How To Print From A Windows PC To A Mac

You have a Windows PC in one room of your home or office. And there's a printer connected to a Mac in another room. How do you print? Here's how to print from a PC to a Mac over a home or business network.

This How To applies to OS X Snow Leopard and Lion, though I demo the following on Snow Leopard.

First, start the Mac and make sure its Apple-compatible printer is connected to it via USB. To do this, open System Preferences. Click on Print & Fax in the Hardware section.

OS X Snow Leopard automatically detects the printer. If it is doesn't connect, make sure the correct drivers are installed, it's powered on and all cables are connected.

The warning shows that printer sharing is turned off. Check the box next to Share this printer on the network. And click the Sharing Preferences button.

Now check the box next to Printer Sharing to share it over the network. Leave the defaults if you want everyone to have the ability to access the new network printer. Adjust it as you will.

Click the Back arrow. Here you'll see the printer set as default. Click the lock icon to prevent further changes and close out of System Preferences.

Now, to get the Windows machine working with the printer, open Devices and Printers from the Start Menu on the Windows PC.

The Devices and Printers Center opens. Click Add a Printer.