Windows 11 laptop will not connect to shared printer

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This:

"but will not connect to it"

And I will ask what error message, pop-up window, etc. (if any) appears when connection attempt fails?

Any related error codes etc. in Reliability History/Monitor or Event Viewer?

Compare the Windows 10 laptop to the Windows 11 laptop using Powershell's Get-SmbShare cmdlet.

FYI:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/smbshare/get-smbshare?view=windowsserver2022-ps

Results from my computer:

Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Install the latest PowerShell for new features and improvements! https://aka.ms/PSWindows

PS C:\Users\XXXX> Get-SmbShare

Name ScopeName Path Description
---- --------- ---- -----------
ADMIN$ * C:\WINDOWS Remote Admin
C$ * C:\ Default share
Chicago-DVD * E:\
D$ * D:\ Default share
IPC$ * Remote IPC
T$ * T:\ Default share

Compare the results of the Windows 10 laptop that connects to the results of the Windows 11 laptop that is not connecting.

What, if any, differences exist?
 
jojesa said:
Are both computer on the same Private Network?
Have you tried to run the Printer Troublehooter?
What's the model of the Printer?
Click to expand...
They are on the same private network, and I have tried the troubleshooter numerous times.

HP Laserjet Pro MFP M227fdn.

The laptop does "see" the printer in the network. When I try to open it, I get a message saying Printer not found.
 
What about the Powershell Get-SmbShare cmdlet?

Results?

Likewise for "Any related error codes etc. in Reliability History/Monitor or Event Viewer?"

The printer is a shared printer - not a network printer.

Take a closer look at the properties relating to the shared printer. First on the Windows 10 laptop that connects and then the Windows 11 laptop that is failing to connect.

Both may "see" the printer but the latter laptop may not have the necessary permissions to use the shared printer.
 
I had the same problem with my wife's laptop not seeing the connected printer via USB cable to my desktop PC.
Now all computers are running Windows 10 but for the life of me, I just couldn't get the laptop to connect or work with the connected printer.

I finally just set up the laptop to connect via WiFi and it works just fine now. I don't even need the other PC that is connected to that printer, via USB, on.

Can you get it connected through WiFi?
 
Ralston18 said:
What about the Powershell Get-SmbShare cmdlet?

Results?

Likewise for "Any related error codes etc. in Reliability History/Monitor or Event Viewer?"

The printer is a shared printer - not a network printer.

Take a closer look at the properties relating to the shared printer. First on the Windows 10 laptop that connects and then the Windows 11 laptop that is failing to connect.

Both may "see" the printer but the latter laptop may not have the necessary permissions to use the shared printer.
Click to expand...
I do not know what Powershell Get-SmbShare cmdlet is. Likewise, I have no experience with Reliability History/Monitor, and although I have used event viewer I have trouble understanding the results.

Yes, it is a shared printer connected via USB to a Win 10 desktop. Both the Win 11 laptop which can't use the printer and the Win 10 laptop that can use the printer connect to the network by wifi.

As for the permissions, that us where I think the issue is. Where specifically do I find the permissions to compare on each laptop?
 
Blackink said:
I had the same problem with my wife's laptop not seeing the connected printer via USB cable to my desktop PC.
Now all computers are running Windows 10 but for the life of me, I just couldn't get the laptop to connect or work with the connected printer.

I finally just set up the laptop to connect via WiFi and it works just fine now. I don't even need the other PC that is connected to that printer, via USB, on.

Can you get it connected through WiFi?
Click to expand...
That's how I've been trying to connect to it. Wifi home network.
 
Going back a bit then.

My thought is that there is some mix up or confusion with respect to "wireless".

As I understand the network and connections:

The host desktop is a wired network connection to the network router and the desktop is sharing the printer via one of the desktop's USB ports.

The share is succesful because a wirelessly connected network Windows 10 laptop is able to print, And can only do so if the desktop hosting the printer and the printer are both turned on. The desktop computer and other network computers are able to print - correct?

The wirelessly connected network Windows 11 laptop can "see" the printer but is unable to print.

Consider that the Windows 11 laptop is perhaps "seeing" the printer as a wireless network connected printer and not as a printer shared by the desktop computer.

Were any configuration changes made on the printer with respect to network connectivity: i.e., printer name, IP address, subnet mask? (Reference physically numbered page 114 in the printer's user manual.)

Print out the printer's configuration report - the report may be necessary.

Set up the Windows 10 and 11 laptops side by side. Both now using wireless network connectivity with their respective wired network adapters disabled.

Using the Windows 10 laptop (printing) as a reference to work through the printer configuration settings on the Windows 11 laptop (not printing).

Change the Windows 11's printer configuration settings to match the Windows 10 's printer configuration settings. If there is some difference then the printer's Configuration Report may resolve the matter as to the necessary configuration setting.

= = = =

For now, the objective will be to focus on getting the Windows 11 laptop to print to the shared printer.

Bear in mind, just as a general observation, is that if you can setup the printer as a network printer (versus shared) then the printer can be directly configured and managed more on its' own merits with no dependency on the desktop.

The printer thus being a wired network device connected to the router. (However, the printer can be configured to be a wirelessly (Wifi) connected network device if required. ) Wired will perform much better in most environments.

And wireless computers or other devices can still print because their respective wireless connections to the router allow access to the wired network printer.

If you really require the printer to be a standalone wireless network device that can be done.
 
I have 2 desktop PC's both Windows 10 Pro. One of them is connected to the printer via USB cable. The are both sitting next to each other.
The other computer is connected to the printer via the network (if that's the correct wording here, it's not using the printer wirelessly, it can't do wireless!

My wife's laptop runs Windows 10 Home. I tried everything but pulling teeth to get that laptop to connect to the network to print but after 3 hours of struggling, I gave up.
I then remember seeing the option to connect wirelessly (through the Xfinity Modem, I presume?).

Once I did that, not only does the laptop print to the printer, if I shut off those other two desktop computers, the laptop still prints!!!

Not sure if any of this helps or makes sense.
Good Luck.
 
jblackmd said:
They are on the same private network, and I have tried the troubleshooter numerous times.

HP Laserjet Pro MFP M227fdn.

The laptop does "see" the printer in the network. When I try to open it, I get a message saying Printer not found.
Click to expand...
You have a network ready laser printer with built-in Ethernet port.
Do you have a router with a Ethernet port available?
If you do, then just connect the printer to the router using an Ethernet cable.
Every device on the network could print and you won't have to deal with the hassle of setting printer sharing or leaving a computer powered on because is connected to the printer via USB cable.
 
jojesa said:
You have a network ready laser printer with built-in Ethernet port.
Do you have a router with a Ethernet port available?
If you do, then just connect the printer to the router using an Ethernet cable.
Every device on the network could print and you won't have to deal with the hassle of setting printer sharing or leaving a computer powered on because is connected to the printer via USB cable.
Click to expand...

I have tried to connect using ethernet. I think the printer has a bad ethernet socket. The router doesn't see it. The cable I'm using is new.
 
Make and model router( gateway)?

On the desktop computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes). Use copy and paste to post the results here.

On the printer's configuration pages - are there any references to an IP address and subnet mask?

Or network connectivity: wired/wireless?

Is the printer's MAC listed?
 
Ralston18 said:
Make and model router( gateway)?

On the desktop computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes). Use copy and paste to post the results here.

On the printer's configuration pages - are there any references to an IP address and subnet mask?

Or network connectivity: wired/wireless?

Is the printer's MAC listed?
Click to expand...
I am using a Netgear Nighthawk R7000. The printer does not show up on the Netgear screen.

IPconfig/all results -
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Jon-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Unknown adapter SecureLine:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine Wintun Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 40-8D-5C-E4-11-D2
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::9a42:db53:74ba:53b7%14(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.6(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, August 1, 2023 11:54:42 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, August 3, 2023 8:24:31 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 255888732
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-27-0C-E8-7E-40-8D-5C-E4-11-D2
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
 
Remember that if you reset (factory reset) the router then all of the current settings will return to their default values.

Including login name and password.

Ensure that you have a copy of the Nighthawk's User Guide/Manual as a handy reference. Either hardcopy or saved as a file on the computer.
 
I finally got it fixed. As I mentioned above, I am unable to get into the router page. It asks for answers to security questions but doesn't accept them. Although there is a very good phone app for the router, it doesn't allow me to change any advanced settings, so I really need to get into the router page via PC, and so would have to do a rest of the router, and I was waiting until the weekend for that.

In the meantime, I noticed that one of my networked desktops has two Ethernet ports in the MB, so I connected the printer to the second one. It was installed as a second Ethernet connection, and I could print from the desktop it is connected to. Then I bridged the Ethernet connections, and now the entire network can use the printer, including the Win 11 laptop.

Thank you all for help with this very frustrating case.
 
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Ralston18 said:
Per "ipconfig /all" IPv6 is enabled.

Disable IPv6

Does the printer show up?
Click to expand...
I finally got into the Router page. When you say Disable IPv6, where to you want me to disable it? In the router settings under Advanced, there is an IPv6 tab. When I click it, it takes me to a page that says Internet Connection type and it is currently disabled.

Do you mean I should disable IPv6 in the properties of the desktop ethernet adapter?
 
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