Sharing a USB printer across a home or office network used to require a dedicated print server or an expensive network-enabled printer. TP-Link has bridged this gap by including USB ports on many of their routers that support the .
: Search for your model at the TP-Link Download Center.
For a smooth experience on Windows 10, remember that the acts as a bridge. The router provides the physical connection, but the utility acts as the virtual USB cable. If you encounter errors, 90% of the time it is a firewall blocking the connection or a need to run the software in Compatibility Mode.
Though not always necessary, restarting ensures that the controller service starts properly. Setting Up Your Shared Printer Sharing a USB printer across a home or
The TP-Link USB Printer Controller Utility allows you to share a USB printer across your local network using a compatible TP-Link router. If you have upgraded to Windows 10 or are setting up a new computer, installing the latest version ensures stable printing without individual cable swapping. System Requirements and Compatibility
: Click on the Utility tab for your specific model and select the USB Printer Controller Utility .
Windows 10 (32-bit or 64-bit architectures). For a smooth experience on Windows 10, remember
The TP-Link utility only bridges the connection. It does not provide the printer driver itself. Plug your printer directly into your PC via USB once to let Windows 10 install the official drivers first.
Choose the installation destination folder, or simply keep the default path and click .
Certain firewalls or antivirus programs can block the utility’s network communication. Temporarily disable them to test, and if that resolves the issue, add the TP‑Link utility to your security software’s allowed list. Though not always necessary, restarting ensures that the
: Disconnect the printer from the router, connect it directly to your Windows 10 computer via USB, install the driver, print a test page to confirm it works, then reconnect it to the router. Launch the USB Printer Controller and configure Auto‑Connect as described above.
Select Complete (recommended) unless you are an advanced user.
Right-click the Setup.exe file and select .
and restart your computer if requested to complete the setup. www.tp-link.com 3. Printer Configuration