How to Share a USB Printer Through Your Router

Before you start

A router with a USB port can act as a small print server, taking print jobs from any device on your network and sending them to a printer connected to that port. This is useful when you want everyone in a home or small office to share one printer without leaving a computer running all day.

Start by confirming that the USB port on your router supports printer sharing. Some routers use the port only for external drives or for charging a connected device. Look at the router USB ports you have and check the admin interface for a USB or print server menu. If that menu is absent, the port may not be intended for printing.

You will need:

• A USB printer cable long enough to reach from the printer to the router.
• A printer with a working USB port.
• Router admin access, usually through a browser at the router's IP address.

Connect the printer and enable sharing

Plug one end of the USB cable into the printer and the other end into the router's USB port. Power on the printer and wait for it to finish starting up. Routers rarely show an immediate message, so you may need to refresh the admin page to see whether the printer is recognized.

Open the router admin page and find the USB or network print server settings. On many routers the option is in a menu called USB Application, Network Tools, or Print Server. Turn on the print server, give it a name if asked, and save the change. The router will then make the printer available to the network through a network printing protocol.

Once saved, check the device list or network map in the router. If the printer appears, you can move on to installation. If it does not, try another USB port on the router, another cable, and a reboot of both the router and the printer. For more help, see router USB printer not working.

• Plug the USB cable into the printer and the router.
• Power on the printer and wait for it to be ready.
• Open the router admin page and locate the USB or print server menu.
• Enable the print server and save the settings.

Install the printer on Windows

On a Windows computer, open Settings, then choose Devices or Bluetooth & devices. Go to Printers & scanners and click Add device. If Windows sees the router's print server, select the printer and install the driver when prompted.

If Windows does not find it, choose Add manually and then select Add a printer using an IP address or hostname. Enter the router's IP address as the hostname, pick the protocol shown in the router's print server settings, and then choose the correct printer manufacturer and model from the driver list. You may need the driver from the printer maker's support page.

After the printer is installed, print a test page to confirm the connection. If nothing prints, return to the router admin page and confirm that the print server is still enabled.

Install the printer on macOS

On a Mac, open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. If the router's printer appears in the list, select it and add it.

If it does not appear, choose the IP tab, enter the router's IP address, and select the print protocol from the router's settings. macOS will try to identify the printer model and load a compatible driver.

If the router supports Apple AirPrint, the printer may appear automatically without any manual IP setup. The same automatic detection works for iPhones and iPads when the router exposes the AirPrint service.

Install on Android and Chromebooks

Android devices and Chromebooks commonly use Mopria or a vendor-specific print plugin. Install the print plugin from the printer maker's official support resources, then open the print dialog in any app and select the router-connected printer.

Make sure the phone or Chromebook is on the same network as the router. If you are using a guest network that isolates clients, the printer may not be reachable from that network. In that case, use the main Wi-Fi network for printing.

Keep printing secure

Enabling print sharing adds a network service to your router. Keep the router admin password strong, update the router firmware, and use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption for your wireless network. The Wi-Fi Alliance notes that WPA3 networks use the latest security protocols and disallow outdated legacy protocols, which helps protect devices such as a shared printer.

For a home office, you can also follow the broader cybersecurity guidance that NIST publishes as standards, guidelines, and best practices. Strong passwords, regular updates, and good risk management apply to the router, the printer firmware, and the computers sending print jobs.

If you rarely use the router's USB printer server, consider disabling it when you are not printing. An unused network service is one less thing exposed to the network.

You can learn more about WPA3 and router security basics to keep the whole network protected.

Limitations and alternatives

Router USB printing works well for a single printer shared by a small group of people. It is less ideal if you need scanner functions, multiple paper trays, or advanced driver features. For those cases, keep the printer attached to a computer or choose a printer with built-in networking.

If you use a mesh Wi-Fi system, check whether the main unit has a USB port that supports printer sharing. Many mesh systems reserve USB ports for storage or do not offer a print server at all, so read the spec page before setting up a printer this way.

When a router has no USB port or its print server is unreliable, a wired network printer or a dedicated print server can be a cleaner solution. Another simple option is to leave the printer connected to one computer and share it through the operating system.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Do all routers with a USB port support printer sharing?

No. Some routers use the USB port only for storage or charging. Look for a USB, print server, or USB Application page in the admin interface. If the option is missing, the router likely does not expose the printer to the network. In that case, you might need to consider printers for home and office that include built-in networking.

Why doesn't my computer see the printer?

Check the router admin page first to confirm the router sees the printer. If it does, use manual setup with the router's IP address. Try a different USB cable, another USB port, and a firmware update. See router USB printer not working for more steps.

Do I need to install printer drivers?

Yes. Each computer still needs the correct driver for the printer model. The router simply passes data between the network and the USB port, so the operating system must understand how to talk to the printer.

Can I print from a phone?

If the router exposes AirPrint or Mopria services, yes. Install the printer maker's print plugin if needed, and keep the phone on the same network as the router. Guest networks that isolate clients may block printing.

Is router USB printer sharing secure?

It is reasonably safe on a home network if you use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, keep the router admin password strong, update firmware, and disable the print server when not in use. Wi-Fi Alliance notes that WPA3 networks use the latest security protocols and disallow outdated legacy protocols.

What if my router has no USB port?

Use a printer with built-in networking, add a dedicated print server, or leave the printer attached to a computer and share it through the operating system.