enable

Print the list of builtins

$ enable

$ enable -n [command]

$ enable [command]

enable [--debug] [--help] [--hold] [--release-jobs] [-E] [-h host[:port]] [-r "reason"] [--shared | --no-shared] [printer | class] ...

--debug
    Send debugging to stderr

--help
    Display usage help

--hold
    Enable printer but hold new jobs

--release-jobs
    Enable and release/cancel held jobs

-E, --encrypt
    Use SSL/TLS encryption for server communication

-h, --server=host[:port]
    Connect to alternate CUPS server

-r "reason"
    Set printer-state-reasons attribute (no newlines)

--shared
    Share printer on network

--no-shared
    Do not share printer on network

--version
    Display version information

The enable command, part of the CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System), re-enables printers or printer classes previously disabled via disable.

Disabled printers reject new jobs but process queued ones; enabling resumes job acceptance. Run without arguments, it enables all printers/classes.

Administrative use requires root or lpadmin group privileges. It updates the CUPS scheduler (cupsd) state, often in scripts for auto-recovery post-maintenance/errors.

Note: enable symlinks to cupsenable, supporting remote/encrypted access. Use lpstat -p to check status, lpstat -d for defaults.

Requires root/lpadmin privileges. Affects only CUPS printers; fails silently on non-existent names. Use lpadmin for permanent changes.

0: success
1: no printers enabled
2: error (e.g., server unreachable)

CUPS_SERVER: overrides server; CUPS_ENCRYPTION: forces encryption

Introduced in CUPS 1.0 (2000) by Easy Software Products (now OpenPrinting). Enhanced in CUPS 2.x for IPP security, sharing options, remote admin.

disable(8), cupsdisable(8), lpadmin(8), lpstat(1), cupsenable(8)