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How Cloud Print communicates with your printers

The Cloud Print client communicates directly with printers that are already installed on the same computer. It does not require printers to be network-shared or configured separately.

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Requirements

The Cloud Print client must be installed on a computer where the printers you want to use are already set up locally. The printers should appear in your operating system’s Printers & Scanners settings.

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How it works

Once installed, the Cloud Print client communicates directly with your printers through your operating system. On Windows, for example, the client uses the Windows API to talk to the Print Spooler service.
Any printer visible in your computer’s Printers & Scanners settings will be available to Cloud Print once the client is installed on that machine.
What does “locally installed” mean for printers?It means the printers are set up and recognised by the computer where the Cloud Print client is installed. You should be able to see them listed in your Printers & Scanners settings.How does the client communicate with printers on Windows?On Windows, the Cloud Print client communicates directly with the Print Spooler Windows Service using the Windows API.