If you still have a printer that does not have printer server functionality, you should use the share the printer over the network.
For this purpose, printer sharing is available in Windows 11. This feature helps to share the installed printer on your Windows 11 PC over the network. This way, other computers connected to the same network can also use this printer.
If printer sharing is not working, you can use the steps below to resolve the issue.
Printer sharing in Windows 11 not working
To start with, you need to make sure that file and printer sharing is enabled in Windows 11. Also check it model printer and/or it is supported.
Check Windows firewall settings
If you have enabled file and printer sharing, check the Windows firewall settings. First disable the firewall or prevent printer access via the firewall. If you have installed a security suite that includes a firewall, temporarily disable it to see if this resolves the printer sharing issue.
In the taskbar, click Search. In the search box type: firewall and click on the “Firewall and Network Security” result.
Then click on the active profile to manage the firewall settings.
Disable “Microsoft Defender firewall”. Now check whether the printer can be found by other network clients.
If you prefer to leave the firewall enabled, you can also allow file and printer sharing in the firewall settings. I recommend checking these too.
Go back one step and click “Allow an app through the firewall”.
Make sure “File and Printer Sharing” is allowed in the firewall. Make sure both profiles are enabled.
Resolve printer sharing via the troubleshooter
In Windows 11 there are several problem solvers available. There is also a printer troubleshooter. If printer problems are detected, Windows will attempt to resolve them automatically.
Click Search in the taskbar. In the search box type: troubleshooting. Click “Fix other issues” in the result.
In the troubleshooters, click “Run” next to “Printer” to start the troubleshooter. After Windows has performed some checks, you can indicate which printer you want to troubleshoot.
Restart printer parts
Sometimes disabling and re-enabling functions helps to solve problems. For example, I recommend disabling printer sharing and then re-enabling it. After this, check whether printer sharing now works.
Open settings. In the settings, click on “Bluetooth and devices” and then on “Printers and scanners”.
Click on the printer you want to share and then on “printer properties”.
Then click on the “Sharing” tab and disable “Share this printer”. Click OK.
Now open the printer properties again, click on the “Sharing” tab again and enable the “Share this printer” option. Then click OK.
Now check whether you can use the shared printer on the network. I hope this has resolved the problem. Thank you for reading!
Also read: Troubleshoot a printer in Windows 11.