Windows – Mapping a printer via the registry

printerwindowswindows 7windows-registry

Is it possible to map a printer via the registry in a windows 7 environment?

What I mean is, you have information on the printer in the registry:

  • List of printers: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PrinterPorts
  • Default printer: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
  • Printers themselves: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
  • More printer info: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers

There are all these different types of registry entries for printers, so it seems that it would be possible to map the printer by the registry itself. Is this possible?

Best Answer

This works well with UNC path connected printers, but the drivers have to be present on the system in order for it to be seamless.

I've not had the same luck with TCP/IP port connected printers.

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