Fix: Printer sharing not working on Windows 11

Office printers and professional printers are designed to be shared with multiple workers. Therefore, they can connect to it and print important documents when necessary. However, some users have expressed concerns about printer sharing issues they encountered after upgrading to Windows 11. Although this issue can occur with any version of Windows, so let’s jump into the main solutions to fix this problem.

Fix 1 – Troubleshooting Printers in Firewalls

There are two steps to these fixes. Therefore, we recommend you to apply the first one and test the printer sharing functionality. If that doesn't work, move on to the next one.

Step 1 – Turn off Windows Defender Firewall

Windows Firewall on your Windows computer might be blocking your connection to the printer.

1. Launch Windows Security Center from the search box.

2. There you will find a setting called "Firewall and Network Protection".

3. Now, click on the network type that has “(Activity)” written next to it.

This is an active connection.

4. Next, scroll down to find Microsoft Defender Firewall.

5. Set the setting to "Off" to disable the firewall.

After this, close Windows Security Center.

Then, try printing a test page from the remote device to test whether the printer can be shared.

Step 2 – Allow File and Printer Sharing

If the printer sharing feature still does not work, you must allow certain services through the firewall.

1. Use Win key and R key at the same time.

2. Then, enter this and click Enter.

firewall.cpl

3. In the firewall settings, click "Allow an application or feature through Windows Defender Firewall".

4. After that, click "Change Settings".

5. Next, just make sure "#" is checked in both the "Public" and "Private" features. ##File and Printer Sharing" function.

6. After that, make sure to check both boxes for the "

Network Discovery" feature.

7.After that, click "

OK" to save it.

Then, close everything and try sharing the printer again. It's definitely going to work this time.

Fix 2 – Stop sharing and re-share the printer

Stop sharing the printer, then start sharing the printer again.

Stop sharing printer

1. First, press the

Win key and R key at the same time.

2. Then, type this information in the Run panel and click "

OK" to open the printer settings.

control printers

3. When the "Settings" page appears, click "

Printers and Scanners".

4. Turn on the printer.

5. Then, click "Printer Properties" to open

Printer Properties.

6. Next, go to the “

Share” section.

7. Now,

uncheck the "Share this printer" box.

8. After that, click "

Apply" and "OK".

In this way, you have turned off the sharing function on the printer.

Now, you have to do one thing. Try printing from a local printer. Simply connect your computer to the printer using USB or WiFi and print a test page.

Start sharing the printer

You can now start sharing the printer. Follow these simple steps to start sharing your printer –

1. Open

Settings. You can do this by using both the Windows I keys.

2. Then, click "Bluetooth and Devices" in the left pane. Next, in the right pane, click "Printers and Scanners".

#3. In the right pane, if you look, you can find the faulty printer. Turn on the printer.

4. Next, click on "Printer Properties" to access Printer Properties.

5. Next, navigate to the “Share” section.

6. Now, check the "Share this printer" box.

7. Finally, click "Apply" and "OK".

Now when you turn on the printer sharing feature, you can now share the printer and print some documents.

This should resolve the printer issues you are facing.

Fix 3 – Install Printer Update

Install printer update on the system. You can do this through two channels. Please follow any of the methods below.

Method 1 - Via Windows Update

Windows devices receive periodic driver updates through the Optional Driver Update Channel. You can download and install it from Settings.

1. Open Settings.

2. Then, continue to "Windows Update" on the left pane.

3. Now, if you look, you will find a setting called "Advanced Options". Open it.

4. Next, click on “Optional Updates”.

5. Here you can see any new printer driver updates. So, please check all driver updates and click "Download andInstall" to install the printer driver.

Method 2 – Manual Update

Alternatively, you can directly download the latest version of the printer driver and install it on your system.

We have shown the steps for HP printer.

1. Go to the printer manufacturer's website or search using the printer driver model number.

Below are links to drivers for all popular printer manufacturers –

• Canon Driver Download

• HP Software and Driver Download

• Epson Download

• Brother Driver Download

• Sharp Driver Download
• Samsung Printer Software Installer

2. Then, enter your printer model and click "Submit" to search for the latest printer driver.

Go to Software Utilities and find the printer driver.

3. Then, click "Download" to download the latest driver.

#4. After downloading the driver, go to the location in File Explorer.

5. Now, Run the driver installer to start installing the driver.

Follow the on-screen steps to complete the installation.

Fix 4 – Troubleshooting Printers

Windows has a dedicated printer troubleshooter that should identify and fix the cause of printer sharing issues and fix it.

You can go to Troubleshooting through Settings. However, there is a better way.

1. Press Win key and I key at the same time.

2. Then, click on the "Bluetooth and Devices" section to open it.

3. Next, click on "Printers and Scanners" to open it.

#4. Here, click on the printer that cannot be shared.

5. Now, click on “Run Troubleshooter” to run the Printer TroubleshooterTroubleshooter.

Now, this printer troubleshooter will launch and try to identify any issues you are facing.

It will run all necessary diagnostics on the specified printer and prescribe some fixes for it. After applying the patch, the printer will be ready to be shared again.

Try printing the document again.

Fix 5 – Uninstall any recent updates

If this issue occurred after your system received a system update, this may be the culprit. So please uninstall it and check.

1. First, open Windows Settings.

2. Then, in the left pane, click "Windows Update" to open it.

3. After that, on the right pane, click on "Update History" to access it.

4. Next, in the same part of the screen, click on "Uninstall Updates" to open it.

5. Now, on the right pane, you will find the complete list of updates. You can determine which update was installed on which date. So you can actually see which update is causing this.

6. Now, click on "Uninstall" to uninstall the update from your computer.

It will take some time to uninstall updates from your computer. Windows will restart your computer multiple times during this process. So please wait patiently until the system restarts. Then, check if the printer can be shared.

Fix 6 – Uninstall and reinstall the printer

If nothing works, uninstall the printer from the affected system and reinstall it.

Uninstall the printer

1. First, just press the Windows key and X key at the same time.

2. After that, click "Device Manager" to open it.

3. Now, click on “Print Queue” to expand it.

4. Then, right-click the printer device and click "Uninstall Device".

5. When the warning message appears, click "Uninstall" to uninstall the printer driver.

#After uninstalling the printer driver, you can simply close the window.

Reinstall the printer

You can reinstall the printer driver in several ways.

Method 1

Just restart the computer once. Restart the device to reinstall the printer driver.

Method 2

Even after restarting the system,

1. Open Device Manager.

2. Just press the win key X key once. Then, from the menu, click "Device Manager".

2. When you see the Device Manager window is open, just click "Actions" in the menu bar.

3. Then simply click on "Scan for Hardware Changes".

You will see the printer driver again.

Method 3

If you still cannot use the printer, you can download the latest printer driver for the printer and install it.

1. Go to the printer manufacturer's website.

2. There, search for the latest printer driver for the specified printer model.

3. Download the driver package installer and run it on your system.

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