ll teach you how to add a Wi-Fi printer from HP (Hewlett-Packard), Canon, Xerox, Brother, Epson, and virtually any other brand on Windows 10.

  • Connect wireless printer on Windows 10
  • Install wireless printer from IP address on Windows 10
  • Remove a wireless printer on Windows 10

Connect wireless printer on Windows 10

To add a wireless printer on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Click on Printers & scanners .
  4. Click on the “Add a printer or scanner” button.
  5. Click the Add device button to install the Wi-Fi printer.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will detect and install the printer automatically.

Installing a printer using the Settings app will only install the basic drivers to allow you to print. If you have a printer with additional features, you must install the manufacturer’s software on your computer. However, in my experience, I have found that traditional desktop printer applications can cause connection problems. On the other hand, printer manufacturers (such as HP, Canon, Xerox, and Epson) have apps in the Microsoft Store that can improve the printing experience.

Install wireless printer from IP address on Windows 10

To install a printer manually using its IP address on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .

  2. Click on Devices .

  3. Click on Printers & scanners .

  4. Click on the “Add a printer or scanner” button.

  5. Click the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” button if the device isn’t available in the list.

  6. Select the “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname” option.

  7. Click the Next button.

  8. Confirm the IP address of the printer (for example, 192.168.2.122). Quick note: This information is in the printer’s wireless network settings.

  9. Select the Autodetect option in the “Device type” setting.

  10. Check the “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” option.

  11. Click the Next button.

  12. (Optional) Confirm a name for the printer.

  13. Click the Next button.

  14. Select the “Do not share this printer” option.

  15. Click the Next button.

  16. (Optional) lick the “Print a test page” button to test the printer connectivity.

  17. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the Wi-Fi printer will be added to the computer, and you can start printing from any application.

Remove a wireless printer on Windows 10

To remove and uninstall a printer on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Devices .
  3. Click on Printers & scanners .
  4. Select the wireless printer under the “Printers & scanners” section.
  5. Click the Remove device button.
  6. Click Yes to confirm.

Once you complete the steps, the system will uninstall the wireless printer from the Windows 10 computer.

Update November 13, 2023: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes in the process.

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