Printer Not Working with Hyper-V Virtual Machine on Windows
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization platform that allows you to run one or more virtual machines (VMs) on a Windows computer. It is commonly used for testing software, running multiple operating systems, and creating isolated environments without affecting the main operating system.
Although Hyper-V is a powerful tool, many users encounter a common problem where the printer does not work inside the virtual machine. The printer may not appear in the guest operating system, print jobs may remain stuck in the queue, or the VM may fail to detect the printer altogether.
In this guide, you will learn the most common causes behind this problem and discover easy, step by step solutions.
Printer Not Working with Hyper-V Virtual Machine [Causes]
Several factors can prevent a printer from working properly inside a Hyper-V virtual machine. Understanding the root cause helps you choose the right solution.
One common reason is that Hyper-V does not provide direct USB passthrough for standard USB devices, including most printers. Unlike some virtualization platforms, Hyper-V expects printers to be shared over the network instead of connecting directly through USB.
Another possible cause is missing printer drivers inside the guest operating system. Even if the printer works perfectly on the host computer, the virtual machine still needs compatible drivers.
A printer may also fail to work if Printer Sharing or Network Discovery is disabled on the host computer. Since the VM often accesses the printer over the network, these Windows features must be enabled.
Sometimes the issue is caused by incorrect virtual network adapter settings. If the virtual machine cannot communicate with the host computer, it cannot reach the shared printer.
Other possible causes include outdated Windows updates, disabled Print Spooler services, incorrect permissions, firewall restrictions, or an offline printer.
Printer Not Working with Hyper-V Virtual Machine [Fixes]
1. Verify That the Printer Works on the Host Computer
Before troubleshooting the virtual machine, make sure the printer works normally on the physical Windows computer.
Open Settings, select Bluetooth & devices, and then open Printers & scanners. Select your printer and print a test page.
If the printer does not work on the host system, the issue is unrelated to Hyper-V. Fix the printer on the host computer first before moving to the virtual machine. Once the host prints successfully, continue with the remaining steps.
2. Share the Printer from the Host Computer
Because Hyper-V does not support direct USB printer passthrough for most devices, sharing the printer over the network is usually the best solution.
Open Control Panel and select Devices and Printers. Right-click your printer and choose Printer Properties.
Open the Sharing tab.
Enable Share this printer.
Assign a simple share name such as OfficePrinter or HomePrinter.
Select Apply, followed by OK.
The printer is now available for other computers and virtual machines on your network.
3. Enable Network Discovery and Printer Sharing
If printer sharing is disabled, the virtual machine cannot locate the shared printer.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Network and Sharing Center.
- Select Change advanced sharing settings.
- Turn on Network Discovery.
- Turn on File and Printer Sharing.
Save the changes and restart both the host computer and the virtual machine.
These settings allow the VM to communicate with shared resources on the host.
4. Connect the Virtual Machine to the Correct Virtual Switch
The guest operating system must be able to communicate with the host computer.
Open Hyper-V Manager.
Select Virtual Switch Manager.
Verify that your virtual machine is connected to an External Virtual Switch or another switch that provides access to the host network.
If the VM is connected to an isolated switch without network access, create or select an appropriate virtual switch and restart the virtual machine.
After reconnecting, confirm that the VM can access the internet or ping the host computer.
5. Add the Shared Printer Inside the Virtual Machine
Once the printer has been shared successfully, install it inside the guest operating system.
- Open the virtual machine.
- Go to Settings.
- Open Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Choose Add device.
If Windows does not detect the printer automatically, select The printer that I want isn’t listed.
Choose the option to add a shared printer.
Enter the printer’s network path using the format:
\\HostComputerName\PrinterShareName
Complete the installation wizard.
The printer should now appear in the guest operating system.
6. Install the Correct Printer Driver
Sometimes Windows installs a generic driver that cannot communicate properly with the printer.
Download the latest printer driver that matches the guest operating system.
Install the driver inside the virtual machine.
Restart the VM after installation.
Open the printer properties and print a test page to verify the installation.
Using manufacturer-supplied drivers often resolves compatibility issues and enables all printer features.
7. Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler manages every print job. If this service stops running, printing will fail.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
- Locate Print Spooler.
- If it is stopped, select Start.
- If it is already running, select Restart.
- Close the Services window and try printing again.
Restarting the spooler clears temporary printing problems and refreshes printer communication.
8. Check Windows Firewall Settings
Windows Firewall may block printer communication between the host and the virtual machine.
- Open Windows Security.
- Go to Firewall & network protection.
- Select Allow an app through firewall.
- Verify that File and Printer Sharing is allowed for the current network profile.
If necessary, temporarily disable the firewall for testing purposes. If printing works afterward, re-enable the firewall and create the appropriate exceptions instead of leaving it disabled permanently.
9. Update Windows on Both the Host and Guest Operating Systems
Microsoft regularly releases updates that improve networking, virtualization, and printing.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
Install all available updates on both the host computer and the virtual machine.
Restart both systems after the installation finishes.
Updated components often resolve compatibility issues between Hyper-V and printer services.
10. Remove and Reinstall the Printer
If none of the previous methods solve the issue, reinstall the printer completely.
Remove the printer from the guest operating system. Delete the printer driver if prompted.
Restart the virtual machine.
Add the shared printer again using the network path. Install the latest driver during setup.
This process removes damaged printer configurations and creates a fresh installation.
FAQs
Why does Hyper-V not detect my USB printer?
Hyper-V does not support direct USB passthrough for most standard USB printers. Instead, Microsoft recommends sharing the printer over the network and connecting to it from the virtual machine.
Can I print from a Hyper-V virtual machine?
Yes. Most users print successfully by sharing the printer on the host computer and adding it as a network printer inside the guest operating system.
Why is my printer visible but not printing?
This usually happens because of outdated drivers, stopped Print Spooler services, incorrect permissions, firewall restrictions, or network connectivity problems.
Does the guest operating system need its own printer driver?
Yes. The virtual machine typically requires its own compatible printer driver even if the host computer already has one installed.
Which virtual switch should I use for printer sharing?
An External Virtual Switch is usually the best option because it allows the guest operating system to communicate with the host computer and other devices on the local network.