MacOS SMB Printing to Windows Print Server Stopped working.

Question

For the last year or more our mac users have been unable to print to windows print servers. We have always mapped the printer from the mac using smb://server/printer this used to work great. Somewhere along the way it completely stopped working. When you try to print it gets paused or in a "hold for authentication" mode. even if you try to resume and enter credentials it still never prints and just gets stuck again.

I have a feeling this has something to do with security updates on the windows server related to SMB or maybe print nightmare. but i am not sure at all.

I have seen a TON of buzz about this exact same issue all over the web.

Also worth noting, if we join out macs to active directory then printing works for a little while. But we don't want to join our macs to AD and its also not a good long term fix. At this point we are at a complete loss of how our mac users can print to a windows print server (rather than having to find a windows user to print their stuff for them).

First of all, does anyone know what might be going on and what we can do?

Second of all, if SMB printing from MacOS isn't going to be an option anymore. what other options do we have (that won't make our security guys lose sleep at night).

Bonus question. What is the recommended protocol or setup for printing from mac to windows print server.

Answer 1

Hello,

It may be caused by an update in windows, you can follow this link and see if it will help: https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/mac-printing-issue-after-microsoft-windows-print-server-update/m-p/247082

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