How to add printers with no user interaction on Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008
For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 189105
For a Microsoft Windows XP/2003 version of this artcile, see 314486
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 permits you to install a printer from the command line. This is particularly useful when you use a logon script or a scheduled event to add or remove a printer from a group of users.
Note If you use this command in a logon script or a client-based batch file, the client computer must be running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.
Additionally, these commands can be run from an administrator's workstation or from a server so that the printers are push-installed to the client computers, without having to install from the actual computer.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the available switches, type /? after the command.
Additionally, type the following at a command prompt:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /?
Usage: rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry [options] [@commandfile]
/a[file] binary file name
/b[name] base printer name
/c[name] unc machine name if the action is on a remote machine
/dl delete local printer
/dn delete network printer connection
/dd delete printer driver
/e display printing preferences
/f[file] either inf file or output file
/F[file] location of an INF file that the INF file specified with /f may depend on
/ga add per machine printer connections (the connection will be propagated to the user upon logon)
/ge enum per machine printer connections
/gd delete per machine printer connections (the connection will be deleted upon user logon)
/h[arch] driver architecture one of the following, x86 or x64 or Itanium
/ia install printer driver using inf file
/id install printer driver using add printer driver wizard
/if install printer using inf file
/ii install printer using add printer wizard with an inf file
/il install printer using add printer wizard
/in add network printer connection
/ip install printer using network printer installation wizard
/j[provider] print provider name
/k print test page to specified printer, cannot be combined with command when installing a printer
/l[path] printer driver source path
/m[model] printer driver model name
/n[name] printer name
/o display printer queue view
/p display printer properties
/q quiet mode, do not display error messages
/r[port] port name
/s display server properties
/Ss Store printer settings into a file
/Sr Restore printer settings from a file
Store or restore printer settings option flags that must be placed at the end of command:
2 PRINTER_INFO_2
7 PRINTER_INFO_7
c Color Profile
d PrinterData
s Security descriptor
g Global DevMode
m Minimal settings
u User DevMode
r Resolve name conflicts
f Force name
p Resolve port
i Driver name conflict
/u use the existing printer driver if it's already installed
/t[#] zero based index page to start on
/v[version] driver version one of the following, "Type 2 - Kernel Mode" or "Type 3 - User Mode"
/w prompt the user for a driver if specified driver is not found in the inf
/y set printer as the default
/Xg get printer settings
/Xs set printer settings
/z do not auto share this printer
/Y do not auto generate a printer name
/K changes the meaning of /h to accept 2,3,4 for x86 or x64 or Itanium and /v to accept 3 for "Type 3 - User Mode"
/Z share this printer, can only be used with the /if option
/? help this message
@[file] command line argument file
/Mw[message] show a warning message before committing the command
/Mq[message] show a confirmation message before committing the command
/W[flags] specifies flags and switches for the wizards (for APW & APDW)
r make the wizards to be restart-able from the last page
/G[flags] specifies global flags and switches
w suppress setup driver warnings UI (super quiet mode)
Examples:
Run server properties:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s /t1 /c\\machine
Run printer properties:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /p /n\\machine\printer
Run add printer wizard localy:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /il
Run add printer wizard on \\machine:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /il /c\\machine
Run queue view:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /o /n\\machine\printer
Run inf install:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "Test Printer" /f C:\InfPath\InfFile.inf /r "lpt1:" /m "Apollo P-1200"
Run inf install (with inf dependency). In the example, prnao001.inf depends on ntprint.inf
rundll32 printui.dll, PrintUIEntry /ia /m "Apollo P-1200" /K /h x64 /v 3 /f "c:\InfPath\prnao001.inf" /F "c:\InfPath\ntprint.inf"
Run add printer wizard using inf:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ii /f C:\InfPath\InfFile.inf
Add printer using inbox printer driver:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "Test Printer" /r "lpt1:" /m "Apollo P-1200"
Add per machine printer connection (the connection will be propagated to the user upon logon):
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ga /c\\machine /n\\machine\printer /j"LanMan Print Services"
Delete per machine printer connection (the connection will be deleted upon user logon):
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /gd /c\\machine /n\\machine\printer
Enumerate per machine printer connections:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ge /c\\machine
Add printer driver using inf:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /c\\machine /m "Apollo P-1200" /h "x86" /v "Type 3 - User Mode" /f C:\InfPath\InfFile.inf
Add printer driver using inf:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /K /c\\machine /m "Apollo P-1200" /h "x86" /v 3
Add inbox printer driver:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /c\\machine /m "Apollo P-1200" /h "Intel" /v "Type 3 - Kernel Mode"
Remove printer driver:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /dd /c\\machine /m "Apollo P-1200" /h "x86" /v "Type 3 - User Mode"
Remove printer driver:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /dd /K /c\\machine /m "Apollo P-1200" /h "x86" /v 3
Set printer as default:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /n "printer"
Set printer comment:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n "printer" comment "My Cool Printer"
Get printer settings:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xg /n "printer"
Get printer settings saving results in a file:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /f "results.txt" /Xg /n "printer"
Set printer settings command usage:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n "printer" ?
Store all printer settings into a file:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Ss /n "printer" /a "file.dat"
Restore all printer settings from a file:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "printer" /a "file.dat"
Store printer information on level 2 into a file :
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Ss /n "printer" /a "file.dat" 2
Restore from a file printer security descriptor:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "printer" /a "file.dat" s
Restore from a file printer global devmode and printer data:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "printer" /a "file.dat" g d
Restore from a file minimum settings and resolve port name:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "printer" /a "file.dat" m p
Enable Client Side Rendering for a printer:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n "printer" ClientSideRender enabled
Disable Client Side Rendering for a printer:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n "printer" ClientSideRender disabled
Comments
Anonymous
November 12, 2009
Such good information! I know that technet has these articles for Win2K and XP. However, what would it take to get this one added to the KB database for Vista, Win2K8, and possibly for Vienna?Anonymous
October 27, 2010
Hi, one question, what are: m Minimal settings ?Anonymous
November 22, 2017
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