Thursday, July 24, 2025

Fix: Printer Not Showing in Network (Windows 10/11)

 













Are you trying to print over a network, but your shared printer isn’t showing up? This is one of the most common and annoying problems in small offices or home networks. In this post, we’ll cover the key reasons why a printer might not appear and the steps to fix it.

🖨️ Common Reasons Why Network Printers Don’t Show

  • Printer sharing is disabled

  • Network discovery is turned off

  • Incorrect IP configuration or firewall settings

  • Print Spooler service is stopped

  • Driver or compatibility issues

🔧 Step-by-Step Fixes

✅ 1. Turn On Network Discovery & File Sharing

  1. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings

  2. Expand Private (current profile)

  3. Turn on:

    • Network Discovery

    • File and Printer Sharing

  4. Click Save Changes

✅ 2. Make Sure the Printer is Shared

  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers

  2. Right-click your printer → Select Printer properties

  3. Under the Sharing tab:

    • Check Share this printer

    • Note the share name

✅ 3. Check Firewall Settings

  • Ensure that the firewall (Windows Defender or third-party) is not blocking printer sharing

  • Allow apps like File and Printer Sharing through the firewall:

    • Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature

✅ 4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter

  2. Find Print Spooler

  3. Right-click → Restart

✅ 5. Access Printer by IP Address (Advanced)

  1. Get the printer’s IP address (from printer panel or router)

  2. Press Win + R, type \192.168.x.x (replace with real IP)

  3. See if the printer appears in the shared list

✅ 6. Install Printer Manually (if it doesn’t auto-detect)

  1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner

  2. Click "The printer that I want isn’t listed."

  3. Choose Add a printer using TCP/IP address or hostname

  4. Enter the IP address manually

📌 Bonus Tip: Keep Printer Drivers Updated

Outdated or incorrect drivers can block communication. Visit the printer manufacturer's website (e.g., HP, Epson, Canon) and download the latest drivers compatible with your Windows version.