Windows 10: share printer - how it works

You can share a printer that is set up on your Windows 10 computer with other computers on the network. We'll show you how it works.

Windows 10: Share printer on the network

First, share the printer with other users on the network. They can access the printer when your computer is on, connected to the network, and not in sleep mode.

1. Open the control panel. To do this, enter the search term "Control Panel" in the start menu.
2. In the category view under "Hardware and Sound" click on "Show devices and printers" or in the icon view on "Devices and printers".
3. Right-click the printer you want to share and choose Printer Properties.
4. In the "Sharing" tab, click "Change sharing options". You need administrator rights for this. If you are not the administrator, you will need the administrator's password.
5. Activate the option "Share printer" and set any share name.
6. Save the settings with "OK". Network users can now access the printer. However, this requires the login data for the PC that releases the printer. We will show you how to share the printer without a user name and password in the next paragraph.

Windows 10: Turn off password-protected sharing

1. Open the Control Panel and click on "Homegroup and Sharing Settings" under the "Network and Internet" category. In the icon view, click on "Network and Sharing Center".
2. Click "Change advanced sharing settings."
3. Under "Password-protected sharing" select the option "Turn off password-protected sharing". You may have to enter the administrator password.
4. Save the settings by clicking on "Save changes".