If you have a nice USB printer you can only share to another Mac, Windows or Linux computer, not an iDevice. How to Share a Printer in Windows 7 Manuallyġ.) Click Start, then click Devices and Printers.5 years later still an issue! I should not have to install 3rd party software to print to a shared printer on a Mac using the latest MacOS software (Sierra) using brand new iPhone or iPad. The instructions that came with your model should tell you exactly how to install it on the network. Wireless printers typically connect to your home network using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology. Wired printers have an Ethernet port, which you connect to your router or hub via an Ethernet cable. They are always available because they are connected to the wireless router through an Ethernet cable or using a built-in wireless adapter. They don't have to be connected to a computer. Network printers have a huge advantage over USB shared printers. The computer that the printer is connected to must be turned on to use the printer. Note: After the printer is installed, you can access it through the Print dialog box in any program, just like a printer that's directly connected to your computer. Note: If you don't already have a driver installed for the printer, click Install driver in the dialog box that appears. How To Connect to a Shared Printer?Ĥ.) Next, let's go to the computer you want to print from.Ĭlick HomeGroup and click Install printer. Or jump to How to share a printer manually. Once you set up HomeGroup in Windows 7, let's connect to a share printer in Windows 7.

HomeGroup automatically shares certain files and your printers. Thanks to a feature called HomeGroup in Windows 7, printer sharing is a breeze! Click here to set up HomeGroup! If it is offline or turned off then the other computers on the network won't be able to print to the USB printer.

Note: The USB printer is available to all computers on the network as long as the host computer is powered on and connected to the network. Let's say you have a USB printer, you can only use one computer to print to it? Nope, you can share it through Windows and have other computers on your network print to it. Let's share a printer on your home network! Connect the printer as a stand-alone device on the network itself.You can attach it directly to your computer on your network and share it with all the others on your network.There are 2 basic ways to make a printer available to the PCs on your home network. It's easier than you think to share printer in Windows 7.

Sharing a printer on windows 7 for mac