A print server is anything that receives print jobs from multiple devices, queues them, and sends them to a printer in order. It can be hardware, software, a router feature, or simply a computer sharing a USB printer.
Does this affect you?
Use this if several home or office computers need to use one printer and you are deciding whether a print server is needed.
Forms a print server can take
Most modern home setups need no separate box.
- Network printer: a printer with Wi-Fi or Ethernet already has its own network connection, so computers can usually add it directly.
- Shared USB printer: a computer connected by USB can share that printer to other computers, acting as a basic print server.
- Router or NAS print server: some routers and network storage devices share a USB printer through their USB port.
- Dedicated print server: a small adapter or box built only to put a USB printer on the network.
More control
USB-only printers are the main use case
If the printer already has Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you usually do not need an extra print server.
The queue is part of the job
A print server lines up jobs from different users so the printer receives them one at a time instead of mixed together.
Computer sharing depends on that computer
If a normal PC or Mac shares the printer, it must stay on, awake, and connected. Router, NAS, or dedicated print servers avoid that dependency.
Sources
- HP Support – Print Server Basics for Home Networks (2025)
- TP-Link Support – Using a Router USB Port as a Print Server (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Share a Printer on a Network (2025)
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