Allow Anonymous Access to Printer on Windows 11/10
Sharing a printer over a local network is a convenient way to let multiple computers use the same printer. Normally, Windows expects the computer connecting to a shared printer to authenticate with an account on the computer hosting the printer. However, some older printers, network environments, small offices, and legacy devices may be configured to use anonymous or guest access instead.
If Windows refuses to connect to a shared printer and displays a message related to guest access, unauthenticated access, or security policies blocking guest logons, you may need to allow insecure guest logons on the computer that is connecting to the printer.
Microsoft describes insecure guest logons as unauthenticated SMB access. Because guest connections do not provide normal authentication and can disable important SMB protections such as signing and encryption, Microsoft recommends authenticated access whenever possible.
The following steps explain how to prepare Windows 11 or Windows 10 for this type of printer connection.
Allow Anonymous Access to Printer on Windows 11/10
To allow anonymous or guest access to a shared printer in Windows 11/10, first make sure the computer hosting the printer is using a Private network and has Network discovery and File and printer sharing enabled. Next, share the printer from Printer properties. On the computer connecting to the printer, enable insecure guest logons using Local Group Policy Editor on supported editions or Registry Editor. In Group Policy, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation, open Enable insecure guest logons, select Enabled, and restart Windows.
On editions without Group Policy Editor, create the AllowInsecureGuestAuth DWORD value under the appropriate LanmanWorkstation policy registry key and set it to 1.
Step 1: Make Sure the Computers Are Connected to the Same Network
Before changing any security settings, make sure the computer connected directly to the printer and the computer that needs to use the printer are connected to the same trusted local network.
For example, if the printer is connected by USB to a desktop computer, that desktop is the computer that will share the printer. The laptop or another desktop will connect to the shared printer through the network.
On Windows 11, open Settings, select Network & internet, and select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection. Select the connected network and check the Network profile type.
Select Private network if this is your trusted home or office network. Microsoft recommends using a Private network when you want your computer to be discoverable for file and printer sharing.
On Windows 10, open Settings > Network & Internet, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, select the connected network, and make sure it is configured as a Private network.
Do not enable printer sharing or anonymous access while connected to an untrusted public network.
Step 2: Turn On Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing
Now you need to make sure Windows allows devices on the trusted network to discover the computer and shared printer.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings.
Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
These settings are important because Windows needs to be able to identify the computer hosting the printer and communicate with its shared resources. Microsoft specifically recommends enabling these options when sharing a printer over a Private network.
On Windows 10, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center. Select Change advanced sharing settings, expand the Private section, and turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
After changing the settings, close the window.
Step 3: Share the Printer on the Main Computer
The next step is to make sure the printer itself is actually shared.
On the Windows computer directly connected to the printer, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners in Windows 11.
In Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
Select the printer you want to share and open Printer properties. If Windows 11 displays a Manage button first, select it and then select Printer properties.
Open the Sharing tab.
Select Change Sharing Options if the settings are locked. Windows may ask for administrator permission.
Select Share this printer and check the Share name. This is the name other computers will use to connect to the printer.
Select Apply and then OK.
Microsoft confirms that a printer must be shared from the primary Windows computer before another computer can connect to it over the network.
Step 4: Find the Computer Name Hosting the Printer
You now need to know the name of the computer that is sharing the printer.
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > About. Look under Device specifications and find Device name.
Write down this name because you will use it when connecting to the printer.
For example, suppose the computer name is OFFICE-PC and the printer share name is HP-LaserJet.
The shared printer path would be:
\\OFFICE-PC\HP-LaserJet
You can also use the host computer’s IP address when necessary. Microsoft supports connecting to a shared printer using either the computer name or its IP address.
Step 5: Enable Insecure Guest Logons Using Group Policy
If the computer trying to access the printer is running a Windows edition that includes Local Group Policy Editor, this is one way to enable guest logons.
Press Windows + R on the computer that needs to connect to the printer.
Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
When Local Group Policy Editor opens, navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation
Find the setting called Enable insecure guest logons.
Double-click it.
Select Enabled, select Apply, and then select OK.
This policy controls whether the Windows SMB client permits insecure guest logons to an SMB server. Microsoft documents the policy under the Lanman Workstation settings.
If gpedit.msc does not open on your computer, do not worry. Some Windows editions do not include Local Group Policy Editor. You can use Registry Editor in the next step instead.
Step 6: Enable Guest Access Through Registry Editor
If Group Policy Editor is unavailable, you can configure the same type of setting through Registry Editor.
Before changing the registry, be careful. Incorrect registry changes can affect Windows functionality.
Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
If Windows displays a User Account Control prompt, select Yes.
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LanmanWorkstation
If the LanmanWorkstation key does not exist, Microsoft documents creating it under the Windows policy path.
Inside LanmanWorkstation, right-click an empty area and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the new value:
AllowInsecureGuestAuth
Double-click AllowInsecureGuestAuth.
Enter 1 in the Value data box and select OK.
The value 1 enables the policy, while 0 disables it. Microsoft identifies the registry value as AllowInsecureGuestAuth for the Enable insecure guest logons policy.
Close Registry Editor after making the change.
Step 7: Restart the Computer
Restart the computer where you changed the guest-logon setting.
A restart is recommended so that Windows fully applies the changed network security configuration.
After Windows starts again, make sure the computer is still connected to the same Private network as the computer hosting the printer.
Step 8: Connect to the Shared Printer
Now try connecting to the printer.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device.
On Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and select Add a printer or scanner.
If Windows does not automatically find the printer, select The printer that I want isn’t listed or the equivalent manual-add option.
Choose Select a shared printer by name.
Enter the shared printer path, such as:
\\OFFICE-PC\HP-LaserJet
You can also try the IP address of the computer hosting the printer if the computer name does not work.
Microsoft documents both \\computer_name\printer_name and \\ip_address\printer_name formats for shared printer connections.
Continue through the installation process. Windows may install the appropriate printer software or driver.
Step 9: Test the Printer
After Windows finishes installing the shared printer, open Printers & scanners and select the printer.
Choose the available printer-management option and print a test page if the option is provided.
If the test page prints successfully, the shared printer is working.
If Windows still asks for a username and password, check the computer hosting the printer and confirm that the printer is actually shared. Also verify that both computers are connected to the same trusted network.
Remember that enabling guest logons on the client does not automatically make every shared printer anonymous. The printer must still be properly shared on the computer hosting it.
Turn Guest Access Off When You No Longer Need It
Anonymous or guest access should not be left enabled unnecessarily.
If you used Group Policy, return to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation > Enable insecure guest logons
Change the setting to Disabled or Not configured, depending on your requirements.
If you used Registry Editor, return to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LanmanWorkstation
Change AllowInsecureGuestAuth to 0, or remove the policy value if it was created specifically for this purpose.
Restart Windows afterward.
Microsoft recommends using authenticated access instead of insecure guest access because guest connections do not provide normal authentication and can expose the connection to security risks.
FAQs
Can I allow anonymous access to a printer without enabling guest logons?
In many situations, yes. If the computers can authenticate normally, using a shared printer with authenticated Windows access is preferable. Anonymous or guest access is mainly useful when the device or environment specifically requires unauthenticated SMB access.
Why does Windows say that guest access is blocked?
Newer Windows security configurations can block insecure guest logons. When a shared resource depends on guest authentication, Windows may display a message explaining that your security policies prevent unauthenticated guest access. Microsoft provides the Enable insecure guest logons policy for environments where this access is required.
Is anonymous printer sharing safe?
Anonymous printer sharing is less secure than authenticated access. Microsoft specifically warns that insecure guest logons are unauthenticated and can prevent important SMB security protections from being used. Therefore, use this configuration only on a trusted private network and only when necessary.
Why can’t I find Local Group Policy Editor?
The Local Group Policy Editor is not available in every Windows edition. If gpedit.msc does not open, the Registry Editor method can be used where appropriate.
Do I need to disable password-protected sharing?
Not necessarily. Printer sharing and guest SMB authentication are related but are not the same setting. If your goal is specifically to connect to a printer without Windows credentials, the important setting may be Enable insecure guest logons on the client computer.
Can I use the printer’s IP address instead of the computer name?
Yes. Microsoft supports using the IP address of the computer hosting the shared printer. For example, you can use a path similar to \\192.168.1.20\HP-LaserJet if the computer name does not work.
Why does the printer work from one computer but not another?
The computers may have different network profiles, sharing settings, Windows security policies, or guest-logon configurations. Compare the settings on the working and non-working computers, particularly Network discovery, File and printer sharing, and insecure guest logons.
Summary
Allowing anonymous access to a shared printer in Windows 11 or Windows 10 generally involves more than simply changing the printer’s sharing option. The computer hosting the printer must have proper printer sharing enabled, the network should be configured as a trusted Private network, and Network discovery and File and printer sharing should be enabled.
If the printer depends on unauthenticated guest access, the connecting computer may also need to enable insecure guest logons through Local Group Policy Editor or the AllowInsecureGuestAuth registry setting.
Because guest access removes normal authentication and reduces SMB security protections, it should be treated as a compatibility setting rather than the preferred configuration.
When possible, use authenticated printer sharing instead, particularly on networks containing sensitive computers or data.