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There are many reasons why deploying printers via Group Policy fails:
Faulty MSIs
Incorrect permissions
Driver conflicts
The truth is GPO printer deployments offer a lot of limitations and potential failure points, often resulting in calls to the helpdesk to resolve the deploy printer via GPO issue. This article will cover some basic reasons for failed GPO deployments and provide alternative methods of printer deployment to help you out.
One common problem is due to the Point and Print Restrictions policy not being configured correctly for a deployed printer. This will commonly result in users not being able to download a specific printer driver from a print server. This setting can be configured in the control panel settings under Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Printers. This should be configured in one of two ways:
This is the easiest and fastest method, but it doesn't allow for granular control over which print servers can be connected to.
You will need to modify the following settings at a minimum: Set “When installing drivers for a new connection" to "Do not show warning or elevation prompt”.Set “When updating drivers for an existing connection” to “Do not show warning or elevation prompt”.Unless you want to restrict these settings to a particular set of print servers for a user configuration, uncheck “Users can only point and print to these servers” and “Users can only point and print to machines in their forest."
Another reason printers might not be deployed properly is if the linked OU doesn’t match the policy type. If you are deploying a printer using User Group Policy Preferences in a Group Policy Management Console, the linked OU should contain users who need to have the printer installed. If you are deploying a printer using Computer Group Policy Preferences, the linked OU should instead contain computers that need to have the print drivers installed. Linking a User GPP to an OU that only contains computers, or vice versa, will have no effect. When deploying a printer to an OS that is a different architecture than the print server (such as 32-bit Windows 7 connecting to a 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2 print server), make sure the correct drivers are installed on the print server. Both the 32-bit and 64-bit drivers must have the exact same name for them to associate properly. Deploying a printer will fail if the appropriate driver for the printer can’t be found.
Remember your elementary school days when your teacher would make you double-check your work before you turned it in? The same principle applies to printer deployments. It’s important to make sure there are no typos. It’s a simple concept, but having even a single character off in the print server name, printer share name, etc., will cause the print deployment method to fail even if all of the settings are correct.
If you want to bypass the problems of deploying printers via Group Policy entirely, a simple alternative is to eliminate your print servers and migrate to a centralized direct IP printing platform. Not only are deployments faster and easier, but printers can be delivered to end users with just a few clicks—no GPOs or scripts required. PrinterLogic next-gen serverless print management solution integrates seamlessly with Active Directory and features an intuitive web-based GUI. Set up automatic deployments based on user, computer, container, or IP addresses, use universal drivers instead of working with individual manufacturers, and eliminate frustrating driver problems and policy conflicts once and for all.
What does GPO stand for in the context of printer deployment?
GPO stands for Group Policy Object, which is a feature in Windows Server that allows administrators to manage settings and configurations for users and computers within Active Directory.
What are the common issues that can cause GPO printer deployment to fail?
Common issues include faulty MSIs, incorrect permissions, driver conflicts, and Point and Print Restrictions not being configured properly.
How can I check if my GPO printer deployment is working correctly?
You can check the Event Viewer on client machines for errors related to print services, verify that the GPO is linked and correctly configured, and ensure that users have the necessary permissions to access the printers.
What are Point and Print Restrictions, and why do they matter?
Point and Print Restrictions are a set of Group Policy settings that control how users can install printer drivers from print servers. Misconfiguration can prevent users from downloading the necessary drivers, leading to deployment failures.
Can I control which users can access certain printers through GPO?
Yes, you can configure printer permissions and use security groups to control which users or computers can access specific printers deployed via GPO.
What is the easiest way to resolve GPO printer deployment issues?
The easiest and fastest way is to disable Point and Print Restrictions. However, this approach lacks granular control and should be used cautiously.
Why might I experience driver conflicts during GPO printer deployment?
Driver conflicts can occur if multiple versions of a printer driver are installed or if the driver is not compatible with the operating system. It’s important to ensure that the correct and updated drivers are being used.
Are there alternative methods for deploying printers if GPO fails?
Yes, alternatives include using third-party solutions like PrinterLogic, deploying printers via scripts, or using manual installation methods.
How do I troubleshoot a failed GPO printer deployment?
Start by checking the GPO settings, ensuring that the printer share is accessible, verifying permissions, and examining the Event Viewer for error messages related to print services.