How to Add a Printer to a VMware Player (9 Steps)

1. Launch VMware Player. Click the name of the virtual machine in the column on the left side of the window, then check the right side of the window. Make sure that the current state of the virtual machine is 'Powered Off.' If the state is 'Suspended,' load the virtual machine and shut the operating system down.
2. Click the name of the virtual machine again, and then click 'Edit virtual machine settings' on the right side of the window.
3. Click the 'Add' button.
4. Select 'Virtual Printer' in the 'Hardware' column, and then click the 'Finish' button.
5. Load the virtual machine and print as you would normally. The VMware Tools software automatically captures the print request and sends it to the printer. Note that the VMware Tools software must be installed on the virtual machine for the virtual printer feature to work. If the virtual machine runs an operating system that cannot use VMware Tools, proceed to Section 2 for a workaround.
Passing the USB Port Through to the Virtual Machine
1. Start the virtual machine, and install the driver software for the printer that you want to use. If you use the printer by passing the USB port through to the virtual machine, you must install the printer driver software on the virtual machine even if the software is on the host computer.
2. Click the 'VM' drop-down menu at the top of the virtual machine window.
3. Hover the mouse pointer over 'Removable Devices,' and then hover the mouse pointer over the name of the printer.
4. Click 'Connect (Disconnect from host).' The USB port for the printer is passed through to the virtual machine and disconnected from the host operating system, allowing you to print from the virtual machine.