This is an old revision of the document!
Sharing Network Printers Using Group Policy Preferences
Printer Sharing Overview
GPP Overview
Create a Computer or User policy (we generally use User for connecting to network printers)
Start with a Delete All action
Add all printers the user should have
Set one as the Default Printer
Use Update (CRUD)
Create a policy for each printer that will be someone's default printer
Filter by a user group
Create a new user group for each printer that will be someone's default printer
Add users to the group which will determine their default printer
Make sure users are not in multiple 'Printer' groups
Keep in mind that if you are going to configure Internet Options, set a default Printer, or edit the Start Menu, the GPO will need to be linked to a user OU or a computer OU with Loopback enabled.
Install and Share Printer
Do not Deploy
printers using Print Management (printmanagement.msc) as that uses Group Policy instead of Group Policy Preferences to push out the printers.
Install and share the printer using Print Management (printmanagement.msc).
Add all necessary drivers (x86 and x64). The different drivers for the same printer must be the same version (name) exactly.
Create a User Group
Using Active Directory Users and Computers (dsa.msc), add a group like Printer Printername
.
Add users to the group whose default printer will be Printername
. Make sure users are not members of any other similar 'Printer' groups.
Create a Group Policy Preference
You can also copy and edit an existing printer GPP if you have one.
Using Group Policy Management (gpmc.msc
), add a Group Policy Preference:
Run gpmc.msc
Expand Forest → Domains → yourdomain.local
On your desired AD container, right-click → Create a GPO in this domain and link it here
Select the new GPP
Change the Security Filtering to the new user group created above
Right-click the new GPP → Edit
Expand User Configuration → Preferences → Control Panel Settings → Printers
Add a Delete action and select Delete all shared printer connections
Add an Update action
Select the appropriate shared printer (that will be the default printer for group members)
Select Set this printer as the default printer
Add another Update action for each other shared printer for group members
Troubleshooting
Event ID 4098
Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application
Windows 7?
Event Viewer → Application and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → Group Policy