How can I stop Ubuntu from repeatedly rediscovering the same printer?
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MellowCedar47
Ubuntu 26.04 periodically tells me it has added a printer that was already installed. This happens even though the printer configuration hasn't changed. What causes Ubuntu to rediscover it, and how can I prevent the repeated notifications?
Answers
The `cups-browsed` service can automatically discover network printers and may be responsible for adding the same printer again. You can test whether that’s the cause by stopping and disabling it: `sudo systemctl stop cups-browsed` followed by `sudo systemctl disable cups-browsed`. To restore it later, use `sudo systemctl enable --now cups-browsed`.
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If printer sharing is enabled on several computers, each machine may advertise its local printers and cause duplicates or repeated discovery. Check the sharing settings for the affected printers and disable sharing if you don’t need it.
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If the printer is connected over the network, Ubuntu may be rediscovering it whenever the Wi-Fi connection drops, the network interface changes, or there is significant packet loss. Check the system log with `dmesg` and look for messages showing that the network interface is repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting.
MellowCedar47: That makes sense. This is a different computer from my previous setup, even though both use the same Wi-Fi. Should I just run `dmesg` in a terminal? It looks like the command to use for checking that.
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MellowCedar47: I ended up removing the printer and installing it again, and that stopped the repeated notification for now.