In a modern home office or small apartment, a situation often arises when one printer A device must support multiple workstations. Users wonder how to make the device work from two or more computers simultaneously without reconnecting cables each time. The solution lies in properly organizing the local network and setting up sharing.
There are several proven ways to implement this scheme: from simply setting up shared access on one of the PCs to using the capabilities of the router itself or a separate one. print serversThe method you choose depends on your hardware model, operating system, and required speed. In this article, we'll examine all options in detail, focusing on wireless connections, which eliminate the need for cables.
Before you begin software configuration, make sure your equipment is physically ready to work on the network. It is critical that all devices (computers and printer) are on the same Wi-Fi subnet., meaning they were connected to the same router. If you use a guest network or the 5 GHz band on one device and the 2.4 GHz band on another with client isolation enabled, communication between them will be impossible.
Selecting a connection method and preparing equipment
The first step is always determining the architecture of your future printing system. The simplest option is for the printer itself to have a built-in Wi-Fi module and connect directly to the router. In this case, each computer sees the device as an independent network resource. The second option involves connecting the printer via USB to one computer (the host computer), which then shares it with the others.
If your printer doesn't support Wi-Fi but you want to print wirelessly, you'll need a router with a USB port or a separate device - Wi-Fi print serverThese are small adapters that receive a wireless signal and transmit it to a printer via a USB or LPT port. It's worth noting that built-in router functions often don't work reliably with inexpensive MFP models.
- 🖨️ Network printer: has its own IP address, connects directly to the router (via cable or Wi-Fi), and does not require the PC to be turned on for printing.
- 💻 Shared Printer: The printer is connected to the host PC via USB, others print through it; requires the host PC to be turned on.
- 📡 Print server: a separate device or router function that turns a regular USB printer into a network printer.
Regardless of the chosen path, you will need to know the IP addresses of the devices or their network names. For Windows computers, this is especially important when manually installing drivers. Also, download the latest driver versions from the manufacturer's official website in advance, as the automatic search in Windows sometimes installs stripped-down versions of the software.
Setting up a network printer with built-in Wi-Fi
If your device supports a direct Wi-Fi connection, this is the most stable option. You don't need to keep any computer running to print a document. First, you need to connect the printer itself to your wireless network. This is usually done through the on-screen menu or a button combination. WPS on the router and printer.
Once connected, check the network configuration report (often printed automatically or on request) to find the printer's IP address. It will look something like this: 192.168.1.XXNow, on the first computer, open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners and click Add a Printer. If the automatic search doesn't produce a result, select The printer I want isn't listed.
In the window that opens, select "Add a printer by TCP/IP address." In the "Name or IP address" field, enter the numbers obtained from the printer report. The system will attempt to locate the device and prompt you to install the driver. If Windows doesn't find the driver automatically, specify the path to the file you downloaded earlier from the manufacturer's website.
⚠️ Attention: To ensure stable operation of your network printer, we recommend assigning a static IP address to it in your router settings (DHCP Reservation). If the address changes after rebooting the router, computers will lose connection to the printer, and you'll have to add it again.
Repeat the installation procedure on the second computer. Since the printer is networked, it is not tied to the first computer. Both computers will send print jobs directly to the device via the router. This ensures high speed and eliminates the queues typical of shared access via a single computer.
Organizing shared access via the host computer
When a printer is connected via USB to only one computer, that computer becomes the print server. To enable printing on a second computer, you need to set up sharing. Go to "Control Panel" → "Devices and Printers," find your printer, right-click it, and select "Printer properties" (specifically, "properties," not "device properties").
Go to the "Sharing" tab and check "Share this printer." Enter a descriptive network name, preferably in Latin characters, without spaces. Now, let's move on to the network settings: in the "Control Panel," find "Network and Sharing Center" → "Change advanced sharing settings."
In the "Private (Current Profile)" profile, make sure "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing" are enabled. It's also important to enable "Let Windows manage HomeGroup connections." Without these settings, the second computer simply won't see the first one on the network.
☑️ Sharing setup checklist
On the second computer, open This PC and enter in the address bar \\Main_PC_Name or \\192.168.1.X (Main computer's IP). You'll see a printer icon. Right-click it and select "Connect." The system will automatically download the necessary drivers from the main computer.
It's important to note that with this setup, the host computer must be on and not in sleep mode, otherwise printing from the second device will be impossible. This is the main drawback of this method compared to using network printers.
Using a router as a print server
Many modern routers (for example, Keenetic, TP-Link, Asus) are equipped with a USB port that allows you to connect a printer directly to the router. This turns a regular USB printer into a network printer, freeing computers from the need to keep it plugged in. Connect the printer with a cable to the router's USB port and log in to the administrator's web interface (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
Find the section related to USB applications or Print Server. Enable this feature. The router may prompt you to download a driver installation utility or provide instructions for manual setup. You'll often need to create an account to access the printer or allow guest access.
On computers, installation is similar to a network printer: by adding a device via TCP/IP. However, in this case, the IP address will be the router's own, and the port will need to be recreated, selecting the "Custom" device type and "Raw" protocol, specifying port 9100 (the standard for most print servers).
| Parameter | Network printer (Wi-Fi) | Shared Access (PC) | Router (USB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC addiction | No | Yes (main PC) | No |
| Speed of work | High | Average | Low/Medium |
| Difficulty of setup | Average | Low | High |
| Stability | High | Depends on the PC | Depends on the router |
Why might a printer print slowly via a router?
The router's USB port bandwidth and processor are often limited. Routers aren't designed to handle large amounts of graphic data, so printing speeds can be significantly slower than with a direct connection.
Troubleshooting Drivers and Visibility Issues
The most common problem when connecting a second computer is the error “Windows cannot connect to the printer” or error code 0x0000011bThis is often related to Windows security updates that block remote printing via RPC. Resolving the issue on the host computer (or both, if the printer is networked) may require a registry edit.
Open Registry Editor (regedit) and follow the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PrintCreate a new DWORD (32-bit) value named RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled and meaning 0After restarting the print service or the computer itself, the error should disappear.
Also, make sure both computers have the same driver type installed (e.g., x64-only or x86-only). If the architectures differ, the host computer must have drivers for both architectures to transmit the correct packet to the second computer. This can be configured in the "Access" tab → "Additional Drivers" button.
⚠️ Attention: Operating system interfaces and router firmware are constantly updated. Menu locations, item names, and settings access methods may differ from those described in the instructions. Always consult the official user manual for your specific device model.
If the computers can't see each other, check the network type. In Windows, the network profile should be "Private," not "Public." By default, the system hides the computer from other devices in a public profile for security reasons. You can change this in Network and Internet settings.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Even with proper configuration, errors may still occur. For example, the printer may show up as "Offline." This often happens if the device's IP address has changed (unless a static IP has been assigned). Check that the address in the printer port properties matches the actual network address.
Another problem is documents getting stuck in the print queue. Clear the queue on the second computer, but if that doesn't help, the problem may be with the print spooler service on the main PC. Restart the service. Spooler via command services.mscDeleting temporary print files from the folder also helps. C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
- 🔌 Problem with port: Make sure the correct port (WSD or TCP/IP) is selected. For network printers, it's best to create a standard TCP/IP port manually.
- 🛡️ Antivirus: Third-party firewalls (Kaspersky, ESET, etc.) may block your local network. Add your home network to the trusted list.
- 📶 Weak signal: If the printer is located far from the router, data packets may be lost. Check the signal strength in the printer configuration report.
In some cases, a complete reset of the printer's network settings and reconfiguration from scratch can help. Remember that after changing your router or Wi-Fi password, the printer will also need to be reconfigured to work with the new access point.
Why doesn't the second computer see the printer, even though the first one prints?
Most likely, the drivers aren't installed on the second computer, or the wrong port was selected when adding the device. Also, check that network discovery is enabled in the "Private Network" profile on the second computer. If you're using shared access, make sure the user on the second computer has printing permissions (sometimes you'll need to enter the username and password for the host computer account).
Is it possible to print from a phone using this setting?
Yes, if the printer is networked (connected directly to the router). This is done using AirPrint (for Apple) or Mopria (for Android). If the printer is shared on a PC, printing from a phone is only possible through dedicated intermediary apps installed on that PC, or if the router supports cloud printing.
How to find out the IP address of a printer if there is no screen?
Try printing a network configuration report using a key combination (often the Wireless button + Cancel button, or holding the Wi-Fi button). You can also find the IP address in the DHCP client list in your router's web interface (LAN or Clients section).
Does Wi-Fi printing affect internet speed?
Modern Wi-Fi standards allow for parallel data transfer. Printing a document several megabytes in size will consume a fraction of a second of bandwidth and is unnoticeable to the user. However, if you're printing hundreds of pages of large graphic files, brief network delays are possible.