[SOLVED] Cannot connect to shared Printer

[Jonboy]

Hi
I have added a new PC running Windows 11 Home version 23H2, to a homegroup network consisting of two PCs both running Windows 10 Home version 22H2.
Having configured the new pc to join the network without password I can see the entire network including a Samsung ML-1915 printer connected by USB to one of the Windows 10 PCs.
When I try to add this printer to the Windows 11 PC I get the message below



I have tried multiple fixes suggested on the web but nothing has worked so far.
I have enabled the Local Policy editor and changed the RPC settings as below



The problem persists. Any help would oblige.
Thanks
Jonboy

 

[Olaf Engelke]

PC to PC share access without password is not a working szenario. (Not exactly sure about guest access nowadays, and tbh Windows Home editions are something I don't work with so I may stand corrected.)

You need a local account on the system sharing the printer with password and use that account on the other system for cross system access. Enter the data (PC name, user name in syntax PCName\username and password) in control panel under Credential Manager in section Windows credentials.
Accessing Credential Manager - Microsoft Support

Even then you can have issues since Microsoft did some changes to Point and Print security some time ago.

Best greetings from Germany
Olaf

 

[Jonboy]

Olaf
Thanks for your response.
I am able to see all 3 computers on the network using File Explorer. I can see this on all 3 computers. I can also transfer and delete any shared files to any computer from any computer on the network.
Both Win 10 computers can print to the shared printer on one of the Win 10 computers. The Win 11 computer cannot.
When I install the printer and share on the Win 11 computer then the Win 10 computers cannot connect to printer with same error message.
There seems to be a problem sharing the printer between the different operating systems i.e. Windows 11 to Windows 10 or vice versa.
In the Credential Manager I am not able to install the shared printer address only the computer name and my username and blank password. This makes no difference.
The problem remains.
Andy

 

[Sérgio Pato]

Try change the driver in print server.

 

[Olaf Engelke]

Both Win 10 computers can print to the shared printer on one of the Win 10 computers. The Win 11 computer cannot.
When I install the printer and share on the Win 11 computer then the Win 10 computers cannot connect to printer with same error message.
There seems to be a problem sharing the printer between the different operating systems i.e. Windows 11 to Windows 10 or vice versa.
In the Credential Manager I am not able to install the shared printer address only the computer name and my username and blank password. This makes no difference.

Can you check the settings under Settings / Bluetooth and Devices /Print Server Properties on the security tab?
On my (Windows 11 Pro) system guest access is denied - you may need to change this through the Advanced button.



(I'm not sure if Windows 11 Home even supports local accounts anymore, which would be the way described earlier with identical, password protected user accounts on each device, same name, same password for accessing the shared printer - and even this may require additional work to disable some checkups. So guest access might be the solution.)
Or you could try to use the same Microsoft account for login on the Print Server PC and the Windows 11 machine.

Best greetings from Germany
Olaf

 

[Jonboy]

Try change the driver in print server.

Hi Sergio
I have changed drivers a number of times -it makes no difference
When I connect the printer to the Windows 11 pc it has the drivers and prints no problem - but the Windows 10 pcs cannot connect to it.
I feel sure this is an environmental problem, ie different operating systems?
The problem remains unsolved!
Thanks
Andy

 

[Jonboy]

Can you check the settings under Settings / Bluetooth and Devices /Print Server Properties on the security tab?
On my (Windows 11 Pro) system guest access is denied - you may need to change this through the Advanced button.

View attachment 96993

(I'm not sure if Windows 11 Home even supports local accounts anymore, which would be the way described earlier with identical, password protected user accounts on each device, same name, same password for accessing the shared printer - and even this may require additional work to disable some checkups. So guest access might be the solution.)
Or you could try to use the same Microsoft account for login on the Print Server PC and the Windows 11 machine.

Best greetings from Germany
Olaf

Hi again Olaf
When I look at

Settings / Bluetooth and Devices /Print Server Properties on the security tab

on the Windows 11 machine then I am only looking at the Server properties for printers installed on that machine.
The problem is I cannot install the printer connected to the Windows 10 pc so I am only seeing the print server properties for when the printer is connected to the Windows 11 pc (I think?)
Just like you I can see that Guest access is denied. On the Advanced screen and View screen things are greyed out and I cannot change any settings. Maybe I need to get administrators rights?
I will have to research how to do that and report later.


I have tried to add the Print Management console but I am running Windows 11 Home edition and it will not install.
I will also check out print server settings on the Windows 10 machine which is sharing the printer and see if there is any obvious issue, but as my other Windows 10 pc will print to it I do not think this will tell me much?
Your suggestion about local accounts is another area I must explore further. My two Windows 10 pcs are running on Local accounts without passwords. The new Windows 11 pc is on a pin (Microsoft account?). I have tried to set up a local account without a password but I ran into difficulties and stayed with the pin to give me access to browser history and Outlook. Not sure I can run a local account without password on Windows 11? Notwithstanding with the current set up I can share files - so why can't I share a printer?
Thanks
Andy

 

[Jonboy]

Updating on my current situation.

I have 3 pcs all running local accounts without passwords networked for file and printer sharing on a home group.
2 pcs are running Windows 10 Home Edition and one is running Windows 11 Home Edition.
One of the Windows 10 pcs has a Local Printer installed on USB. Both Windows 10 pcs can print to it but the Windows 11 pc cannot.
All the pcs are able to share files.

As an extra step
I have added an SSD with Windows 11 installed to one of the Windows 10 pcs, plugged in the local printer by USB and installed it, joined the homegroup, and enabled file and printer sharing.
With this arrangement I can only print from the Windows 11 pc which has the printer connected to it. I cannot connect to the printer from the other Windows 11 pc or from the Windows 10 pc.

I am drawn to the conclusion that Windows 11 Home Edition does not support Local Printer sharing, whereas Windows 10 does.
Can this be true?

 

[Olaf Engelke]

Well, cannot tell about Windows Home abilities very much, as I have stated already.
Eventually we have to think different and accept that we cannot solve this issue by software alone.
The printer model itself is rather old, so you are lucky that it still works at all in Windows 11. Maybe you could get a newer one with network capabilities which you can address directly from each computer.
Another option would be a USB device server/print server to access the printer, but those things are not that cheap.
Best greetings from Germany
Olaf

 

[Jonboy]

PC to PC share access without password is not a working scenario. (Not exactly sure about guest access nowadays, and tbh Windows Home editions are something I don't work with so I may stand corrected.)

You need a local account on the system sharing the printer with password and use that account on the other system for cross system access. Enter the data (PC name, user name in syntax PCName\username and password) in control panel under Credential Manager in section Windows credentials.
Accessing Credential Manager - Microsoft Support

Even then you can have issues since Microsoft did some changes to Point and Print security some time ago.

Best greetings from Germany
Olaf

Case proven! You are correct Olaf.

To enable local printer sharing on Windows 11 you need password protection on the host machine and windows credentials entries on the remote computers to allow access to the printer.

I needed professional help to me get there, but what you said is correct.

I will mark this thread solved, but as a Home user I'm disappointed to have to revert to passwords in Windows 11 for home networking.

Cheers
Andy