How to create a Samba printer share

A printer that works on a Linux server is not automatically discoverable through SMB clients. A Samba printer share advertises an existing local print queue as a printable service, so Windows and other SMB clients can find office-printer beside normal file shares on the same server.

Samba sends jobs from a printable share to the server's local print backend. On Ubuntu and other CUPS-based systems, the printer name value in /etc/samba/smb.conf must match the CUPS queue name, while the SMB share name can stay shorter or friendlier for clients.

The explicit-share model exposes one selected queue instead of publishing every backend printer. Keep load printers = no when only selected queues should be exposed, restrict access with a Samba user or group, and verify both the parsed share and the advertised SMB service before submitting a test page.

1. Confirm the local CUPS queue name on the Samba server.

   $ lpstat -p Office_Printer
   printer Office_Printer is idle. enabled since Tue Jun 16 09:00:00 2026

   Replace Office_Printer with the local print queue name that already works from the server. Samba sends jobs to this backend queue through the printer name setting.

2. Back up the Samba configuration file.

   $ sudo cp --archive /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.before-printer-share

   A broken /etc/samba/smb.conf can block new SMB sessions after reload. Keep the backup until the printer share lists and accepts a test job.

3. Open the Samba configuration file.

   $ sudoedit /etc/samba/smb.conf

4. Add or update the print backend settings in the [global] section.

   [global]
       printing = CUPS
       printcap name = cups
       load printers = no

   load printers = no prevents Samba from automatically sharing every printer known to the backend. Omit or change it only when every local queue should be visible to SMB clients.

5. Add the explicit printer share section.

   [office-printer]
       comment = Office printer
       path = /var/tmp
       printable = yes
       read only = yes
       printer name = Office_Printer
       valid users = sguser

   Use a short share name for clients, and set printer name to the exact CUPS queue name. Replace sguser with the Samba user or group allowed to submit jobs, such as @printusers.

   Related: How to add a Samba user

6. Test the parsed printer share.

   $ testparm -s --section-name=office-printer
   Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf
   Loaded services file OK.
   
   [office-printer]
           comment = Office printer
           path = /var/tmp
           printable = Yes
           printer name = Office_Printer
           valid users = sguser

   Related: How to validate Samba configuration with testparm

7. Reload the running smbd configuration.

   $ sudo smbcontrol smbd reload-config

   Reloading smbd applies the share definition without restarting unrelated services. Existing client sessions may need to reconnect before they see the new printer share.
   Related: How to check Samba service status

8. List the SMB services advertised by the server.

   $ smbclient -L //files.example.com -U sguser
   Password for [WORKGROUP\sguser]:
   
           Sharename       Type      Comment
           ---------       ----      -------
           office-printer  Printer   Office printer
           IPC$            IPC       IPC Service (Samba 4.23.6)
   SMB1 disabled -- no workgroup available

   The row with Type set to Printer proves Samba is advertising the selected queue as a printer share.

9. Create a small test page on an SMB client.

   $ printf 'Samba printer test\n' > samba-printer-test.txt

10. Submit the test page through the printer share.

    $ smbclient //files.example.com/office-printer -U sguser -c 'print samba-printer-test.txt'
    Password for [WORKGROUP\sguser]:
    putting file samba-printer-test.txt as samba-printer-test.txt-18 (0.1 kB/s) (average 0.1 kB/s)

    This submits a real print job to Office_Printer. Use a test queue or be ready to retrieve the page from the physical printer.

11. Remove the local test page.

    $ rm samba-printer-test.txt