VMware Printer is Not Working [Fix]

Printer issues inside a virtual machine can quickly interrupt productivity, especially when you rely on printing documents from a guest operating system running on VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, or VMware Horizon. Many users experience situations where the printer does not appear in the virtual machine, print jobs remain stuck, or VMware cannot detect the printer at all.

In most cases, the issue is related to incorrect printer redirection settings, outdated VMware Tools, disabled services, driver conflicts, or USB passthrough problems. 

This guide explains several methods to fix the VMware printer not working problem. 

VMware Printer is Not Working [Fixes]

If you want a quick overview before trying the detailed methods, follow these basic troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart both the host computer and the virtual machine.
2. Verify that the printer works normally outside VMware.
3. Install or update VMware Tools.
4. Enable printer sharing or printer redirection inside VMware settings.
5. Reconnect the USB printer to the virtual machine.
6. Update printer drivers in both the host and guest operating systems.
7. Restart the Print Spooler service.
8. Remove and re-add the printer.
9. Check firewall and antivirus settings.
10. Install pending Windows updates.

If the issue continues, follow the detailed fixes below.

1: Confirm the Printer Works on the Host Computer

Before troubleshooting VMware itself, you should first confirm that the printer works properly on the main computer, also called the host system.

Many users immediately assume VMware is causing the problem, but sometimes the printer itself may not be configured correctly on the host operating system. If the host computer cannot print, the virtual machine usually cannot print either.

Start by opening the printer settings on your host computer. In Windows, open Settings, select Bluetooth & devices, then open Printers & scanners. Locate your printer and print a test page.

If you are using macOS, open System Settings, select Printers & Scanners, and test the printer connection.

If the printer does not work on the host system, try reconnecting the USB cable, restarting the printer, or reinstalling the printer driver. Also, make sure the printer is connected to the same network if it is a wireless printer.

Once the printer works correctly on the host machine, continue with the VMware troubleshooting steps.

2: Install or Update VMware Tools

One of the most common reasons why printing fails inside VMware is missing or outdated VMware Tools.

VMware Tools is a package that improves communication between the host operating system and the guest operating system. It also supports important features such as clipboard sharing, display resizing, and printer redirection.

To install or update VMware Tools, power on your virtual machine first. After the guest operating system fully loads, open the VMware menu at the top of the screen.

Select the VM and then click Install VMware Tools or Update VMware Tools, depending on your VMware version.

Inside the guest operating system, a virtual installer disk should appear automatically. Open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. During installation, keep the default settings unless you specifically need custom configurations.

After the installation finishes, restart the virtual machine completely.

Once the virtual machine restarts, check whether the printer appears correctly. In many cases, updating VMware Tools immediately restores printer functionality.

3: Enable Printer Sharing in VMware Settings

Sometimes, printer access is disabled in VMware configuration settings. Even if the printer works perfectly on the host machine, the guest operating system will not detect it unless printer sharing is enabled.

First, shut down the virtual machine completely instead of using sleep or suspend mode.

Open VMware and select the virtual machine that has the printer issue. Click Edit virtual machine settings.

Look for a section called USB Controller or Printer Sharing, depending on your VMware product version.

In VMware Workstation, verify that the option for printer sharing is enabled. If you see settings related to device connection preferences, allow the virtual machine to access the printer.

In VMware Fusion on Mac, open Settings, select Printers & Scanners, and confirm printer sharing is turned on.

Save the settings and restart the virtual machine.

After Windows or Linux loads inside VMware, check if the printer now appears under installed devices.

4: Reconnect the USB Printer to the Virtual Machine

If you use a USB printer, VMware may fail to connect the USB device correctly to the guest operating system.

Sometimes the printer remains attached to the host computer instead of the virtual machine. When this happens, the virtual machine cannot communicate with the printer.

Start by disconnecting the USB printer from the computer physically. Wait for about ten seconds before reconnecting it.

Now open VMware and power on the virtual machine. Once the guest operating system loads, look at the VMware toolbar.

Click VM, then select Removable Devices. Find your printer from the list of connected USB devices.

Choose the option labeled Connect (Disconnect from Host). This transfers control of the printer from the host computer to the virtual machine.

You may hear the Windows device connection sound inside the guest operating system. Allow Windows a few moments to install the required drivers automatically.

After installation completes, open the printer settings inside the virtual machine and print a test page.

5: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler service manages all print jobs in Windows. If this service becomes stuck or crashes, the printer may stop responding inside VMware.

Restarting the service often fixes print queue errors and communication problems.

Inside the guest operating system, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter.

In the Services window, scroll down until you find Print Spooler. Right-click the service and select Restart. If the service is not running, click Start instead.

After restarting the service, close the Services window and try printing again.

If the problem keeps returning, you may also need to clear the print queue manually. Open the printer queue, cancel all pending print jobs, and restart the spooler service.

This method is especially useful when print jobs remain stuck indefinitely.

6: Update Printer Drivers Inside the Virtual Machine

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can prevent the guest operating system from recognizing the printer correctly.

Even if the printer works on the host computer, the guest operating system inside VMware may still require its own compatible driver.

Open Device Manager inside the virtual machine by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager. Expand the Printers section and locate your printer.

Right-click the printer and choose Update driver. Select the option to search automatically for drivers. Windows will search for the latest compatible driver online.

If Windows cannot find a suitable driver, visit the official website of the printer manufacturer and download the newest driver version manually.

Install the driver inside the virtual machine and restart the system afterward.

Updated drivers often improve compatibility with VMware printer redirection features.

7: Remove and Re-Add the Printer

If the printer configuration becomes corrupted, removing and re-adding the printer can refresh the connection.

Open Settings inside the guest operating system and navigate to Bluetooth & devices, followed by Printers & scanners.

Select the problematic printer and choose Remove device. After removing the printer, restart the virtual machine completely. Now reconnect the printer using one of the following methods:

For USB printers, reconnect the USB device through VMware. For network printers, enter the printer IP address manually. For shared printers, browse available devices from the network list.

Windows should automatically detect and reinstall the printer. After installation finishes, print a test page to verify functionality.

This method often resolves persistent configuration problems that normal troubleshooting cannot fix.

8: Check Network Printer Connectivity

If you are using a wireless or network printer, the virtual machine must be able to access the printer over the network.

Incorrect network settings inside VMware can prevent communication with the printer.

Start by verifying that the virtual machine has internet and network access. Open a web browser inside the guest operating system and test connectivity.

Next, identify the printer’s IP address. Most printers display the IP address on the control panel or network configuration page. Inside the virtual machine, press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

Use the following command:

ping printer_ip_address

Replace printer_ip_address with the actual IP address of the printer.

If the ping request fails, the virtual machine may not be connected to the same network as the printer.

In VMware settings, check the Network Adapter configuration. Using Bridged Networking usually provides the best compatibility for network printers because the virtual machine behaves like a separate device on the same network.

After adjusting network settings, restart the virtual machine and test printing again.

9: Disable Firewall or Antivirus Temporarily

Certain firewall or antivirus programs can block printer communication inside VMware environments.

This is particularly common with aggressive endpoint security software that restricts USB access or network device sharing. Temporarily disable the firewall or antivirus inside the guest operating system and test the printer again.

In Windows, open Windows Security, select Firewall & network protection, and temporarily disable the active firewall profile. You can also disable third-party antivirus software briefly for testing purposes.

If the printer starts working after disabling security software, add VMware and printer-related services to the allowed applications list.

Do not leave your firewall permanently disabled because doing so can expose the system to security risks.

10: Install Windows and VMware Updates

Outdated operating systems may contain bugs that interfere with printer functionality.

Installing the latest updates can fix compatibility issues between VMware, Windows, and printer drivers.

Inside the guest operating system, open Settings and navigate to Windows Update. Click Check for updates and install all available updates.

Next, update VMware itself to the latest stable version. New VMware releases frequently include bug fixes related to USB devices, hardware compatibility, and printer redirection.

After updating both VMware and the guest operating system, restart the host computer and the virtual machine completely.

Test the printer again to see if the issue is resolved.

FAQs

Why is my printer not showing up in VMware?

The printer may not appear because VMware Tools is missing, printer sharing is disabled, the USB device is connected to the host instead of the guest operating system, or the printer driver is outdated.

Does VMware support USB printers?

Yes, VMware supports USB printers. You can connect a USB printer directly to the virtual machine through the Removable Devices menu.

Why are print jobs stuck in VMware?

Print jobs may remain stuck because of a frozen Print Spooler service, corrupted printer drivers, or communication failures between the host and guest operating systems.

Should I use NAT or Bridged networking for network printers?

Bridged networking is usually better for network printers because it allows the virtual machine to function as a separate device on the same network.

Can outdated VMware Tools cause printing issues?

Yes, outdated or missing VMware Tools is one of the most common causes of VMware printer problems because printer redirection depends heavily on VMware Tools integration.