Windows 10: Backup and Restore Printers in Windows

How to: Backup and Restore Printers in Windows


Information In Windows, you can export (backup) printer queues, printer ports, and printer drivers from a PC to a ".printerExport" file. You can then use this file to import (restore) these printer queues, printer ports, and printer drivers to any PC.

This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore printers in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.


Note If you exported printers from a 32-bit Windows PC, you will only be able to import them to a 32-bit Windows PC.

If you exported printers from a 64-bit Windows PC, you will only be able to import them to a 64-bit Windows PC.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Backup (export) Printers
• Option Two: To Restore (import) Printers

OPTION ONE [/i] To Backup (export) Printers
1. Do step 2 (Printer Migration wizard) or step 3 (Printer Management) for which method you want to use to export printers.


2. Export Printers on this PC using Printer Migration wizard
A) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type PrintBrmUi.exe into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the Printer Migration wizard.

B) Select (dot) Export printer queues and printer drivers to a file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



C) Select (dot) This print server to export printers from this PC, click/tap on Next, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)




3. Export Printers on this PC using Printer Management
A) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type printmanagement.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Printer Management.

B) In the left pane of Printer Management, expand open Printer Servers, right click or press and hold on the local print server for this PC, click/tap on Export printers to a file, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)




4. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



5. Perform the steps below to select the location where you want to save the exported ".printerExport" file to: (see screenshots below)
A) Click/tap on the Browse button.

B) Navigate to and select a folder where you want to save the file to.

C) Enter a file name you want for the ".printerExport" file.

D) Click/tap on Save.

E) Click/tap on Next.






6. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] To Restore (import) Printers
1. Do step 2 (.printerExport file), step 3 (Printer Migration wizard), or step 4 (Printer Management) for which method you want to use to import printers that you exported from Option One above.


2. Import Printers Directly from .printerExport Fle
A) Open Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8/10).

B) Navigate to where you saved the exported .printerExport file from Option One above, open it, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)





3. Import Printers using Printer Migration wizard
A) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type PrintBrmUi.exe into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the Printer Migration wizard.

B) Select (dot) Import printer queues and printer drivers from a file, click/tap on Next, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)





4. Import Printers using Printer Management
A) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type printmanagement.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Printer Management.

B) In the left pane of Printer Management, expand open Printer Servers, right click or press and hold on the local print server for this PC, click/tap on Import printers from a file, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)





5. Perform the steps below to select the exported ".printerExport" file you want to import: (see screenshots below)
A) Click/tap on the Browse button.

B) Navigate to and open the location where you saved the exported .printerExport file from Option One above.

C) Select the ".printerExport" file.

D) Click/tap on Open.

E) Click/tap on Next.






6. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



7. Select (dot) This print server to import printers to this PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



8. Select if you want to Keep existing printers or Overwrite existing printers for the import mode, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)


Note Keep existing printers = If the ".printerExport" file contains a printer that is already installed on this PC, the printer will not be restored from the file. The existing printer on this PC will not be changed.

Overwrite existing printers = If the ".printerExport" file contains a printer that is already installed on this PC, the printer will be restored from the file. The existing printer on this PC will overwritten (replaced) by the printer from the file.





9. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Set a Default Printer in Windows 10
• Create Printers Folder Shortcut in Windows
• How to Rename a Printer in Windows 10
• How to Share a Printer in Windows 10
• How to Add a Shared Printer in Windows 10
• How to Remove a Printer in Windows 10
• How to Uninstall a Printer Driver in Windows 10
• How to List All Installed Printers in Windows 10

:)

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

I am looking for a free (freeware) program that will back up and restore a hard drive. I'm looking to clone a few external hard drives. If the program will backup the used space instead of the whole drive this will be awesome! Thanks for any suggestions.

 

installing windows 10 backup and restore later

1. Backup Vista
2. Upgrade Vista->Windows 7 -> Windows 10. Get activated.
3. Backup Windows 10.
4. Clean Install Windows 10. Make sure still activated
5. Backup a fresh copy of Windows 10
6. Restore

To perform step 4 i will need to have downloaded an iso and create a dvd or usb to boot from.....so will not this ISO be ok and the one you mention ?

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


In addition to the above. Here's my suggestion in step by step.
I assume you have Macrium Installed in your current HD and already made a backup copy.

1. Connect your new HD via USB port and boot up.
2. Run Macrium, click on Restore tab then select the Backup Image that you made to restore
3. click on "select a different target disk" then select your new HD as destination
   
   
   
4. Proceed to restore then Shutdown and disconnect the old HD and replace with the new HD
5. Boot up with your new HD.

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

Obviously you're looking for something besides your Xp Pro utility that does this?

 

Printer

Hi Rodrigo,

I am sorry to know that you are having issues with Printer.

What and all steps have you tried so far?

Restart the computer and check.

Also, check for Windows updates.

I suggest you to run the Printer Troubleshooter and check if it helps.

• 
  In Search window type Troubleshooting and click on it to open it.
  
• 
  Click on Hardware and Sound.
  
• 
  Then click on Printer to run the troubleshooter. Follow onscreen steps.