Access is denied when adding or using a printer
"Access is denied" when connecting to or installing a printer usually means Windows needs administrator rights or share permissions are blocking you.
What this error means
Windows shows "Access is denied" when your account isn't allowed to do what you asked, such as install a printer driver, connect to a shared printer or change printer settings. Since 2021, Windows by default requires administrator rights to install drivers from a shared printer, a change Microsoft made to protect against attacks through the print system. Share permissions on the host PC or missing saved credentials can also cause it.
Common causes
- Your account isn't an administrator and a driver needs to be installed
- Sharing or security permissions on the host PC don't include your account
- Saved credentials for the host PC are wrong or missing
- Policies on a work or school PC restrict printer installs
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Windows
0 of 6 steps tried
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Connect using an administrator account
Sign in with an administrator account, or enter administrator credentials when Windows asks for permission, then connect to the printer again. Once the driver is installed, standard user accounts on the same PC can connect and print without admin rights.
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Install the driver first
As an administrator, install the printer's driver on the connecting PC from the manufacturer's official support site. With the driver already in place, Windows doesn't need to download one from the host, so standard users can then connect without being denied.
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Check sharing permissions on the host PC
On the computer sharing the printer, open Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Printer properties. On the Sharing tab, confirm Share this printer is ticked. On the Security tab, make sure Everyone or your user account has Print allowed.
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Save credentials for the host PC
On the connecting PC, open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials > Add a Windows credential. Enter the host PC's name, plus a user name and password for an account on that PC, then reconnect to the printer.
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Change printer settings as an administrator
If you get "Access is denied" when changing sharing, ports or driver settings in Printer properties, those settings affect every user on the PC and need administrator rights. Sign in with an administrator account and try again.
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Check with your IT team on work computers
Work and school PCs often have policies that only allow printers from approved print servers or require IT to deploy the driver. Don't try to bypass these settings; ask your IT team to add the printer or approve the driver.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Can I turn off the administrator requirement?
Microsoft documents a registry setting that relaxes it, but doing so reopens a known route for attacks through the print system. Leave the protection on and install the driver once as an administrator instead.
I am an administrator. Why do I still see Access is denied?
The block may come from the host PC rather than yours. Check the printer's sharing and security permissions on the host, and save credentials for an account on the host in Credential Manager.