Disable addition of printers

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Printers

Description

Prevents users from using familiar methods to add local and network printers.

This policy removes the Add Printer option from the Start menu. (To find the Add Printer option, click Start, click Printers, and then click Add Printer.) This policy also removes Add Printer from the Printers folder in Control Panel.

Also, users cannot add printers by dragging a printer icon into the Printers folder. If they try, a message appears explaining that the a policy prevents the action.

However, this policy does not prevent users from using the Add Hardware wizard to add a printer. Nor does it prevent users from running other programs to add printers.

Note

This policy does not delete printers that users have already added. However, if users have not added a printer when this policy is applied, they can't print.

Tip

You can use printer permissions to restrict the use of printers without setting a policy. In the Printers folder, right-click a printer, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.

Related Policies

Disable programs on Settings menu