Printer troubleshooting technician providing live chat help

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: macOS (Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey), Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, Windows & Linux VMs, Printers, Networking

Printer redirection not working in Parallels Desktop / VMware Fusion on macOS — Windows & Linux guests

Technician avatar Technician
Hey! We’ll get your macOS Parallels/VMware printer redirection working. Tell me: are you on Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion? What’s the guest OS (Windows 10/11 or Ubuntu/CentOS)? Is the printer USB cabled to the Mac, or a network/AirPrint device? This helps us decide between USB passthrough vs shared printer via CUPS/IPP.
Customer
Parallels Desktop on macOS Sonoma. Guest is Windows 11 Pro. My HP LaserJet works on the Mac, but the shared printer isn’t appearing in the Windows VM. I tried connecting USB, but Parallels keeps flipping it back to macOS.
Technician avatar Technician
Got it. Common causes when a printer is not showing in a Windows VM on macOS:
• Parallels Tools or VMware Tools not installed/updated — redirection drivers aren’t loaded.
• USB arbitration is set to “Connect to Mac” so the USB printer never passes to the guest.
• macOS shares the printer via CUPS (IPP/AirPrint) but Windows guest can’t resolve Bonjour/mDNS or firewall blocks Printer Sharing.
• Wrong choice between virtual printer (host-based) vs native driver (guest).
Quick plan: update Tools, choose either USB passthrough or network IPP sharing, then install correct HP/Brother/Canon drivers in the guest.
Customer
Where do I switch USB from Mac to Windows VM and keep it there?
Technician avatar Technician
Parallels Desktop — USB passthrough:
1) Start the VM → menu Devices → USB & Bluetooth → select your HP and choose Connect to Windows (not to Mac).
2) Actions → Install Parallels Tools (or Reinstall) then reboot the VM — this re-enables the printer redirection driver.
3) In Windows, install the vendor driver or pick Windows Update → add as USB printer.
Tip: In Parallels Preferences → Devices, set USB default to Ask me what to do or Connect to Windows so the device won’t bounce back to macOS.
Customer
If we don’t want to pass USB, can we print over the network from the VM? The printer is Wi-Fi/AirPrint.
Technician avatar Technician
Yes — that’s often simpler and stabler.
Share Mac printer to Windows VM via IPP:
• macOS: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Share this printer on the network. This exposes it via CUPS/IPP (and Bonjour).
• Windows guest: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device → Add manually → Add a printer using a TCP/IP address. Enter the Mac’s IP and path http://<MacIP>:631/printers/<QueueName>. Use a vendor HP/Canon/Brother driver or a Generic PostScript/HP PCL if host renders pages.
• If Bonjour discovery fails, install Bonjour Print Services in Windows or add by IP directly.
This avoids USB arbitration and works for VMware Fusion too.
Customer
We also run VMware Fusion with an Ubuntu guest. The printer doesn’t show up there either. Any Linux-specific steps?
Technician avatar Technician
For VMware Fusion + Linux:
• Install/Update VMware Tools inside Ubuntu.
• For USB: Fusion menu Virtual Machine → USB & Bluetooth → select the printer → connect to guest. Verify lsusb sees it; install vendor HPLIP or CUPS driver.
• For network: add printer in Settings → Printers → IPP/LPD, URI like ipp://<printerIP>/ipp/print or Mac CUPS share as above. Ensure the VM’s network is Bridged so it can reach the printer’s subnet; NAT sometimes blocks discovery.
• Open Linux firewall for ipp/mdns if enabled.
Customer
The printer appears now, but test pages fail. Could this be a driver mismatch?
Technician avatar Technician
Likely. Choose the right model inside the guest OS:
• If using Parallels virtual printer (host renders), pick Generic PostScript or the Parallels printer listed — it converts jobs via macOS.
• If passing the device by USB passthrough or direct IP, install the printer’s native HP/Brother/Canon/Epson driver in Windows/Linux.
• Avoid mixing virtual and native modes on the same queue. Delete and re-add if needed.
Customer
After a macOS update, the VM lost the printer again. How do we make this persistent?
Technician avatar Technician
Persistence checklist:
• Keep Parallels/VMware Tools updated after macOS or kernel updates.
• Lock USB behavior: set default to Connect to guest and mark the specific device to auto-connect.
• Prefer network IPP with a static printer IP or DHCP reservation; bridged networking ensures the VM always sees it.
• On Windows guests, disable “Let Windows manage my default printer” and keep the correct driver installed.
Customer
Any app-specific advice? We print from Adobe Acrobat and QuickBooks in Windows 11.
Technician avatar Technician
• In Acrobat, use the native printer queue (not Microsoft Print to PDF) and disable “Print as Image” unless your driver needs it.
• In QuickBooks, re-select the default printer after redirection changes; save the form’s printer in Printer Setup.
• If jobs stall, clear the Windows spooler and re-test with a 2-page PDF.
Customer
We have multiple brands (HP, Brother, Canon). Do brand drivers matter inside the VM?
Technician avatar Technician
Yes. In the guest OS:
• HP: use HP Smart or the full driver; for IPP choose HP PostScript/PCL model that matches the device.
• Brother: install Full Driver & Software Package; for Linux use brlaser/CUPS PPD.
• Canon: UFR II/Generic Plus drivers work well for IPP/LPD. On Macs sharing to Windows, PostScript is most compatible.
Consistency beats mixing generic queues.
Customer
Perfect — printer shows and prints from both Windows and Ubuntu guests now. Thanks!
Technician avatar Technician
Summary: If a shared printer over Parallels/VMware is not showing in the guest OS, update Parallels/VMware Tools, decide between USB passthrough and network IPP/LPD, set VM networking to Bridged when using IP, and install proper vendor drivers in Windows/Linux. Need hands-on help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Parallels/VMware on macOS can’t pass a printer to the guest: Install/repair Parallels/VMware Tools, choose either USB passthrough (connect device to guest) or network IPP/LPD via CUPS, set VM network to Bridged for discovery, and install the correct HP/Canon/Brother driver in the guest OS.

Printer redirection stopped after macOS/Tools update (Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion)

Updates can replace redirection components. Reinstall Parallels Tools or VMware Tools, verify USB defaults (connect to guest), and if you rely on network printing, ensure the VM uses Bridged networking and that Printer Sharing is enabled in macOS CUPS.

How to verify printing from the VM

Print a 2-page PDF from the guest. If jobs stall, try the opposite pipeline: switch from virtual PostScript printer to native vendor driver (or vice versa), then re-add the queue using TCP/IP IPP with the printer’s static IP or the Mac’s CUPS share URL.

Parallels/VMware printer troubleshooting tips

Most issues come from missing Tools, wrong USB mode, NAT networking, or driver mismatch.

Quick path: update Tools → pick USB passthrough or IPP over CUPS → set VM network to Bridged → install correct guest driver (HP/Canon/Brother/Epson) → test with a small PDF. If Bonjour discovery fails, add the printer by TCP/IP address.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your environment, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.

Getting Started Is Easy

Ask for help, 24/7

Members enjoy round-the-clock access to 12,000+ verified Experts, including tech support, mechanics, vets, and more.

Expert will respond in minutes

We match you with an Expert who specializes in your situation. Talk, text, or chat — whichever you prefer.

Save time & money

No scheduling hassles or expensive consults. Membership can save you significant time and money each month.

FAQ

Why doesn’t my printer appear in a Windows VM on macOS?

Usually Parallels/VMware Tools aren’t installed or USB is connected to Mac instead of the guest. Reinstall Tools, set USB to Connect to guest, or add the printer via IPP/LPD using the printer’s IP or the Mac’s CUPS share.

Is USB passthrough or network printing better?

Network IPP/LPD is most reliable across updates and works for multiple guests. Use USB passthrough only when you need device-specific features (scanning/fax) or there’s no network path.

Bonjour discovery doesn’t work in the VM — what now?

Switch the VM to Bridged networking, open firewall for mDNS, or add the printer by TCP/IP address (ipp://printerIP/ipp/print or http://MacIP:631/printers/Queue).

Do I still need vendor drivers in the guest?

Yes for USB passthrough or direct IP printing (HP/Canon/Brother/Epson). If using a virtual PostScript queue from Parallels/VMware, a Generic PS driver is fine.

Linux guest in VMware Fusion can’t print — tips?

Install VMware Tools, use CUPS to add IPP/LPD printer, set Bridged network, and install HPLIP/PPD or the model’s driver. Confirm device with lsusb if using USB.

Common VM printing problems and quick fixes
SymptomLikely causeQuick fix
Printer not showing in guest Tools missing; USB attached to Mac; NAT blocks discovery Reinstall Tools; connect USB to guest; use Bridged network or add IPP by address
Test page fails Driver mismatch or wrong pipeline Use native vendor driver for USB/IP; or switch to virtual PostScript queue
Works on Mac, not in VM Bonjour not visible in VM Add printer by TCP/IP; install Bonjour Print Services; open firewall
Breaks after updates Tools/USB defaults reset Update Tools; set USB auto-connect to guest; prefer IPP with static IP

Step-by-step (Windows 10/11 guest)

  1. Install or repair Parallels Tools/VMware Tools and reboot the VM.
  2. Choose your method:
    • USB passthrough: connect the printer to the guest and install the vendor driver.
    • Network: add IPP/LPD printer by TCP/IP or the Mac’s CUPS share URL.
  3. Set VM network to Bridged if using IPP/LPD; confirm you can ping the printer IP.
  4. Print a 2-page PDF; if it fails, switch driver pipeline (virtual PS vs native) and retry.

Step-by-step (Ubuntu/Linux guest)

  1. Install VMware Tools or Parallels equivalent (parallels-tools), then reboot.
  2. In Settings → Printers, add IPP (ipp://printerIP/ipp/print) or Mac CUPS share.
  3. For USB, verify with lsusb and add via CUPS; install HPLIP or model PPD.
  4. Ensure the VM uses Bridged networking and that firewall allows ipp and mdns.

Sources

Matt Verified Icon
Matt ● replies in < 1 min
Technician Expert
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trusted by 27,000+ customers
Avatar
Alex · Expert's Assistant
5 Tech Support Specialists are online right now.