Add, delete and list printers and printer connections, can also display or set the default printer.
Syntax cscript PRNMNGR.vbs [-options] [-s server] [-p printer_name] [-m driver model] [-r port] [-u user_name] [-w password] Options -a Add local printer -ac Add printer connection -d Delete printer -g Get the default printer -l list printers -m Driver model -p Printer Name -r Port Name -s Server Name -t Set the default printer -u User Name -w password -x Delete all printers -xc Delete all printer connections -xo Delete all local printers -? Display help
PrnMngr.vbs is not on the Windows PATH but will be found at:
%Windir%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\locale\prnmngr.vbs
All recent versions of Windows have automatic default printer management enabled by default. This can be enabled or disabled via policy:
'User Configuration ➞ Policies ➞ Administrative Templates ➞ Control Panel ➞ Printers': 'Turn off Windows default printer management'.
Set a variable to make accessing PrnDrv.vbs easier:
Set _scripts=cscript %Windir%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US
Add printer 'print64':
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -a -p "print64" -m "Brother 2140" -r "lpt1:"
Delete the printer 'print64' from print server 'prnserv1':
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -d -p "print64" -s prnserv1
Connect to printer
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -ac -p "\\prnserv1\print64"
Delete a printer connection:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -d -p "\\prnserv1\print64"
List all printers on a printserver:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -l -s prnserv1
Delete all printers on a printserver:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -x -s prnserv1
List a specific printer:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -l |find "Printer name"
Get the DEFAULT printer:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -g
Set the DEFAULT printer:
%_scripts%\prnmngr.vbs -t -p "\\server\printer"
“We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing, and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory” ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson
NET VIEW \\Printserver - to view a list of available printers.
NET PRINT - View and Delete print jobs.
PRNCNFG - Add, delete, or list printers / connections, set the default printer.
PRNDRVR - Add, delete or list printer drivers.
PRNJOBS - Pause, resume, cancel, or list print jobs.
PRNPORT - Manage TCP/IP printer ports, change port configuration.
PRNQCTL - Manage printer queues, print a test page.
PRINT - Print a text file.
RUNDLL32 - Install/Remove Printers (plus advanced options).
WMIC PRINTER - Set printing options through WMI.
Q246868 - TCP/IP Printing options in the Windows Standard Port Monitor.
Add printer - .AddPrinterConnection
Add Network printer - .AddWindowsPrinterConnection
List printers - .EnumPrinterConnections
Set default printer - .SetDefaultPrinter
Equivalent bash command (Linux): lpc - Line printer control program.