How To Add A Printer On Windows 8

How To Set Up A Shared Network Printer In Windows 7 8 Or 10

Windows 8: How to add a printer

Walter Glenn is a former Editorial Director for How-To Geek and its sister sites. He has more than 30 years of experience in the computer industry and over 20 years as a technical writer and editor. He’s written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and edited thousands. He’s authored or co-authored over 30 computer-related books in more than a dozen languages for publishers like Microsoft Press, O’Reilly, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. He’s also written hundreds of white papers, articles, user manuals, and courseware over the years.Read more…

Over the years, Windows has gotten much better about how it handles networked printers. But if you want to share a printer over the network, you may still need to do a little legwork to get it all up and running. Heres how it all works.

Setting up a printer on your network involves two steps. The first step is getting the printer connected to the network, and there are three ways you can do that:

The second step, once youve hooked up your printer, will be connecting other PCs to the network printerwhich depends a lot on how you hooked it up. Confused yet? Dont worry. Were about to go over all of this.

Update: Microsoft removed the HomeGroup feature from Windows 10 in the April 2018 update. You can still use HomeGroups if youre using Windows 7 or 8, but they wont be accessible by computers running Windows 10 unless you also set up traditional file sharing.

How To Set The Printer As The Default Printer In Windows

While trying to print a document, you might receive a warning message that the printer is not set as the default printer. You may also find that Windows is attempting to print to another device. To configure Windows to use your printer as the default printing device, select your version of Windows below and follow the steps.

How To Add A Printer On Windows 10 With Powershell

Type powershell in the search box. Windows 10 search will find and select Windows PowerShell. Below Windows PowerShell, click Run as Administrator.

On the powershell command prompt, use of the commands below to add a printer on Windows 10

Add-Printer -Name "Printer Name" -DriverName "Printer Driver name"

Add-Printer -ConnectionName \PrintServer\SharedPrinterName

In the first command, change Printer Name to the name you want to be displayed for the printer. Printer Driver name is the name of the printer driver. This command adds a local printer to your PC.
For the second command, PrintServer is the name of the print server where the shared printer is installed. is the share name of the network printer you want to add to your computer.
The command below will add a HP printer called HP DeskJet 2130 series with a printer driver, HP DJ 2130 series

Add-Printer -Name "HP DeskJet 2130 series" -DriverName "HP DJ 2130 series"

When I executed the last command, I received an error because the printer with the specified details is already installed on my PC.

You can use the 3 methods covered in this Itechguide to add a printer on Windows 10! I hope you found this Itechguide helpful. If you found it helpful, kindly vote Yes to the Was this post Helpful question below.

Alternatively, you could ask a question, leave a comment or provide feedback with the Leave a Reply form found towards the end of this page.

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Victor Ashiedu

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Why Printer Installation Is Required

Whenever a new print device is attached to any computer, for example Windows 8, it is automatically detected by the operating system and if possible its drivers are automatically installed as well. In rare cases users are required to insert driver installation discs in the drives in order to manually install printer drivers so that the attached printers can perform well.There are also times when printers are not at all detected by the operating systems and in such cases administrators are required to manually add hardware drivers for print devices so that they can be recognized by the operating systems.Add Hardware wizard was easily available in Control Panel in earlier versions of Windows for example Microsoft Windows XP however in Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 Add Hardware wizard is no more available in Control Panel and if as a Windows 8 user you want to use Add Hardware wizard to install a print device manually you are required to follow the steps given below:

How To Install An Older Printer Using Advanced Setup

When the system isn’t detecting your old printer automatically, you can still add the device manually depending on the connection type and age of the printer.

Important: Before proceeding, make sure that your computer is connected to the internet to allow Windows Update to download additional drivers.

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I Have More Than One Hp Printer Installed On The Computer

.dat.dat

Step 1: Rename the .dat file extensions in the Windows folder

Right-click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, and then click Search.

In the Search box, type %windir%, and then press Enter.

Search for an hpoins*.dat file or hpwins*.dat file .

Right-click one of the .dat files, and then select Rename.

Replace the .dat file extension from the file name by typing .old in its place, and then press Enter. A If you change the file name extension, the file might become unstable. Are you sure you want to change it? message displays. Click Yes

Repeat these steps for each hpoins*.dat or hpwins*.dat file.

Close the window.

Step 2: Download and install the software from the HP website

Important

Turn on the printer.

If your printer is connected to the computer with a USB cable, disconnect the cable from the printer.

If prompted, select a method to identify your printer model, and then follow the on-screen instructions to go to the download page.

Step 3: Change the file extensions back to .dat

Right-click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, and then click Search.

In the Search box, type %windir%, and then press Enter.

For the printer that you installed in the previous step, a new set of hpoins*.dat and hpoins*.old or hpwins*.dat and hpwins*.old files displays.

caution:Do not rename the .old file extension. The .old file might be corrupt, and renaming the file might harm your computer.

Close the window.

What To Do If Your Printer Isn’t Listed

If your printer is not listed, click “The printer that I want isn’t listed“.

Click on Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
Click on “Next“.
In the “Choose a printer port” menu, select the “Use an existing port” option.
Click on “Next“.
In the “Install Printer Driver” menu, select the Manufacturer.
Choose your driver.
Select the printer name and click “Next“.
Complete the installation.

Do you need more help with printer? Check out our forum!Add a printer in Windows 8.1, 10

How to add a printer in Windows 8.1, 10? First log in as administrator. Press “Windows + X ” and select the Control Panel. Go to “Hardware and Sound”> “Devices and Printers “. Click on “Add a printer “. Select the printer name and…

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One: Download And Install The Software From The Hp Website

Video of downloading and installing the Full Feature software with a wireless connection

ImportantPrinter Setup and Software

Turn on the printer.

Disconnect the USB cable from the printer, if necessary. The software installation prompts you to connect the cable if needed.

If a Let’s identify your product to get started page displays, click Printer, type your printer model number, and then click Submit.

If you need to change the operating system, click Change, select your version, and then click Change.

Under the Driver heading, click Download for the full software package, or click Basic Drivers for other driver options.

How To Install An Older Printer To Windows 10

How to install Printer with Windows 8

Out-of-the-box Windows 10 does a pretty good job detecting and installing wireless as well as locally connected printers automatically. However, there are still times when you may run into problems if you’re trying to add an old printer. This is not just because the device may not be supported anymore, but also because the OS now lacks basic drivers for printers and scanners.

If you or your company is still dealing with an old dot matrix, inkjet, or laser printer , which Windows 10 refuses to detect automatically, there are a number of ways to continue using the device if you’re up to the challenge to use the advanced setup options or workaround to install non-compatible drivers.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through several scenarios to help install an older printer that isn’t getting detected, refuses to install, or it’s no longer compatible.

How to install an older printer using incompatible drivers

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In Windows 8 And Windows 81 How Do I Add The Printer To My Computer From My Print Server

In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, to add a printer to your computer, you need to create a print server port.

Before you create the print server port, you need to configure your print server for the network. For more information about how to configure your print server, refer to the following FAQ: .

To create a print server port, complete the following:

Press the Windows key.

Click Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers > Add a printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed.

Select the Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings check box, and click Next.

Select Create a new port.

Change the type of port to Standard TCP/IP Port, and click Next.

In the Hostname or IP address field, enter the IP address of the print server, and click Next.

Click Custom > Settings > LPR.

Follow The Below Steps For Adding A Network Printer To The Windows 8 Operating System:

Start typing Advanced printer.

Select Settings below the search box. you can see the Advanced printer Setup in the left result panel.

If the printer is not listed by default, click Next.

In this screen you can find printer by its name. Or you can find the printers in the directory.

Once you have selected the printer, click Next and follow the directions.

The network printer is now added to your windows 8.

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How Do I Connect My Hp Printer To My Computer

How to connect a printer via wired USB cable Step 1: Open windows setting. At the bottom left of your screen, click the Windows icon to reveal your Start Menu. Step 2: Access devices. Within the first row of your Windows settings, find and click the icon labeled Devices Step 3: Connect your printer.

Is Your Pc Healthy

How To Add A Local Printer In Windows 10/8/7

I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.

Happy Computing!

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About the Author

Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. Its just in his nature. Its why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.

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How To Connect Wireless Printers In Windows 8 / 81

Windows 8.1 has brought many improvements regarding how it interacts with peripherals and other hardware. For example, it incorporates the new WiFi Direct technology using which two WiFi enabled devices can connect with each other. WiFi Direct can be used to connect your Windows 8 PC with printers, mobile phones, digital cameras and other wireless devices if they support WiFi Direct. Since WiFi Direct feature is relatively new, not many devices support it completely. If your printer supports WiFi Direct, then you can connect it with your Windows 8 PC with very little effort.

In order to connect your wireless printer in Windows 8/8.1, you can follow these simple steps:

Open charms bar by using the hotkey Win+C. Then click on Settings and then Change PC Settings.

Select Devices on the PC settings screen and then click on Add a device in the right-side panel.

It will scan and list all the available devices including your wireless printer. Click on the wireless printer from this list.

What happens next varies from one printer to another. In case of some printers, Windows 8 asks you to push the wireless button on the printer. In some other printers, you have supply the password that you have set for wireless network during printer drivers setup.

After taking the appropriate steps for your printer, Windows will add the new printer and make it available for your use. You can open Devices on PC Settings screen again to see the newly installed wireless printer in the list.

Opening The Devices And Printers Folder

Another tool to use for setting up and managing printers is the Devices and Printers folder. This folder includes the same features of the new Windows 8 Devices tool , but also adds management of properties and printer options to the list of tasks available to you.

In the past, aside from actually printing documents, just about everything you did with printers took place in the Devices and Printers folder. As you read already, some tasks can be done using the new Devices tool.

As with everything else in Windows 8, you can get to the Devices and Printers folder in several ways. Use whichever works for you and is most convenient at the moment:

Show the Charms Bar, choose Search, and type dev and click the Settings link. On the Settings Results page, click the Devices And Printers item.
On the Windows desktop, press Windows+X, choose Control Panel View Devices And Printers under Hardware And Sound.

When youre in your Devices and Printers folder, youll see an icon for each printer that you can print to. Figure 32.3 shows an example your folder will, of course, look different.

FIGURE 32.3 Sample Devices and Printers folder

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How To Add A Printer On Windows 10 From Windows Settings

If you are installing a local printer, connect the printer to your PC via USB or WiFi. Otherwise, for network or shared printers, proceed to the next step.
Right-click the Windows 10 Start menu and click Settings.

Then, on Windows Settings, click Devices.

On the left pane of the Devices settings screen, click Printers & scanners.

When Printers & scanners screen opens, click Add a Printers or scanner. Then, wait for the wizard to detect your printer.

Click The printer that I want isnt listed. The Find a printer by other options screen will open.

Finally, to add a printer on Windows 10 from Windows Settings, on the Find a printer by other options screen, select one of the options, click Next and proceed to install your printer.

The table below explains each option and how to use it.

Why Printer Is Not Detected

Windows 8 – Adding a Printer

Was the printer turned ON before you installed the printer driver? If so, turn OFF the printer and unplug the USB cable, and then reinstall the printer driver. The printer may not be recognized if you install the printer driver with the printer turned ON. Always turn OFF the power before installing.

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Add A Printer Or Scanner In Windows

If your printer connects by a wire, plug it into your device. It’ll connect automatically, your PC will download the right drivers, and you can use it right away. To connect a wireless printer, follow these steps:

Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners .

Next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device.

Wait for it to find nearby printers, then locate the one you want to use, and select Add device. If you want to remove the printer later, select it, and then select Remove.

If you don’t see your printer, try to fix the problem by using the steps in Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows.

Windows 8 And Windows 10

In Windows 8, type printer on the Start screen. In Windows 10, click in the Windows search box and type printer.

In the search results, click Printers & scanners.

In the Printers & scanners window, click the printer you want to set as the default printer and click the Manage button.

Under Manage your device, click the Set as default button.

The printer should have the word “Default” below it on the main Printers & scanners window. Also, once the printer is set as the default printer, it should appear as the selected printer.

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Connect To A Printer Thats Shared By A Pc Using A Homegroup

This is probably the easiest step in this whole tutorial. If youve got the printer connected to a PC and that PC is sharing the printer as part of a Homegroup, all you have to do is make sure that other PCs on the network are also joined to the Homegroup. You can use the same process we went over in Step One to get them joined. When PCs are part of the same Homegroup, Windows will automatically connect to any printers shared from other PCs. Theyll just show up in your Devices and Printers window automatically and any PC in the Homegroup can print to them. Super simple.