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Share a USB printer over Wi-Fi

Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member -  
Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member -

Hello,
I currently have a reliable printer with inexpensive consumables (Brother DCP 195-C). It only has a USB connection. It is currently connected to a computer that is linked via Wi-Fi to the home network.
I would like to make it available on my home's Wi-Fi network.

If possible, I would like to avoid having to start the computer in order to print from another device.
As for the Wi-Fi network, it is provided throughout the house by a Xiaomi Mesh AX-3000 system.
These "repeaters" do not have a USB port. The printer is not next to the provider's box.
I want the printer to be available for the computers and smartphones in my home.
How can I do this? What additional items do I need to add to achieve this?
If there are items to be added, a commercial link to these items would be appreciated. And if possible, advice from people who have set it up and it works for them.

Thank you for your feedback and advice.


4 answers

  1.
    brucine Posted messages 24901 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 177
     

    Hello,

    Sharing a USB printer on a local network, regardless of the brand, is not a problem... but only if the physical host PC of the printer is turned on.

    You just need to share or install the printer on the network, see for example here:

    https://www.net-usb.com/fr/share-usb/how-to-share-printer/

    Otherwise, the solution involves a USB WiFi print server, which is a topic I'm only familiar with by name.

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    1. Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       

      I wanted to avoid needing to start the computer.
      And printing from a smartphone through the Windows layer doesn't seem simple.
      Thank you for your response.

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  2. georges97 Posted messages 14599 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 931
     

    Hello,

    You indicate that you are connected via USB, but this printer has a wifi card, which would allow, in principle, to connect directly other devices, provided that the driver is available (for example: downloadable from Google Play).

    There used to be, especially with Orange (but not only), a USB output on boxes equipped with a print server. But that was a long time ago (abandoned about ten years ago).

    You should check what is the case with your box; this print server would allow you to keep the USB connection and thus print from any device connected to the box via Wifi (or Ethernet).

    If this printer is capable of Wifi Direct (it's written on it or mentioned in the manual), you will need to establish the connection for each compatible device (besides the USB connection to a box).

    The simplest option is to connect the printer via Wifi to the box so that all devices can access it (through the box) without having to turn on a gateway PC.

    I specify that although I am not a specialist, having experimented (it's a plus but not a necessity if one knows the basic principles) with these various modes on different Brother and other printers of all kinds.

    see:

    https://www.commentcamarche.net/informatique/peripheriques/1001-partager-une-imprimante-sur-un-reseau-local/

    https://fr.wikihow.com/installer-une-imprimante-en-réseau

    https://fr.wikihow.com/installer-une-imprimante

    https://fr.wikihow.com/installer-une-imprimante-HP-sur-un-réseau-sans-fil

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    1. Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       

      This printer does not have a wired or wireless network connection.
      And the printer (in the living room) is not near the box (in the garage). Hence the use of the mesh system to have only one Wifi network in the house.
      Thank you for your response.

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  3. brupala Posted messages 111151 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   14 450
     

    Hello,

    they're not easy to find in 2025, but you need a print server like this.

    Some are only Ethernet, but you can connect it directly to one of your mesh Wi-Fi access points.

    https://www.amazon.fr/serveur-impression/s?k=serveur+impression

    And there you go ....

    But good grief, these line spaces are so annoying!!

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    1. Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       

      Thank you for your response.


      I had indeed seen this product, but I was wondering about printing from a smartphone.

      Is it functional?

      I was even thinking of getting a second-hand Wi-Fi router to set up as a client that supports the print server function.

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      1. brupala Posted messages 111151 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   14 450 > Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member
         

        From a smartphone, it mainly depends on the apps on the smartphone; it is not automatic, there are a lot of proprietary things, and it does not correspond to the original question.

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  4. Smeagold07 Posted messages 5 Status Member
     

    Thank you.
    I haven't really had the chance to print from a smartphone. So I don’t really know how it works.
    I will try this kind of device.

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