Add Printer - PowerShell

Overview

The Add-Printer command is designed to facilitate the installation and management of printers in a Windows environment. It allows users to easily connect to both local and network printers, making it essential for setting up and maintaining printing capabilities for any workstation or server.

Syntax

Add-Printer [-Name] <String> [-ConnectionString] <String> [-PrintTicket] <PrintTicket> [-DriverName] <String> [-DriverPath] <String> [-PortName] <String> [-Server] <String> [-ShareName] <String> [-ClearJobOnSpooler] [-PassThru] [-DisableJobRestart] [-Confirm] [-WhatIf] [-Verbose] [<CommonParameters>]

Options/Flags

  • -Name: Specifies a unique name to identify the printer.
  • -ConnectionString: Defines a connection string for a network printer.
  • -PrintTicket: Sets the print ticket for the printer, defining specific print settings.
  • -DriverName: Specifies the name of the printer driver to be installed.
  • -DriverPath: Defines the path to the printer driver.
  • -PortName: Indicates the port to use for printer communication.
  • -Server: Specifies the print server hosting the network printer.
  • -ShareName: Denotes the shared network printer name.
  • -ClearJobOnSpooler: Instructs the command to remove all existing print jobs from the print spooler.
  • -PassThru: Returns a printer object representing the newly added printer.
  • -DisableJobRestart: Prevents the automatic restart of paused print jobs.
  • -Confirm: Prompts the user for confirmation before executing the command.
  • -WhatIf: Displays what the command would do without actually performing any actions.
  • -Verbose: Provides detailed output during command execution.

Examples

1. Add a local printer:

Add-Printer -Name "MyPrinter" -DriverName "HP Color LaserJet CP1518ni"

2. Add a network printer using a connection string:

Add-Printer -ConnectionString "net use \\printServer\printerName /user:username /password:password"

3. Add a network printer using a share name:

Add-Printer -Name "SharedPrinter" -Server "printServer" -ShareName "printerName"

Common Issues

1. Printer not detected:

  • Ensure that the printer is properly connected and powered on.
  • Verify the port and driver settings are correct.

2. Print jobs not printing:

  • Check the print queue for any paused or errored jobs.
  • Verify that the printer is online and ready to print.

Integration

The Add-Printer command can be integrated with other PowerShell commands, such as Get-Printer and Set-Printer, for advanced printer management tasks. For instance, you can:

  • Retrieve a list of installed printers and their properties: Get-Printer
  • Modify printer settings, such as default paper orientation: Set-Printer -DefaultPaperOrientation Portrait