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Send PRN File to Printer

Send PRN File to Printer

May 25, 2017 by Mitch Bartlett 8 Comments

A PRN file is a type of file that can be read by printers. It’s basically a generic output file that printers can understand. Sometimes you will end up with one of these files and need to print it.

You used to be able to print these files to your local printer by using the command COPY /B C:\FILENAME.PRN LPT1:. These days, printers are not attached to LPT1 anymore. USB cables are used instead. So you have to use the network method in order to print the file. Here’s how to do this in Windows.

Option 1 – Using Software

Download and install PrintPRNtoPrinter and the software will do the work for you.

Option 2 – Using Commands in Windows

  1. Share the printer on the network. If the printer you are using is already on a network such as your company network, skip this step.
  2. Now we have to find the network path to your printer. If the printer you wish to print to is a company shared network printer that is not attached to your computer, it should have the server name and printer name under your list of Printers. It will say something like printername on serverp or LaserJet on printserver. So the path to these printers would be \\serverp\printername and \\printserver\LaserJet respectively.
  3. If the printer is attached to your PC, the path will be the computer name and then the name of the printer. You can find your computer name by right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties under the Computer Name tab. The name of the printer can be found under Printers in Windows by right clicking on the printer and selecting Properties. The printername is in the top field. So if my computer name is TP123 and the printer name is LaserJet, the path would be \\TP123\LaserJet.
  4. Armed with this information, we can then go to Start > Run and use this command to copy the file to the printer. This command assumes the PRN file is located on the root of the C drive:
    • COPY /B C:\FILENAME.PRN \\TP123\LaserJet

The printer should then print out the contents of the PRN file.

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Filed Under: Windows

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vihang Patil says

    April 4, 2022 at 4:08 am

    This command used to work nicely in window xp and windows 7.
    COPY /B “C:\FILENAME.PRN” “\\LOCALHOST\PrinterName”

    But now in Windows 10 and Windows 11 it doesnt work anymore.
    Any ideas?

  2. Iven Phang says

    January 4, 2022 at 12:33 am

    is this Send PRN File to Printer free for commercial use ?

  3. lakmal abeynayake says

    July 31, 2020 at 4:04 am

    Please help:

    Access is denied.
    0 file(s) copied.

  4. Ben says

    July 31, 2019 at 10:25 pm

    I was going nuts trying to get PRN to print. I was directed to Adobe which connected me to another software that converts PRN to PDF, which didn’t even convert it. I finally searched on line and within minutes was led to PrintPRNtoPrinter download.
    I opened to program, entered the PRN and I got the print copy immediately.
    Greatest software!!!
    Thank you so very much. You helped a ninety year old geezer.

  5. vinodkumar says

    July 31, 2019 at 1:22 am

    this is helpful. But my Requirement is i give printer ip address instead of printer name ,

    it is not working. please help me.

    Thank u.

  6. SHASHIKANT says

    July 4, 2019 at 1:27 am

    It works in the connected printer only not in other lan connected computer

  7. Mark says

    December 10, 2018 at 5:44 am

    Hi

    Your notes are fine until your printer name contains spaces. This worked for me:

    copy /b c:\users\Mark\TEST.prn \\Printservername\”Name of Printer”

    Our domain print servers are names with a userfriendly name e.g. ps-mickeymouse02 and the printer name is something akin to “truro 10 Mono”. The crucial thing is that if the printer name contain spaces it must be contained within speech marks.

    Thanks – you pointed me in the right direction.

  8. Susan Lane says

    June 14, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    I am using this software: http://www.coreldraw.com/en/pages/prn-file/ to open and edit prn files and it does the great work for me but I am sure your way works good too

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Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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