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Why is My Local Printer Missing in Business Central?

Issue

A local printer is missing from the list of printers synchronized to Business Central when using FORNAV Direct Print.

Cause

This issue is usually related to user context. The FORNAV Direct Print service runs under a specific user account, and if that user does not have access to a network printer, it will not appear in Business Central.

Windows printer settings are user-specific, meaning that different users on the same machine may see different printers and printer configurations. If the service is running under a different user than the one who has the printer installed, it may not be able to detect the printer.

Solution

1. Check the FORNAV Direct Print Service Log

The FORNAV Direct Print service log provides a list of printers that the service can see.

  1. Open the FORNAV Direct Print log file.
  2. Look for entries listing available printers.
  3. If the missing printer is not listed, follow the steps below to ensure it is available to the service user.

2. Log in as the Service User and Connect the Printer

If the FORNAV Direct Print service is running under a user that does not have the printer installed, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the user account running the FORNAV Direct Print service:
    • Open Run (Win + R), type services.msc, and press Enter.
    • Locate FORNAV Direct Print Service and check the Log On user under the Properties menu.
  2. Log in to Windows as that user.
  3. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
  4. Add the missing printer in this user context.
  5. Restart the FORNAV Direct Print Service and check if the printer appears in Business Central.

3. Change the Service User to One That Has the Printer Connected

If another user already has access to the required printer, you can change the FORNAV Direct Print service to run under that user:

  1. Open Run (Win + R), type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Locate FORNAV Direct Print Service, right-click it, and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Log On tab.
  4. Change the user to an account that already has the printer connected.
  5. Click Apply, restart the service, and check if the printer is now available in Business Central.

Summary

If a local printer is missing in Business Central, it is likely due to user context issues. The FORNAV Direct Print service only detects printers available to the user it runs under. To fix this, first check the FORNAV Direct Print log to see which printers are detected. Then, either log in as the service user and connect the printer, or change the service user to one that already has the printer connected.