Welcome to our guide on how to set up a printer with Wi-Fi. Nowadays, many devices connect wirelessly, and we’ll show you how to add your printer to your home or office Wi-Fi network. By doing this, you can print from any device on the network without using cables.
In the past, you had to plug your computer into the printer with a USB cable or only print from one computer. But now, with wireless printing, you can print from your laptop, phone, tablet, or any other device with Wi-Fi within the range of your Wi-Fi network. Setting up a printer with Wi-Fi might seem tricky if you’re not a tech expert, but our guide will make it easy. We’ll take you through the process step by step so you can enjoy wireless printing quickly.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything from gathering the materials you need to testing the printer setup. The steps are pretty much the same no matter what brand or model of printer or router you have. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Gather the necessary materials
Before we begin, make sure you have everything you need:
- A wireless-capable printer: Most modern printers can connect wirelessly. Check your printer’s user manual or contact the manufacturer if you’re not sure.
- A wireless router: Ensure your router supports Wi-Fi and has Ethernet ports.
- A computer or mobile device: You’ll need a computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet with Wi-Fi capabilities.
- An active internet connection: Make sure your internet connection is working.
- Printer software and drivers: If your printer came with a CD or DVD, use it to install the necessary software and drivers. You can also download these from the manufacturer’s website.
- USB cable: You might need this to connect your printer to your computer during setup. Check your printer’s requirements.
Once you have these materials ready, you can move on to the next step: connecting the printer to the wireless router.
Step 2: Connect the printer to the wireless router
Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to connect your printer to the Wi-Fi. This step makes your printer communicate with the router wirelessly. Follow these steps:
- Turn on your printer and make sure it’s plugged in.
- Use your printer’s buttons or display panel to find the wireless network settings. The exact steps might vary based on your printer, so check your user manual.
- When you’re in the wireless settings, look for your Wi-Fi network on the list and select it. If asked, enter your Wi-Fi password to connect.
- Wait for the printer to establish the connection with the router. This might take a moment.
- Your printer will show a confirmation message or a symbol when it’s successfully connected.
Some printers might need a temporary USB cable connection during setup. If prompted, connect the cable, but you can remove it once the wireless connection is confirmed.
By connecting your printer to the Wi-Fi router, you’ve created a wireless link. Next, we’ll install the printer software on your computer.
Step 3: Install the printer software on your computer
After connecting your printer to the Wi-Fi router, you should install the printer software on your computer. This software includes the drivers and tools needed for your computer to talk to the printer. Follow these steps:
- If your printer came with a CD or DVD, insert it into your computer’s CD/DVD drive. The installation wizard should start automatically. If you don’t have a disc, download the software from the manufacturer’s website.
- The installation wizard will guide you through the process. Click “Next” or “Install” as needed. Agree to any terms or conditions presented during installation.
- You might have a choice between a “Full” or “Custom” installation. It’s usually best to choose “Full” to get all the necessary components.
- During installation, you may be asked to connect your printer to your computer. If you used a USB cable earlier, make sure it’s still connected. If not, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once the installation is done, the printer software will be on your computer. You might need to restart your computer to complete the installation.
With the printer software installed, you can control your printer from your computer. It might also include extra features to improve your printing experience.
In the next step, we’ll guide you on connecting your computer to the Wi-Fi network, so it can talk to the printer wirelessly.
Step 4: Connect the computer to the wireless network
Now that you’ve got the printer software on your computer, let’s connect your computer to the Wi-Fi network. This allows your computer to communicate with the printer without wires. Follow these steps:
- On your computer, find the network settings. This is usually in the system tray (Windows) or the menu bar (Mac). Look for the Wi-Fi icon and click it to open the network settings.
- Look for the option to scan for available wireless networks in the settings. Your computer will find nearby networks and show them in a list.
- Select your Wi-Fi network from the list. If asked, enter the Wi-Fi password to connect. Make sure you type the correct password.
- Wait for your computer to establish the connection with the network. This might take a moment as it talks to the router.
- When the connection is good, your computer will show a confirmation message or symbol.
By connecting your computer to the Wi-Fi network, it’s ready to talk to the printer wirelessly. Now, let’s add the printer to your computer in the next step.
Step 5: Add the printer to your computer
With your computer linked to the Wi-Fi network, it’s time to add the printer. Adding the printer lets your computer recognize and talk to it for printing tasks. Follow these steps:
- Open the control panel on your computer. You can usually find it in the Start menu (Windows) or Apple menu (Mac). Look for settings related to devices or printers.
- Click “Add a printer” or “Add a device” to search for available printers.
- Wait for your computer to find printers on the network. It might take a little time. When your printer appears in the list, select it.
- Click “Add” or “Install” to configure the settings and drivers needed to connect your computer to the printer.
- Once the installation is complete, your computer should show a message saying the printer has been added.
With the printer added to your computer, you can now print wirelessly. If you want, you can set the newly added printer as your default printer.
In the final step, we’ll test the printer setup to make sure it’s working as it should.
Step 6: Test the printer setup
After adding the printer to your computer, it’s important to check if everything’s working right. Testing the printer setup helps you catch any issues. Here’s what to do:
- Pick a document or file you want to print, like a text document or a picture.
- From your software or application, select the printer you added from the list of available printers. The steps can vary depending on the software, so check its help section if needed.
- If necessary, adjust the print settings before sending the print job. You can change things like paper size, quality, or the number of copies.
- Click “Print” to send
Image Source: https://www.chalkline.tech/blog/how-to-keep-a-wireless-printer-safe-and-secure