Convert a USB printer to network printing (TCP/IP port)

Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Windows 11/10, macOS (Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey), Printers, Networking, Office Equipment

USB printer to network — USB print server, router USB sharing, Raspberry Pi CUPS/AirPrint/Mopria, Standard TCP/IP Port (RAW 9100/LPR/IPP) on Windows & macOS

Technician

Hey! We can turn your USB‑only printer into a network printer in a few ways. Tell me the brand/model (HP/Epson/Canon/Brother), and whether you’d prefer a hardware USB print server, router USB printer share, or a DIY Raspberry Pi print server (CUPS). On Windows we’ll add a Standard TCP/IP port (RAW 9100, LPR, or IPP), and on macOS we’ll use IPP or LPD. What’s your setup like now?

Customer

We’ve got an older HP USB printer plugged into my PC. Everyone prints through my computer, which has to stay on. We want true network printing so laptops and Macs can print anytime.

Technician

Great — three reliable options:
• USB print server (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi): small box with a USB‑B port. It exposes the printer using RAW 9100, LPR/LPD or IPP‑Everywhere. Works with Windows, macOS, and even phones via AirPrint/Mopria if supported.
• Router USB printer share: some routers share printers via SMB or IPP. We’ll check compatibility — IPP is preferred for cross‑platform printing.
• Raspberry Pi (CUPS) print server: very flexible. We can add AirPrint/Mopria, set a static IP/DHCP reservation, and publish queues for RAW/LPR/IPP.

Customer

Let’s use a USB print server. What should I look for and how do we add it in Windows 11?

Technician

Choose a server that supports RAW 9100 and IPP (bonus: AirPrint/Mopria). Plug the printer’s USB into the server, connect the server to Ethernet/Wi‑Fi, then assign a static IP or set a DHCP reservation.

Add as TCP/IP on Windows 10/11:
1) Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device → Add manually.
2) Choose “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname”.
3) Type the print server’s IP. Device type = TCP/IP Device. Uncheck Query the printer if it’s slow to respond.
4) When asked for the port, pick Standard TCP/IP Port, protocol RAW, port 9100 (or LPR with the queue name listed by the server).
5) Select the vendor driver (HP/Epson/Canon/Brother). If none, use a compatible PCL/PS driver or a vendor Universal Print Driver.

Customer

What about Macs? We have MacBooks that need the same shared printer.

Technician

macOS: open System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer. Click the IP tab and enter the server’s IP address.
• Protocol: choose IPP (preferred) or Line Printer Daemon (LPR).
• Name: use something clear like “HP‑USB via Print Server”.
• Use: pick the model driver or Generic PCL/PS if it’s a basic laser. If the print server exposes AirPrint/IPP‑Everywhere, macOS will configure it automatically.

Customer

Our router has a USB port. Is router USB sharing a good alternative?

Technician

Sometimes. If the router supports IPP or RAW 9100, it’s fine. Routers that only offer SMB (Windows share) can work on Windows but are hit‑or‑miss on macOS and mobile. For mixed environments, prefer a dedicated USB/Ethernet print server or Raspberry Pi CUPS so you get IPP‑Everywhere and optional AirPrint/Mopria.

Customer

We also want phones to print. Will a print server help with that?

Technician

Yes — choose a server or Pi build that advertises AirPrint and Mopria/IPP. Then iPhone/iPad see it as an AirPrint printer and Android can print via Mopria Print Service. This is the easiest way to add mobile printing to a USB‑only printer.

Customer

Anything we should avoid? We don’t want random IP changes or jobs getting stuck.

Technician

Best practices for reliability:
• Give the print server a static IP or DHCP reservation so the TCP/IP port never breaks.
• Use RAW 9100 for simplicity; switch to LPR if your server prefers a queue name.
• Keep vendor drivers updated; avoid class drivers that remove features.
• On Pi/CUPS, enable keep‑alive and set the queue to shared. Back up CUPS config so you can restore quickly.

Customer

We have HP and Brother at the office, plus an Epson at home. Any brand‑specific notes?

Technician

HP/Epson/Canon/Brother all work well via Standard TCP/IP Port. For lasers, use the vendor’s PCL/PS driver or Universal Print Driver. For basic inkjets, IPP‑Everywhere/AirPrint queues are often the smoothest on macOS. If you see odd margins or missing options, switch the protocol (RAW ↔ LPR ↔ IPP) and re‑select the driver.

Customer

Can you summarize the fastest path for us? Windows laptops + a couple of Macs.

Technician

Quick plan: Buy a USB‑to‑Ethernet print server, set a DHCP reservation, then:
• Windows 10/11: Add printer → TCP/IP address → RAW 9100 → vendor driver.
• macOS: Add Printer → IP → IPP → select driver or AirPrint. Done. This converts your USB printer to network printing with minimal cost.

Customer

Perfect — let’s proceed. If we get stuck, we’ll ping you in chat.

Technician

Summary: To convert a USB printer to network printing, use a USB print server, router USB sharing with IPP, or a Raspberry Pi (CUPS) print server. Add the device via a Standard TCP/IP Port (RAW 9100/LPR/IPP). Reserve a static IP and select the correct HP/Epson/Canon/Brother driver for full features. Need hands‑on help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted solution to share a USB printer over the network: connect it to a USB/Ethernet print server (or Raspberry Pi CUPS), assign a static IP, then add it on Windows with a Standard TCP/IP Port (RAW 9100) or on macOS via IPP. Use the manufacturer driver or IPP‑Everywhere.

FAQ

Step‑by‑step (Windows 10/11)

1. Connect printer to a USB print server and assign a static/DHCP‑reserved IP.
2. Go to Printers & scanners → Add device → Add manually → TCP/IP address.
3. Select Standard TCP/IP Port with RAW 9100 (or LPR with queue name).
4. Choose the correct vendor driver or Universal Print Driver.

Step‑by‑step (macOS)

1. Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer.
2. Choose the IP tab → enter the server IP → Protocol IPP (or LPR).
3. Select the model driver or AirPrint/IPP‑Everywhere and save.

Sources

• CUPS — Common UNIX Printing System
• Mopria — Mobile printing
• HP — Universal Print Driver
• Brother — Drivers & Software

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