client computer Windows 10 can see shared printer on host computer Windows 11 but cannot connect to it

Question

I asked this question and got a notification that someone answered it but when I clicked on the link to view the answer, the page tells me the content has been deleted due to a violation of Code of Content. This makes no sense to me as it contained nothing weird at all.

I previously had a Windows 7 computer as the host computer and a Windows 10 as a client and they shared my Brother HL-L2360D series printer perfectly. When I first got the Windows 11 (the new host) computer, I was able to setup printer sharing very easily. Then I updated the Windows 11 computer to the 25H2. The printer stopped working on the client Windows 10 computer. The 2 computers could no longer see each other too.

I finally resorted to chatting with Microsoft and gave the guy access to both of my computers and he changed stuff on both computers and they can now see each other and share files just fine. I also had him fix the printing issue. At first he tried to tell me just to share the file to the Windows 11 computer and print from there but I told him that was not acceptable when I should be able to see the shared printer on the Windows 11 computer. He reluctantly had to do more work but clearly let me know that Windows 10 is no longer supported. What ever he did, I could print from my Windows 10 computer to the shared printer on the Windows 11 computer although he really slowed down my Windows 10 computer.

However, I recently discovered that I can no longer print from the 10 to the 11 computer shared printer. The error message was "Word can't print due to a problem with the printer setup' I doubled checked all settings and discovery and file and print sharing is still turned on. I can still share files back and forth on both computers just fine.

So after making sure all the settings are still good I finally deleted the printer and tried to re-add it. I can see the printer on the Windows 11 computer but when I click on it to add it, the error message is now "Windows couldn't connect to the printer. Check the printer name and try again. If this is a network printer, make sure that the printer is turned on, and that the printer address is correct."

The printer name is fine and like I said I can see and click on the printer name to add it. and the printer is turned on and able to print on the host Windows 11 computer just fine.

What else can I try? It definitely has to do with the 25H2 update so I'm guessing the problem fix might lie with doing something on the Windows 11 computer (beyond making sure discovery and file and print sharing is turned on). Whatever I do, I do not want to lose the networking capability of the two computers being able to see and share files between themselves.

Thank you in advance. And if who ever deleted this post earlier would reach out to me and let me know what exactly you don't like about my post, I'd be happy to fix it for you but please do not delete this without contacting me first.

Answer 1

Welcome Cindy!

Thank you for posting your detailed question to the Q&A forum.

From what you described, I understand that you’re unable to connect to or print from a shared printer hosted on a Windows 11 computer when using a Windows 10 client. The printer is visible on the network and file sharing works correctly, but when you try to connect or print, you receive errors such as Windows couldn’t connect to the printer or Word can’t print due to a problem with the printer setup.

1. First, please try the methods outlined in the Microsoft article below:

Fix shared printer connection problems in Windows

2. Reduce RPC enforcement via Registry Editor

According to RPC connection updates for print in Windows 11, starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 and later:

If the issue persists after trying the steps in section 1, please try the following steps on Windows 11 computer that hosts the printer, using Registry Editor. This method can help reduce RPC enforcement.

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry or workgroups can help fix some problems, however, improper registry modifications can cause serious problems. Therefore, please make sure to follow the steps below strictly. For further protection, make a backup of the registry before modifying it. For more information on how to backup and restore the registry, please refer to: How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support 

1. Press W + R to open Run.
2. Type regedit > press Enter.
3. In Registry Editor, click View > enable Address Bar.
4. Paste the following path into the address bar and press Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
5. In the right pane:
   • Right‑click > New > DWORD (32‑bit) Value
   • Name it: RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled
   • Double‑click it > set Value data = 0
6. Click OK
7. Test the shared printer again.

Hope this helps. Please let me know how it goes!

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