Fix Access Denied Adding Shared Printer in Windows 10

Getting an “Access Denied” error when adding a shared printer in Windows 10 usually means the computer can reach the printer but lacks permission to connect to it, either because of Windows security settings, a stale printer driver, or a misconfigured share. This guide walks through the most reliable fixes, from quick permission checks to clearing the print spooler, so you can get the shared printer installed without calling IT.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access on your Windows 10 PC (you’ll need to approve UAC prompts)
• The name or IP address of the computer that hosts the shared printer
• The printer’s exact share name (you may need to ask the person who set it up)
• Optional: the printer driver installer file from the manufacturer’s website

Step-by-Step

1. Verify you can see the host computer. Open File Explorer, click “Network” in the left sidebar. If you see the computer hosting the printer, skip to step 3. If not, type \\computername (replace with the actual name) into the address bar and press Enter. If that fails, use the IP address instead: \\192.168.1.50 for example. If you get a network error, the host may be offline, on a different subnet, or network discovery is turned off.
2. Enable network discovery and file sharing. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Under “Private” (or “Guest or Public” if that’s your network profile), turn on “Turn on network discovery” and “Turn on file and printer sharing.” Click Save changes. This is often the root cause on home networks.
3. Connect to the printer directly from the Run dialog. Press Win + R, type the UNC path to the printer (e.g., \\HOST-PC\PrinterName) and press Enter. If a security prompt appears, enter credentials for an account that has access to the host. If this works, Windows may automatically add the printer. If you get “Access Denied” here, continue with the fixes below.
4. Add the printer using the classic control panel. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > “Add a printer or scanner.” Wait for it to search, then click “The printer that I want isn’t listed.” Choose “Select a shared printer by name” and enter the UNC path. Check the box “Browse for a printer” if you want to pick it from a list. Click Next. If this fails with Access Denied, proceed.
5. Clear the print spooler and restart it. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find “Print Spooler” in the list. Right-click it and select “Stop.” Now open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete everything inside that folder (you may need admin permission). Go back to Services, right-click “Print Spooler” again, and select “Start.” This clears stuck print jobs that can cause access errors.
6. Check the host computer’s printer sharing permissions. On the computer that has the printer physically connected, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Click the printer, then “Manage,” then “Printer properties.” Click the “Sharing” tab. Make sure “Share this printer” is checked. Then click the “Security” tab. Highlight “Everyone” and check that “Print” is allowed. If “Everyone” isn’t listed, click “Add,” type “Everyone,” click OK, then grant Print permission. Apply and OK.
7. Add your user account to the host’s permissions. On the host, in the same “Security” tab, click “Add,” type your Windows username (or the email you use to sign in), and grant Print permission. If you don’t know your username, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and look at the name shown. This is often the missing piece when “Everyone” isn’t enough.
8. Disable password-protected sharing temporarily (home networks only). On the host, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Under “All Networks,” select “Turn off password protected sharing.” Save changes. Try adding the printer again. If it works, you can leave it off for a simple home setup, but be aware anyone on your network can now access shared files. Re-enable it after if you prefer security.
9. Install the printer driver manually. Download the correct driver for your printer model and Windows 10 version from the manufacturer’s website. Run the installer and choose “Add a local printer” or “Add a printer using a manual setting.” When asked for a port, select “Create a new port” and choose “Local Port.” Enter the UNC path as the port name (e.g., \\HOST-PC\PrinterName). Then select your printer model from the list or browse to the downloaded driver. This bypasses the automatic network discovery that often triggers Access Denied.
10. Restart both computers. After making changes, restart the host and the client. Sometimes the spooler or network stack needs a fresh start to pick up new permissions.

Common Mistakes

• Typing the wrong share name. The share name is not always the printer model. Check the Sharing tab on the host to get the exact name.
• Using the wrong network profile. If your network is set to “Public,” Windows applies stricter sharing rules. Switch to “Private” if you trust the network.
• Forgetting to restart the spooler after deleting files. If you stop the spooler and don’t restart it, printers won’t work at all.
• Assuming “Everyone” includes your account. In some Windows configurations, “Everyone” doesn’t cover authenticated users properly. Add your specific user.
• Mixing 32-bit and 64-bit drivers. If the host is 64-bit and your PC is 32-bit (rare but possible), you need the 32-bit driver installed on the host. Check the host’s “Additional Drivers” button in the Sharing tab.

Tips

• Use the IP address instead of the computer name in the UNC path if name resolution is flaky. For example, \\192.168.1.50\PrinterName.
• If you’re in a domain environment, ask your admin to add your computer to the printer’s security group rather than changing local permissions.
• Keep the printer driver up to date on the host. An old driver can cause errors on newer Windows 10 builds.
• For a one-off connection, try using the “Add a printer using TCP/IP address or hostname” option with the printer’s IP directly, if the printer is network-capable. This bypasses sharing entirely.
• Make sure both computers are on the same network and that any VPN is disconnected, as VPNs can block local network discovery.

Troubleshooting

If you still get Access Denied after trying everything above, work through these checks in order:

• Check the host’s firewall. On the host, open Windows Defender Firewall, click “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall,” and make sure “File and Printer Sharing” is checked for both Private and Public networks. If it’s already checked, uncheck it, click OK, then re-check it and OK again to reset the rule.
• Verify the host’s printer is actually shared. On the host, open a command prompt and type net share. Look for a line with the printer’s share name. If it’s not there, the share is not active.
• Test with a different user account. Create a temporary local user on the host, share the printer with that user, and try connecting from your PC using those credentials. If it works, the issue is your original account’s permissions.
• Check for third-party security software. Some antivirus suites block SMB printer sharing. Temporarily disable the firewall component of any third-party security tool (not the whole program) and try again.
• Use the Windows Printer Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer. Run it. It can sometimes reset the spooler and permissions automatically.
• Try connecting via a different method. If the printer has Wi-Fi or Ethernet, add it directly by IP address instead of through the host. This completely avoids the sharing permission layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get “Access Denied” even though I can see the printer on the network?

Seeing the printer in Network means discovery works, but the actual connection requires share-level and printer-level permissions. The most common cause is that your specific user account isn’t listed in the printer’s Security tab on the host, or password-protected sharing is on and you’re entering wrong credentials.

Do I need to be an administrator on the host computer to add a shared printer?

No, you only need “Print” permission on the shared printer, which the host owner can grant to any user. However, you do need local administrator rights on your own PC to install the driver.

What does “Turn off password protected sharing” do?

It allows anyone on your local network to access shared printers and files without entering a username and password. It’s convenient for home networks but less secure, so only use it if you trust everyone on the network.

I deleted files from the spool folder, but now no printers work at all.

That’s normal if you didn’t restart the Print Spooler service. Go to Services, find Print Spooler, right-click and select “Start.” If it’s already running, restart it. Your existing printers should come back.

Can I fix this without touching the host computer?

Sometimes yes: try adding the printer by IP address if it’s a network printer, or install the driver manually with a local port pointing to the UNC path. But if the share itself is misconfigured, you’ll need access to the host.

Why does it work from one PC but not another on the same network?

Each PC has its own local security settings and driver installation. The failing PC might have a stale driver, a different network profile (Public vs Private), or its user account isn’t in the printer’s permission list on the host.

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