How To Connect A Printer With A Computer: A Complete Step
Wouldnt it be great to have your own personal assistant show you how to setup your printer for use with all the devices in your home or place of business? Look no further, because together, we will walk through each step in setting up your printer for use on your computer.
In this step-by-step guide, I will hold your hand as we walk through each step in setting up your printer for use on your computer. As an added bonus, Ill show you how to connect it to your laptop, tablet, and even your cell phone. Then I will show you how to maintain your printer for maximum longevity.
After purchasing a printer, the expectation is that it should just work after pulling it out of the box and plugging it in. It is expected that all devices in your house or place of business should easily be able to print to this new printer without issue. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. So lets walk through this together, and get your printer connected with your computer and other devices.
Connect A Printer To Windows 10
Different printers have their own set-up processes for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Consult your owner’s manual to see how to get started.
Tip: You might need to update to the latest version of Windows 10 to make sure you have up-to-date driver support.
Wi-Fi printers
Windows 10 should easily find any printer connected to the same local network via Wi-Fi.
Go to the Start menu and click Settings, Devices, then Printers & scanners. Select Add a printer or scanner and wait for your printer to appear in the list, then select it and hit Add device.
If Windows doesn’t find your printer, select The printer that I want isn’t listed and follow the instructions.
Another solution could be to plug the printer into your laptop or desktop with a USB cable. This can force the computer to recognise the printer and install the drivers. After it’s done, unplug the printer from USB and see if your computer continues to detect it.
If Windows doesn’t already have them, the printer drivers should download and install. If not, you can get them from the manufacturer’s website.
Bluetooth printers
First, make sure your printer is open to new Bluetooth pairings. Check your owner’s manual for instructions.
To enable Bluetooth on your Windows computer, click the notification icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and check that Bluetooth is toggled on. You might have to click Expand to see the Bluetooth control.
Read more: How to connect your smartphone to a printer
How To Connect A Printer To Your Handheld Devices
It seems as though we are constantly glued to our favorite handheld devices and reliant on them to perform hundreds of everyday tasks. New and ever-improving technology allows those on-the-go to print with the touch of a finger. Need to quickly transform the content on your 6-inch screen into letters and images on an 8½ x 11-inch sheet of paper? We are here to show you how.
How to connect a printer to your iPhone or iPad
Engineered specifically for Apple products, AirPrint-enabled printers are the answer to your wireless printing wishes. Without any need to download drivers or install printer-specific software, AirPrint allows you to print computer quality photos and documents from any of your Apple products.
There are hundreds of wireless printers already manufactured with AirPrint enablement. Check Apple Support to see if your printer is compatible.
Step 1: Connect to your WiFi network
- Within your Apple settings, select WiFi to see all available networks
- For seamless processing, make sure both your iPhone/iPad and printer are connected to the same WiFi network
Step 2: Locate your printer
- Open the app on your Apple device that you want to print from
- Once youve got the right document, tap on the apps share icon
- Within the list of shareable options, tap the “Print” icon and select your printer
Step 3: Complete the job
How to connect a printer to your Android device
Step 1: Add your printer to Google Cloud Print
Step 2: Download the Google Cloud Print app to your device
Don’t Miss: Setup Wireless Printer On Iphone
What Is The Difference Between Wireless And Wifi Printer
Though Wi-Fi printers are often grouped together with Bluetooth printers as wireless printers, the technologies behind these two printer types are not the same. Wi-Fi printers connect to a central wireless network, while Bluetooth printers connect directly to a computer or device through a Bluetooth signal.
Printer Install Steps If You Dont See Your Printer Listed
Youve now successfully set up a printer on your Windows computer.Note: Once youve added a printer, you can use the Windows settings to add any other printers. To do this, perform the following steps:
University Information Services
Also Check: How To Print Poshmark Label Without Printer
Add The Printer To Your Pc
You can go to Control Penal to check if the printer is added to your PC. Here is how to do it:
If the printer doesnt appear in the Printers section, you need to add it to your PC. Here is how to do it:
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Connect My Canon Printer To My Computer Wirelessly
Fix: Unable To Find The Shared Printer On Windows 11
How To Connect A Printer To Your Computer
Connecting your computer to a printer has become easier than ever as we progress into the age of innovative technology, but it seems as though the number, colors, sizes, and complexity of all the wiring can get lost in translation. Even when you think youve got the hang of connecting point A to point B, it takes a lot more than merely plugging in and out to deliver the right results.
In our digital age, printing comes in two forms – wired and wireless. Well walk you through how to connect a printer to your computer, laptop, or handheld device.
Also Check: How Do I Connect Iphone To Printer
How To Print From Your Ipad Or Iphone
If you thought connecting a Mac computer to the network printer was easy, youll find it this is even easier still. Obviously there are no wires to connect to the printer, so lets take a look at how to print to a printer on your network.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that your device, , is connected to the network via Wi-Fi. This can simply be done by clicking tapping SETTINGS, Wi-Fi, and then selecting the networks that you wish to connect to. When you are asked for your network username and password , or if just the password , simply enter them and click OK.
To print from your iPhone or iPad, simply tap on FILE , and then tap PRINT, and finally AirPrint. When the Printer Options dialog box appears, under PRINTER, click Select Printer, and is a minute or so, any and all available printers will be listed for you to choose to print from. Thats all there is to it!
How To Add A Network Printer To Your Mac:
Also Check: How To Connect Macbook To Printer Wirelessly
Turn On Sharing In Settings
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
Under Related settings, select Change advanced sharing options.
In the Advanced sharing settings dialog box, expand the Private section. Next, under Network discovery, select Turn on network discovery.
Under File and printer sharing, select Turn on file and printer sharing.
How To Connect Your Printer
For this guide, I’ll be using my trusty HP 4500, but any wireless printer or all-in-one should work just fine.
This guide will cover direct connections, so if you’re interested in learning more about HomeGroup in Windows 10, be sure to check out our in-depth guide, which will enable you to set up and configure the sharing of printers and content.
Type in “printer.”
Select the printer from the results.
You should be now good to go. This process will also work with wired printers, simply plug in the unit, and follow the steps above.
Also Check: Mac Setup Wireless Printer
How To Add Bluetooth Printer
Adding a Bluetooth printer requires thatyou pair the device like you would pair any other Bluetooth device. You shouldalso check that the communication port or COM port that appears on Windows isthe same as the one on the print driver. Heres how to connect your Bluetoothprinter in Windows 10.
HelloTech editors choose the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Connecting The Printer To The Computer
Connect the printer to the computer either using a USB cable, parallel port cable, or SCSI cable, and then connect the power plug to a power outlet. Today, most home computer printers are using a USB cable similar to the example picture.
If this is a network printer, connect the printer to a wireless network or the RJ-45 connection.
A laptop computer works the same way as a desktop and can use any of the above connections if they are available.
Smartphone and tablet users must have a printer that connects to devices wirelessly or over the Internet to print.
Don’t Miss: Pixma Mg3620 Wireless Setup
How To Add Canon Printer To Mac
How To Set Up Your Printer On Your Android Device
Now that you have set up the printer to print to from your Android device, you can print to it from any application that supports printing.
Again, click on FILE , , , PRINT, and then you will be able to choose how many copies to print, as well as the paper size. You can then print to the printer that you have already set up. Its that simple.
Also Check: Uncollate
How To Add A Wireless Printer On Windows 11/10
If the printer is turned on and connected to the network, then your computer can easily find it and install it. You can also manually add the printer from Windows Control Panel.
After connecting the printer to your Windows 10/11 computer, you can easily print documents, photos, etc. from your computer.
To print in Windows 1o/11, generally, you can click the File menu in the program and choose the Print option, or you can right-click the document and choose Print.
Add A Bluetooth Printer
If your Mac came with Bluetooth installed, or if you are using a USB Bluetooth adapter, you can print wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled printer.
On your Mac, update your software: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Software Update , then install any software updates listed. Even if no updates appear, this ensures that macOS has the latest information about printer software it can download from Apple. If you dont do this, you may see a message that software isnt available when you connect your printer.
If you have an AirPrint printer, you dont need to check for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure its not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with your printer to make sure its ready to connect with Bluetooth.
Add your Bluetooth printer to your printer list: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners . Click the Add button , then click the Default button .
Select the printer in the Printers list, then click Add. If the printer you expect to see is not in the list, enter its name in the search field, and press Return.
If your printer doesnt appear in the list, make sure you have the latest Bluetooth driver for the printer installed. Check with the manufacturer for the latest driver.
You May Like: Set Up Wireless Printer On Iphone