Enabling Thin Print in Fusion 11.x and later

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

To install Virtual Printer and use thin print feature to print from the Virtual Machines.

Symptoms:
Unable to print using thin print option in Fusion 11.x and later

Environment

VMware Fusion 12.x
VMware Fusion 11.x

Cause

Thin Virtual Printer drivers needs to be installed in the virtual machine to enable the thin print feature.

Resolution

Note : Please ensure that the printer is configured on the MAC and you are able to print from the MAC.
Using more than one method to connect the same printer may cause conflicts, resulting in a printer failure when using either method.

Always be sure to disable USB printing before trying the Printer Pass through method, and vice-versa.

Process to enable Thin Print in Fusion 11.x and later:

The below video provides steps to enable Thin Print in Fusion 11.x and later:

Step by Step Process:

1. While the virtual machine is running, from the Apple menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Install Virtual Printer
2. In Windows, go to File Explorer > This PC/Computer > You will notice that the Virtual Printer is mounted on the DVD Drive.
3. Double Click on the Virtual Printer and follow the wizard and finish the installation.
4.Restart the virtual machine when prompted.
5. From the Apple menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Settings.
6. Click Printer if available or add the printer to the Settings pane by clicking Add Device > Printer > Add
7. Ensure that Share Mac printers with Windows is turned ON.
8. (Optional) If you want to keep your same default printer, also select Match the default printer selected on the Mac.
9. Power on the virtual machine and ensure that the printer is now present. In Windows, click Start > Control Panel > Printers

Note : The thin print will have a "#" Prefix for your printer name, select that printer from any application that you are trying to print.