Get-Printer

Retrieves a list of printers installed on a computer.

Syntax

Get-Printer
   [[-Name] <String[]>]
   [-ComputerName <String>]
   [-Full]
   [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
   [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
   [-AsJob]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Get-Printer cmdlet retrieves a list of printers installed on a computer. You can also use Get-Printer to retrieve the properties of a single printer, and then use that information as input into other cmdlets.

You can use wildcard characters with Get-Printer. You can use a Get-Printer in a Windows PowerShell remoting session.

You do not need administrator credentials to run Get-Printer.

Examples

Example 1: Get a list of printers

Get-Printer

This command retrieves a list of printers and printer connections on the local computer.

Example 2: Get the information for a specific printer

Get-Printer -Name "Microsoft XPS Document Writer"

This command retrieves information for one specific printer named Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

Example 3: Get the detailed information for a specific printer

Get-Printer -Name "Microsoft XPS Document Writer" | Format-List

This command retrieves detailed information for one specific printer named Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

Example 4: Get a list of printers on a remote computer

Get-Printer -ComputerName PrintServer

This command retrieves a list of printers from the computer named PrintServer.

Example 5: Get a list of printer objects and then rename the printers

$Printer = Get-Printer -Name "Microsoft XPS Document Writer"
Rename-Printer -InputObject $printer "MXDW"

The first command gets the printer named Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and then stores it in the $Printer variable.

The second command renames the printer in $Printer by using the Rename-Printer cmdlet.

Parameters

-AsJob

Runs the cmdlet as a background job. Use this parameter to run commands that take a long time to complete.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-CimSession

Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.

Type:CimSession[]
Aliases:Session
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-ComputerName

Specifies the name of the computer from which to retrieve the printer information.

Type:String
Aliases:CN
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Full

Specifies all the printer parameters to retrieve including RenderingMode and PermissionSDDL.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Name

Specifies the name of the printer about which to retrieve information.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-ThrottleLimit

Specifies the maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the cmdlet. If this parameter is omitted or a value of 0 is entered, then Windows PowerShell® calculates an optimum throttle limit for the cmdlet based on the number of CIM cmdlets that are running on the computer. The throttle limit applies only to the current cmdlet, not to the session or to the computer.

Type:Int32
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String[]

Outputs

CimInstance

CimInstance

This cmdlet outputs one or more printer objects.