How to Open Print Management in Windows

Print Management is a built-in Windows tool that lets you view and manage all printers, print drivers, and print queues on your computer or network. This guide shows you several ways to open it in Windows 10 and Windows 11, so you can troubleshoot printing issues, manage drivers, or set up printer sharing.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11
• An account with administrator privileges (to change some settings)

Step-by-Step

Use any of the following methods to open Print Management. They all lead to the same window.

1. Method 1: Using the Run dialog (fastest)
   1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
   2. Type printmanagement.msc in the Open field.
   3. Press Enter or click OK.
2. Method 2: Via the Start menu search
   1. Click the Start button (or press the Windows key).
   2. Type Print Management in the search box.
   3. Click the “Print Management” app from the search results.
3. Method 3: Through the Control Panel
   1. Open the Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu).
   2. Click “View devices and printers” under Hardware and Sound (or open “Devices and Printers” if using large/small icons view).
   3. In the toolbar at the top, click “Print server properties” – this opens a related dialog, but not the full Print Management console. To get the full console, use one of the other methods.

   Note: The Control Panel method only gives you limited printer properties, not the full Print Management window. For the complete tool, use Method 1 or 2.

4. Method 4: Using Command Prompt or PowerShell
   1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell (you can search for “cmd” or “PowerShell” in the Start menu).
   2. Type printmanagement.msc and press Enter.
5. Method 5: Create a desktop shortcut (optional)
   1. Right-click on your desktop, select New > Shortcut.
   2. In the location field, type printmanagement.msc.
   3. Click Next, name the shortcut (e.g., “Print Management”), and click Finish.

Once Print Management opens, you’ll see a console with three main sections on the left: Custom Filters, Print Servers, and (in some versions) Drivers and Ports. You can expand these to view all printers, manage print queues, and configure driver settings.

Common Mistakes

• Typing the wrong command: Make sure you type printmanagement.msc correctly. A common error is typing “printmanagement” without the .msc extension, which won’t work in the Run dialog.
• Using the Control Panel method expecting full features: As noted, “Print server properties” is not the same as Print Management. It only shows a few settings for the print server, not the full console.
• Not having administrator rights: Some actions within Print Management (like adding or removing drivers) require admin privileges. If you’re not an admin, you’ll see a UAC prompt or get an access denied error.
• Looking for Print Management in the Start menu on older Windows: Print Management is available in Windows 10 and 11, but if you’re on Windows 7 or earlier, the tool might not be present. Use the Run command method to check.

Tips

• Use custom filters: Print Management lets you create custom filters to show only printers that meet certain criteria (e.g., printers with errors, or printers with a specific driver). This can help you quickly spot problem devices.
• Manage print queues remotely: If you’re on a network, you can connect to another print server by right-clicking “Print Servers” and selecting “Add/Remove Servers”. This allows you to manage printers on other machines.
• Export a list of printers: You can right-click on a printer and choose “Export” to save its settings as a .printerExport file, which can be imported on another machine to replicate the setup.
• Use the command line for automation: You can use the printmanagement.msc command in scripts or batch files to open the console quickly.

Troubleshooting

If Print Management doesn’t open as expected, try these fixes:

• It says “Windows cannot find ‘printmanagement.msc'”: This usually means the file is missing or the command was typed incorrectly. Double-check the spelling, and try the Start menu search method instead. If it still fails, run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair system files.
• Access denied error: If you get an “Access denied” message, you likely need administrator privileges. Right-click on the shortcut or command prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• The console opens but shows no printers: This can happen if the Print Spooler service is stopped. Open Services (services.msc), find “Print Spooler”, and ensure it’s running. If it’s not, right-click and select Start.
• Print Management is missing from the system: On some stripped-down versions of Windows (like N editions or certain enterprise builds), the tool might not be installed. You can reinstall it via Windows Features: go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, then check “Print and Document Services” and enable “Print Management Console”.
• The window opens but is blank: This might be a display issue. Try closing the window and reopening it, or restart your computer. If the problem persists, run a system file checker scan as mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Print Management available in Windows 10 Home?

Yes, Print Management is available in all editions of Windows 10 and 11, including Home. You can open it using the Run command or Start menu search.

Can I open Print Management without admin rights?

You can open the console, but some actions (like installing drivers or changing port settings) will require administrator privileges. You’ll be prompted by User Account Control when needed.

What’s the difference between Print Management and Devices and Printers?

Devices and Printers is a simpler interface for everyday tasks like adding a printer or viewing print jobs. Print Management is a more advanced tool that gives you a centralized view of all printers, drivers, ports, and print servers, with more granular control.

How do I add a printer using Print Management?

Right-click on “Print Servers” in the left pane, then select “Add Printer”. Follow the wizard to add a local, network, or TCP/IP printer. You can also right-click on a specific server and choose “Add Printer”.

Can I use Print Management to delete a stuck print job?

Yes. Expand “Print Servers” > your server > “Printers”, then double-click the printer with the stuck job. In the queue, right-click the job and select “Cancel” or “Restart”.

Does Print Management work on Windows Server?

Yes, Print Management is a core tool in Windows Server for managing print servers, and it works similarly to the desktop version.

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