Printers shared from one PC often fail to appear or print on other PCs because network sharing, services, drivers, or firewall rules aren’t configured correctly. If Printer sharing doesn’t work in Windows 10, this guide explains the common causes and shows step‑by‑step fixes so you can restore network printing quickly.
You’ll learn the most likely reasons (11 total), how to verify each one, exact menu paths and commands to fix the issue, and tips to test and prevent future problems.
Key Takeaway
Most printer‑sharing failures are caused by either disabled services (Print Spooler and discovery services), incorrect network profile or sharing settings, missing drivers on the client, or firewall rules blocking File and Printer Sharing; enabling the right services, switching the network to Private, allowing File and Printer Sharing in the firewall, and installing matching drivers will resolve the majority of cases.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Print Spooler service stopped | Start the Print Spooler service and set startup to Automatic. |
| Network profile set to Public | Change the network profile to Private in Settings > Network & Internet. |
| Network discovery or File and Printer Sharing off | Turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing in Advanced sharing settings. |
| Windows Defender Firewall blocking sharing | Allow File and Printer Sharing through Windows Defender Firewall or run the firewall rule command. |
| Printer not actually shared on host PC | Enable Share this printer in the printer’s Properties > Sharing. |
| Missing or incompatible drivers on client | Install the correct printer driver on the client or add Additional Drivers on the host. |
| Wrong workgroup / name resolution failures | Ensure PCs share the same Workgroup and use \ComputerName\ShareName to connect. |
| Function Discovery / discovery services disabled | Start Function Discovery Resource Publication and Function Discovery Provider Host services. |
| HomeGroup removed / old sharing methods expected | Use traditional printer sharing (not HomeGroup) and connect via \HostName\Printer. |
| Password protected sharing blocking access | Turn off Password protected sharing or create matching user accounts/passwords. |
| Third-party firewall / router isolation | Temporarily disable third‑party firewall and check router AP/guest isolation settings. |
Detailed Fixes for “Printer sharing doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1) Print Spooler service stopped
Why it causes the problem:
The Print Spooler manages printing and shared print queues. If it’s stopped, the printer won’t be available to local or network users.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Services: press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler, right‑click and choose Properties.
- Set Startup type to Automatic (or Automatic (Delayed Start)).
- Click Start if the service status is Stopped.
- Apply and OK. To restart from a command prompt, run as admin: net stop spooler && net start spooler.
Note: If the spooler crashes repeatedly, check for corrupted printer drivers — remove recently added drivers via Print Management or Devices and printers.
2) Network profile set to Public
Why it causes the problem:
Windows restricts discovery and sharing on Public networks to protect privacy. On Public, File and Printer Sharing is disabled by default.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet.
- Click Status, then Change connection properties under the active network.
- Select Private under Network profile.
- Confirm on other PCs that they are also set to Private.
Tip: Use Private only on trusted home/work networks.
3) Network discovery or File and Printer Sharing is off
Why it causes the problem:
Even on a Private network, these options can be disabled — preventing the host from being visible and printers from being shared.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click Change advanced sharing settings (left pane).
- Under the current profile (Private), turn on Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
- Save changes.
To enable via command line (Admin): netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”Network Discovery” new enable=Yes and netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”File and Printer Sharing” new enable=Yes.
4) Windows Defender Firewall blocking sharing
Why it causes the problem:
Firewall rules may block the ports and services used by printer sharing (SMB and related services), making printers invisible or unconnectable.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection.
- Click Allow an app through firewall.
- Click Change settings, scroll to File and Printer Sharing, and ensure it’s allowed for Private (and Domain if applicable).
- Alternatively, run as administrator: netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”File and Printer Sharing” new enable=Yes.
Note: If you use a third‑party firewall, ensure it allows SMB (TCP 445) and the File and Printer Sharing rules.
Why it causes the problem:
If you forget to enable sharing for the printer, other PCs can’t connect.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and click Manage, then Printer properties.
- Go to the Sharing tab.
- Check Share this printer and enter a Share name.
- If clients use different architectures, click Additional Drivers and select the necessary x86/x64 drivers (see next section).
Tip: Use a short, simple share name without spaces for easier access.
6) Missing or incompatible drivers on the client
Why it causes the problem:
Clients need drivers that match their OS architecture. If Windows can’t find appropriate drivers, the printer will fail to install or print.
Step-by-step solution:
- On the host PC, open Printer properties > Sharing and click Additional Drivers.
- Check the boxes for x86 and/or x64 as needed and provide the driver files when prompted.
- On the client, connect using \HostName\PrinterShareName: open Run (Windows+R), type \HostName and press Enter, then right‑click the shared printer and choose Connect.
- If driver install fails on client, manually download the exact driver from the printer manufacturer and install it before connecting.
Note: For Windows 10 drivers, prefer vendor WHQL drivers rather than generic ones for best reliability.
7) Wrong workgroup or name resolution failures
Why it causes the problem:
If computers are in different workgroups or DNS/NetBIOS name resolution fails, clients may not find the host by name.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check workgroup: Settings > System > About > Rename this PC (or Advanced system settings > Computer Name) and confirm Workgroup matches other PCs.
- Test connectivity: open Command Prompt and run ping HostName and ping IPaddress of the host to verify you can reach it.
- If name fails but IP works, connect using \IPaddress\ShareName (e.g., \192.168.1.25\HPOfficeJet).
- For persistent name issues, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP: Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings > right‑click adapter > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 > Properties > Advanced > WINS > Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
Tip: Use static IP or DHCP reservation for the host to prevent changing addresses.
8) Function Discovery / discovery services disabled
Why it causes the problem:
Windows uses discovery services to publish shared resources so they appear under Network in File Explorer. If these services are off, the host won’t show up.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open services.msc.
- Set Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication to Automatic (Delayed Start) and then Start them.
- Also ensure UPnP Device Host and SSDP Discovery are running if you rely on network discovery.
- After starting, give Windows a minute to republish the network resources.
Note: These services are particularly important for “Network” visibility in File Explorer.
9) HomeGroup removed / old sharing methods expected
Why it causes the problem:
HomeGroup was removed in later Windows 10 versions; guides or users expecting HomeGroup behavior will be confused. Printer sharing now uses standard SMB/Print sharing.
Step-by-step solution:
- Use the steps above to enable File and Printer Sharing and share the printer via Printer properties > Sharing.
- Connect from client using \HostName\ShareName or Add a printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed > Select a shared printer by name.
- If following old HomeGroup tutorials, skip HomeGroup steps — they no longer apply.
10) Password protected sharing blocking access
Why it causes the problem:
If password protected sharing is enabled, the connecting user must present credentials matching an account on the host. If credentials are missing, connection fails.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.
- Expand All Networks and find Password protected sharing.
- Turn it Off if you want unrestricted access on a trusted network.
- Alternatively, keep it On and create a user account on the host with a known password, then connect from the client using those credentials when prompted.
Security tip: Only turn off password protected sharing on trusted networks.
11) Third‑party firewall or router isolation
Why it causes the problem:
Security software or router wireless guest/AP isolation can block communication between devices on the LAN even if Windows settings are correct.
Step-by-step solution:
- Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus/firewall on the host and client to test connectivity. If printing works after disablement, adjust the firewall rules to allow File and Printer Sharing and SMB traffic (TCP 445).
- Check router/AP settings for AP Isolation, Guest Mode, or Client Isolation and disable them for the network segment your computers use.
- If the printer is connected to the router via USB, check the router’s print server features and documentation — those sometimes require different setup.
Warning: Re‑enable firewalls after testing and create specific allow rules rather than leaving protection off.
Additional diagnostics and prevention tips
- How to test from a client:
- Open Run (Windows+R), type \HostName or \IPaddress, press Enter. You should see the shared printer. Right‑click and Connect.
- Use Devices and Printers > Add a printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed > Select a shared printer by name and enter \HostName\ShareName.
- Use PowerShell to check services: run Get-Service -Name Spooler, FDResPub, FDPHost to confirm status.
- Keep drivers and Windows updated: use Windows Update and the printer manufacturer’s site.
- Document the host’s IP and printer share name to speed troubleshooting.
- For multi‑platform networks (Mac/Linux), consider using the printer’s built‑in network sharing or a print server appliance.
FAQ
Enable Additional Drivers on the host via Printer properties > Sharing > Additional Drivers, and add the missing x86/x64 driver files so clients automatically download the right driver.
My client can see the host but cannot print — what then?
Check driver compatibility on the client, ensure the Print Spooler is running on both machines, and verify firewall rules allow outbound printing traffic. Try printing a test page from the host to ensure the printer itself functions.
Is SMBv1 needed for printer sharing?
Generally no — modern Windows 10 uses SMBv2/3. SMBv1 is insecure and discouraged. Only enable SMBv1 if you have an ancient device that absolutely requires it, and understand the security risks: enable via Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off > SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.
Yes — many routers provide a USB print server feature. Consult the router’s manual to enable USB printer sharing and configure the client-side driver to point to the router’s print server IP.
Set your network profile to Private, enable Network discovery and File and printer sharing, keep Password protected sharing enabled unless you control all accounts, and allow only specific firewall rules for File and Printer Sharing.
Conclusion
Printer sharing often fails because of disabled services, incorrect network profile/sharing settings, firewall or driver problems, or router isolation — but these issues are fixable by enabling the Print Spooler, switching to Private network, turning on Network discovery and File and Printer Sharing, allowing the firewall rules, and installing correct drivers. If Printer sharing doesn’t work in Windows 10, follow the steps above to identify and resolve the underlying cause.
