To use the printer together, we can take advantage of the printer sharing feature in Windows 10.When working in an office or a room that uses the same network, either LAN or Wi-Fi, all computers in that place can use a printer connected to it. network without having to use cables.
Sharing the printer over the network will be more practical and effective because the job of printing documents becomes easier. You can print documents directly from the computer or laptop that you are using without having to plug the USB cable into the printer.
If in a room there are several computers that are used by different people, then each of these computers can use a printer together. The condition is that both the computer and printer must be connected to the same network, either via a LAN cable or Wi-Fi.
On this occasion, Winpreso will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to share printers in Windows 10. You can practice it yourself in the office or at home where you work.
How to share printers in Windows 10 via a wired LAN and Wi-Fi network
1. Turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing
The first step that must be done is to turn on the Network Discovery feature, this feature functions so that computers can be found and connected to other computers or devices on a network.
Second, also activate the File and Printer Sharing feature to share the printer that we use with other computers connected in the same network.
You do this by going to the Control Panel> select Network and Sharing Center> select Change advanced sharing settings> check Turn on network discovery> check Turn on file and printer sharing> Save changes
2. Share the printer on the server computer
On the server computer (the computer that is sharing the printer) open Control Panel> Devices and Printers> Right click on the printer you want to share> select Printer Properties.
Notice in the Properties window, click on the Sharing tab> click the Change Sharing Options button> check Share this printer> name it as you wish> click OK.
Also check the option Render print jobs on client computers.
You can name the shared printer with a free name, but it's better if you give the printer type name or location or other description to make it easier to identify which printer to use.
3. Add a printer on the client computer
The next step is to add a printer that is already shared on the client computer. After you have done the two steps above, the printer should be network ready and ready to be used by other computers.
To add a new printer, go to Control Panel> Devices and Printers> Add printer.
Windows will scan, after which a list of printers on the network will appear ready for use.
Click on the printer that will be used and then click the Next button.
4. Print the document. Print a test page
After pressing the Next button in the above step you only need to wait a moment for the computer and printer to connect successfully.
If successful, a new window will appear with a button to print the document to test whether the printer is functioning properly.
Click on the Print a test page button and see if the printer can start printing the document. If you have click the Finish button.
5. The printer has successfully connected to the computer via LAN and Wi-Fi
Done, until here we have succeeded in sharing the printer on Windows 10.
Then you just need to replace the printer that is used when printing documents in applications such as word, excel, pdf, and others with this printer. The printer will appear with the name you gave it.
How to connect a printer via network in Windows 10
To add a new printer that has been shared from the network in Windows 10, there are other ways you can use it. The condition is that the printer must be in a "shared" state, meaning that it is ready to be used by other computers connected to the network.
Follow these steps:
- Click the Windows button
- Type "printer"
- Select the Printers and Scanners menu
- Click on the Add a printer or scanner button
- Wait for the list of printers sharing on the network to appear
- Click the printer that you want to use
- Click Next
- Follow the steps to Finish
How to connect a printer via IP Address in Windows 10
- First, know how many IP addresses of computers that share the printer (server)
- Press Windows key + R on your keyboard, then type the IP address of the server computer.
- Click the OK button
- We will enter the Shared directory window (it looks like windows explorer)
- Find the name of the printer sharing there
- Right click on the printer
- Select Connect
- The install process will begin, wait for it to finish
- Printer is ready to use
- Do a test print document to make sure the printer is functioning properly
Resolve undetected printer and print job jams
- Open the Control Panel
- Select Devices and Printers
- Double-click the printer with problems
- Press CTRL + A button to select all existing print jobs
- Select Cancel all document or press the delete key on the keyboard
- Close all windows
- Try printing the document again
