Share Printers Across Windows, Mac & Linux - Network Printer Setup
Cross-Platform File and Printer Sharing
Operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux are capable of interoperability, enabling file sharing across a network.
Furthermore, these systems can facilitate printer sharing, allowing multiple computers on a network to utilize a single physical printer.
Wired Printer Sharing
The ability to share a printer becomes particularly relevant when a wired printer is directly connected to one of the computers on the network, typically via a USB connection.
This setup allows other devices on the network to send print jobs to that centrally connected printer.
Modern Wireless Printers
However, contemporary wireless printers often bypass the need for manual sharing configurations.
These devices connect directly to the network and automatically make themselves available for use by all connected computers.
Consequently, users simply need to connect to the wireless printer through their respective operating systems.
Therefore, the process is simplified, eliminating the requirement for a dedicated computer to act as a print server.
Printer Sharing on Windows Systems
Related: Methods for File Sharing Between Windows, Mac, and Linux Computers on a Network
Similar to file sharing procedures, accessing the Network and Sharing Center within the Windows Control Panel is necessary. From there, select "Change advanced sharing settings" and ensure that "file and print sharing" is activated. Because macOS and Linux systems are incompatible with Windows homegroups and their simplified sharing capabilities, printer sharing must be configured using traditional methods.
Navigate to the Printers list located in the Control Panel. Then, right-click on the specific printer intended for sharing and choose "Printer properties" from the context menu.
Select the "Sharing" tab. Activate printer sharing for the device and assign it a recognizable name. Printer sharing can also be enabled during the initial printer setup process.
This allows other users on the network to easily locate and utilize the shared printer. Proper naming conventions are crucial for efficient network management.
Connecting to a Network Printer in Windows
To locate a shared printer, initiate Windows Explorer or File Explorer. Then, select the "Network" option to view available computers on your network.
A double-click on a Windows or Linux computer that is sharing a printer will reveal its shared printing resources. Selecting the printer itself will begin the addition and configuration process.
Once configured, the shared printer will be accessible alongside your locally installed printers within the standard print dialog boxes.
Alternatively, the "Add Printer" dialog, found within the "Devices and Printers" control panel, can be utilized. This feature automatically scans for printers in proximity.
The scan allows for straightforward addition of discovered network printers to your system.
When connecting to a printer shared from a macOS device, a specific step is required. You must first install Apple’s Bonjour Print Services for Windows.
Following the installation of Bonjour, the Bonjour Printer Wizard application can be used to successfully add the printer to your Windows environment.
Printer Sharing on Mac OS X
This guide details how to enable printer sharing on a Mac OS X system. It is related to various wireless printing technologies like AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, iPrint, and ePrint.
Unlike Windows, Mac OS X utilizes the Bonjour protocol for printer sharing. This protocol is automatically compatible with Linux systems. Windows users, however, may require additional software to connect to a printer shared in this manner.
Enabling Printer Sharing
To begin, access the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.” Then, navigate to the “Printers & Scanners” section.
Within Printers & Scanners, locate the printer you wish to share on the network. Check the box labeled “Share this printer on the network” to activate the sharing feature.
Following this, click the “Sharing Preferences” button. This will open a new window where you can manage sharing options.
Confirm that the “Printer Sharing” service is enabled within the Sharing Preferences window. This ensures that the printer is discoverable on the network.
With Printer Sharing enabled, other devices on your network can now access and utilize the shared printer. Bonjour automatically handles the discovery process for compatible operating systems.
Connecting to a Network Printer from macOS
The process of adding a shared printer on Mac OS X begins within the Printers & Scanners system preference pane. Initiate the addition by clicking the "+" button, then choosing the "Add Printer or Scanner" option.
Alternatively, you can access the printer addition dialog directly from within an application’s Print function. Simply select the Printer box during the print process and then click "Add Printer."
Adding a Windows Shared Printer
To connect to a printer shared from a Windows computer, first click the Windows icon. Then, select the workgroup to which your Windows PC belongs.
Following this, choose the specific Windows PC that is sharing the desired printer. Finally, select the printer itself from the list of available resources.
Once selected, the shared printer will be added to your macOS system. It will then function identically to any printer directly connected to your Mac.
Linux Printer Sharing
Printers that have been shared from Linux-based computers are often automatically discovered by macOS. When you initiate a print job, these printers should appear as available options.
This automatic detection simplifies the process of utilizing printers hosted on Linux systems within your network environment.
Printer Sharing on Linux Systems
The following instructions were developed using Ubuntu 14.04 as the operating system; however, the general procedure should be applicable to many other Linux distributions.
To begin, access the System Settings application in Ubuntu. This can be done by clicking the gear-shaped icon located on the top panel and then selecting “System Settings” from the menu.
Within System Settings, locate and click the “Printers” icon. A list of any currently added printers will then be displayed.
Configuring Server Settings
Navigate to the “Server” menu, which is positioned at the top of the screen. From this menu, choose “Server Settings.”
A crucial step is to enable printer sharing. This is achieved by selecting the checkbox labeled “Publish shared printers connected to this system.”
Printer Properties and Policies
To share a specific printer, right-click on its entry within the printer list. From the context menu that appears, select “Properties.”
Within the printer’s Properties window, click on the “Policies” tab. Verify that the “Shared” checkbox is selected. This ensures the printer is available for network access.
Accessing a Network Printer on Linux
To begin, open the System Settings application within Ubuntu and select the Printers icon. Initiate the printer addition process by clicking the Add button.
This will launch the printer discovery process, allowing you to locate and connect to available printers on your network.
Within the Network Printer section, choose the option for Windows Printer via SAMBA. Subsequently, click the Browse button to initiate a search for network printers.
This action enables you to view printers connected to other computers on the network. Once the desired printer is located, add it to your system.
Proper driver configuration is essential for functionality. After installation, the printer will be accessible when printing from applications running on your Linux system.
Ubuntu is capable of automatically detecting printers shared through Bonjour from a macOS device. These printers will typically be added to the system without requiring manual intervention.
Wi-Fi Printers: A Simplified Solution
Many contemporary printers incorporate built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. This allows them to become readily available to all connected devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, without the need for complex printer sharing configurations.
Wi-Fi printers represent an ideal solution for users seeking a streamlined printer sharing experience, minimizing setup complexities.
Image Credit: William Hook on Flickr