How do I share a printer with several computers in the house?

Question: How do I share a printer with several computers in the house?

Answer: If you have more than one computer and they are networked together but only one printer, you can set up your printer as a network printer. First your computers must be networked together and be on the same workgroup or domain. Next you will need to share your printer over the network. You can do this by going to your Control Panel, and then select Printers and Other Hardware (if you do not see Printers and Other Hardware go to next step) then select Printers and Faxes. Once Printers and Faxes is open, right click on the printer that you want to share and left click on Sharing. Then you will give it a Shared name (just a name to help you recognize your printer) and select Ok. Now that the printer is shared, you need install the printer on the other computer that you wish to print from. Go to your other computer that does not have the printer connected to it and open the Control Panel. Next to go Printers and Other Hardware then open Printers and Faxes. On the left hand side under Printer Tasks select Add a Printer which will bring up the Add Printer Wizard window. Select Next to continue, and then select the radio button “A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer”. Select the radio button “Browse for a printer” and then choose Next. You will then get a list of available printers on your network. Select your printer and choose Next. You may get a warning stating that it is potentially unsafe to continue, select Yes to continue. You will then be asked if you want to use this printer as your default printer, select Yes, then Next, then Finish. You should now have the printer installed on both computers and be able to print to it.

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