How To Configure Windows to Share a Printer
How Do I Share a Printer on a LAN (Local Area Network)?
You can print from every PC on your network to one printer. To share a printer with the other PCs in your home you need to configure the PC to which the printer is connected and then install the shared printer on each PC that you want to print from.
This article explains how to configure Windows to share a printer on a home network. If you already have a local area network set-up in your home then continue with this article, otherwise first read our instructions on setting up a local area network.
If you have not already done so, set-up and install the printer onto a PC following the manufacturer's instructions.
The following instructions will vary slightly depending on which version of Windows you are using.
- Turn on all of the PCs on your network and turn on the printer.
- Start with the PC to which the printer is connected. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Printers.
- In the Printers window, right click on the printer that you want to share on the network and choose "Sharing" from the menu.
- If this is the first time anything has been set-up for sharing on this PC, you may receive a security warning. In the security message, click on "Just enable printer sharing" and then click "OK". Otherwise click on "Share this printer".
- Enter a share name, something like "Laser printer in office". However, if you have a PC with Windows 98 on your network, you will have to use a name that is no longer than 8 characters and has no spaces or special characters.
- Now click "OK"
Page 1 of 2
