How to Fix Windows 11 Printer Sharing Not Working

If you are also facing Windows 11 printer sharing not working issues, then have a look at the solutions provided in this guide and get rid of the error instantly. 

A printer is a very useful tool for Windows devices and hence, whenever any problem related to the printer appears on your device, it can annoy you beyond control. Windows users are having a lot of issues when they use the printer with the OS. Either the printer stops printing or, at times, does not even read an available device. The problems are becoming quite common.

Especially the Windows 10/Windows 11 printer sharing not working errors appear to be recurring. This problem may halt your workflow and create other troubles for you. However, if you are facing a similar error on your device, there is nothing to worry about. With the help of this article, we will share some solutions with you. These solutions will allow you to use your printer as required and get rid of the sharing error at once. So, let’s have a look at these solutions right away without any further ado.

Methods to Fix Windows 11 Printer Sharing Not Working

With the help of a couple of solutions provided below, we will have a look at how you can get rid of the Windows 11/Windows 10 printer sharing not working error within a minute or two. Follow the steps provided in different solutions and run the printer error-free.

Fix 1: Turn On the Printer Sharing Feature

As the Windows 11 printer sharing not working error is associated with a specific feature named Printer Sharing, you should address the same first to fix the issue. If this error appears, this means that the device is unable to access the feature. You need to turn this feature on to proceed and use your printer uninterruptedly. Take the assistance of the below steps for ease:

1. Click on the search icon on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and hit Enter.
2. Set the View By to Large Icons and click on Network and Sharing Center.
3. From the left pane, click on Change advanced network settings.
4. Under the category of Network Discovery click on Turn On Network Discovery. Similarly, under the File and Printer Sharing category, select Turn on File Printer Sharing and hit the Save Changes button.

This method will readily fix the shared printer not connecting in Windows 10 or Windows 11. However, if the problem persists, try the next solution.

Also Read: How to Restore Printer Connection on Windows

Fix 2: Take the Help of the Printer Troubleshooter

Another fix that you can try to get rid of the Windows 11 printer sharing not working error is to run the printer troubleshooter. This is a Windows-integrated function that allows you to get rid of all printer-related errors with ease. You can also run the tool for other devices as well. For now, let’s have a look at the procedure to make the best out of the Windows troubleshooter:

1. Open the Settings of your Windows 11 device by right-clicking the Start menu button on the taskbar.
2. Under the System category of Settings, click on Troubleshoot.
3. In the Troubleshooter window, click on Other Troubleshooters to proceed.
4. In the next list of devices, click on Printer and choose an option to Run the Troubleshooter.
5. Wait while the troubleshooter looks for the root of the problem and presents solutions. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the error.

If due for any reason, the problems associated with printer sharing not working Windows 10 persists, follow the next solution.

Fix 3: Update the Windows

Another great solution that fixes all the major problems related to printers and other devices is updating the OS. This is because the outdated OS may contain some bugs that are causing the Windows 11 printer sharing not working error. Hence, when the development team at Microsoft finds the same, it fixes it in the next update. So the best solution is updating the operating system using the steps shown below:

1. Click on the Search icon present on the taskbar, write Check for Updates, and hit the Enter key.
2. Wait for the program to load and click on Check for updates.
3. When the utility lists the available updates, click on Download and install to get the updates.

This method will fix the error of the shared printer not connecting in Windows 10 if the trouble is appearing because of the outdated OS. If the root is something else, then try the next solution for ease.

Also Read: Printer Driver Is Unavailable On Windows 10

Fix 4: Turn Off the Firewall of Windows OS

The next solution that may help you fix Windows 10/Windows 11 printer sharing not working error is to turn off the firewall. The Windows Defender Firewall may take your printer to be an intruder and prohibit its performance on the device. So, the best solution is to turn off the firewall using the set of steps below:

1. Press the Win+S keys simultaneously, type Windows Defender Firewall, and press the Enter key.
2. Wait for a sec and let the tool appear on your screen. Click on the section named Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off at the left pane.
3. Select the option named Turn off Windows Defender Firewall under both public and private network settings. Click on Ok to apply the same.

Once the defender is disabled, use the printer and see if the shared printer not connecting in Windows 10 error persists. If it does, you may need to follow the next solution.

Fix 5: Update the Printer Driver to Fix Printer Sharing Not Working Windows 10/11

Allow us to present the next solution to fix the errors related to Windows 11 printer sharing not working. For this solution to work, you need to follow the guide and update the printer drivers. You can do this manually or automatically. However, we are presenting the automatic solution only as the manual one is quite confusing.

For the automatic method to work, the first thing you need to do is install the Bit Driver Updater. This is an automated solution that finds outdated drivers present on your device and helps you install them in a single click. Additionally, as the tool is quite advanced, it poses various other features as well.

For example, you can use the Bit Driver Updater to scan the updates if you can’t proceed with the same instantly. Additionally, the smart build of the tool allows you to back up and restore the drivers as suited. One of the best features of the tool is the driver update ignore option. This allows you to skip the updates of any driver as and if needed. However, we do not recommend skipping updates for your own good.

These are only some of the features but there is a plethora of others that you will find when you use the tool. For now, let’s proceed to the section showing how to update all drivers and the printer driver to fix the Windows 10 printer sharing not working error.

Steps to Fix Shared Printer Not Connecting in Windows 10/11 With Bit Driver Updater:

1. Click the blue button below to download the Bit Driver Updater setup.
2. Install the tool and run it on the system.
3. The tool will start scanning your system automatically. However, you may need to take the assistance of the Scan Drivers button if it does not start.
4. When all the updates appear on the system, including the printer driver, update the driver for Windows 11 using the Update Now (single update) or Update All (every update) button.
5. Restart the system when the entire update process ends.

So, this method will surely fix the printer sharing not working Windows 10/11 error for you right away.

Also Read: How To Fix Printer Printing Blank Pages On Windows 10? Easy Solutions

Windows 11 Printer Sharing Not Working: Fixed Right Away

So, we hope that the solutions provided in the previous sections of this write-up, allow you to fix the Windows 11/Windows 10 printer sharing not working error right away. All the solutions are quite safe to deploy on your system. These do not harm the integrity of your system or its files in any way. You can proceed to use the solutions right away.

If the methods didn’t help you, then the core of the problem is located in the system or the printer. Take the device to the customer center of the respective manufacturers for help. You may also connect with customer support online for assistance. Do let us know which one of these fixes worked for you in the comments section below. You can also seek assistance in the same regarding more techniques to fix Windows 11 printer sharing not working. Our experts will get back to you right away. Subscribe to the newsletter from the Techpout blog and never miss any helpful updates from the page. Provide your email address in the box provided to subscribe.