Used Bonjour Print Services for Windows?


Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

If you frequently work in a mixed-device environment, finding an easy way to connect your PC to Apple-shared hardware can be a real challenge. Fortunately, Bonjour Print Services bridges this exact gap by bringing Apple’s effortless network device discovery directly to Windows machines, making local printer setup completely stress-free.

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By automatically locating nearby network or shared printers, Bonjour Print Services eliminates the usual headache of manual configuration. Whether you are managing busy home offices or corporate workspaces, this lightweight tool ensures your cross-platform printing setup remains remarkably smooth, highly reliable, and easily accessible.

Setting up local printers often turns into a tedious chore, but the included Bonjour Printer Wizard streamlines the entire process. Once installed, the desktop shortcut launches a clean interface that automatically scans your local network for compatible hardware. It instantly detects Wi-Fi or Ethernet printers, as well as USB units connected through Macs or AirPort base stations, making manual IP entries obsolete.

Local network printer discovery

While setup is simple, you must ensure your system meets specific requirements for smooth operation. You need the latest Windows Service Pack installed, and your firewall settings must explicitly allow communication over UDP port 5353. Though the installer configures standard Windows firewalls automatically, third-party security software might block this port, leading to frustrating initial detection failures that require manual network adjustments to resolve.

Bonjour Print Services serves a clear purpose, but its functionality remains strictly basic. It focuses solely on discovering and configuring printers rather than offering full driver management or detailed print queue diagnostics. Users expecting a rich utility hub might feel underwhelmed by its single-purpose nature, though its small system footprint guarantees that your background computer performance is never compromised during routine tasks.

Enlarged image for Bonjour Print Services
Bonjour Print Services 0/2
  • Pros

    • Automatic device discovery
    • Simple wizard setup
    • Low system usage
    • Broad printer compatibility
  • Cons

    • Requires open port 5353
    • No advanced queue management
    • Basic feature set

Bottom Line

Streamlined local printing solution

In conclusion, Bonjour Print Services offers a dependable, lightweight bridge for Windows users operating within Apple-centric networks. Despite requiring manual firewall checks on strict systems and offering relatively basic features, its effortless device discovery saves significant setup time. It remains an essential download for anyone seeking quick, reliable printing across platforms without dealing with tedious technical headaches or complex network configurations.

What’s new in version 2.0.2

  • Improved Windows 11 network compatibility
  • Optimized background resource utilization

Used Bonjour Print Services for Windows?


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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
2.0.2
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Windows
Operating System
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8
Additional Requirements
None
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
8,959
Downloads Last Week
6

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Developer’s Description

Discover and configure Bonjour-enabled printers from your Windows computer.
Bonjour Print Services for Windows lets you discover and configure Bonjour-enabled printers from your Windows computer using the Bonjour Printer Wizard.

Bonjour Print Services works with either:network printers over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, USB printers shared via a Mac or an AirPort base station.The Bonjour networking protocol sends and receives network packets on UDP port 5353. The Bonjour installer will configure the Windows firewall appropriately during installation on supported systems, but if you have a separate "personal firewall" enabled, you will need to ensure that UDP port 5353 is open for Bonjour to work correctly.


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