Printers have quickly become a must-have piece of equipment in homes and offices, and their installation has been made easier over the years. While most printers will be installed automatically, adding a printer to a network or sharing a printer with other users can be a bit tricky. Once you learn how to do this, you can enable the printer to be used for printing from anywhere in the world!
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Method 1 of 8: Installing a USB Printer (Windows and Mac)
Step 1. Read the installation guide for your printer if it has one
Many printers are very finicky, and if you have an installation guide, you should follow the prompts exactly before following these general instructions. You can usually find the installation guide as a PDF file on the manufacturer's support page for your printer model.
You can quickly find the support page for your printer by going to Google and typing "manufacturer model support"
Step 2. Connect the printer to your computer
Make sure to plug it into a USB port directly on your computer, and not through a USB hub.
Some printers also need to be plugged into a power source
Step 3. Turn on the printer
You will hear the paper roller mechanism start to work and the printer will turn on.
Step 4. Wait for your operating system to recognize and install the printer
All modern versions of Windows and OS X will be able to recognize the printer automatically and install the necessary drivers. You may need to be connected to the internet for your operating system to download the appropriate files. For most users, this is what you need to do in order to start printing from your computer to your new printer. If you are using an earlier version of Windows/OS X, or your printer is not being detected automatically, keep reading.
Step 5. Install the software that came with the printer
Usually this will install drivers that Windows does not install automatically, and may install additional printing software that will allow you to take advantage of the additional features built into your printer. If you do not have the disc that came with the printer, and your printer is not automatically detected by your operating system, continue reading.
As long as your printer is installed automatically correctly, you usually don't need to install anything else
Step 6. Download the driver from the manufacturer's site
If you don't have the disc and the printer doesn't install automatically, you can download the driver directly from the manufacturer. You'll need to know your printer's model number, which should be clearly affixed to the printer itself.
You can quickly find the support page for your printer by going to Google and typing "manufacturer model support"
Step 7. Run the driver you downloaded
After installing the driver, your printer will now be ready to print from any program on your computer that supports printing.
Method 2 of 8: Installing a Network Printer (Windows)
Step 1. Understand what a network printer is
A network printer is a printer that is installed directly on your network. Network printers are independent of the computer they are connected to, but can be a bit tricky to configure, especially on older production printers. Not all printers can be configured as network printers.
Step 2. Read the installation guide for your printer if it has one
Installing a network printer is a bit more difficult than installing a USB printer, and many printers have a specific way to install them. Referring to the installation guide made especially for your printer can keep you out of trouble. You can usually find an installation guide as a PDF file on the manufacturer's support page for your printer model.
You can quickly find the support page for your printer by going to Google and typing "manufacturer model support"
Step 3. Connect the printer to your network
In general, there are two ways you can connect a network printer to your home network: wired or wireless.
- Cable - Connect the printer to your network router using an Ethernet network cable. Usually this does not require further network configuration.
- Wireless - Connect the printer to the wireless network using the display screen (if available). Most wireless printers will have a small display screen that you can use to locate and connect to your home network. If your network is secure, you will be asked to enter a password. If your printer does not have a display screen, you may need to connect the printer to your computer using USB and configure the printer in Windows first.
Step 4. Open Control Panel
Once the printer is successfully connected to the network, you can install it in Windows from the Control Panel.
Step 5. Select "Devices and Printers"
Step 6. Click
Add a printer.
Step 7. Select "Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer"
Windows will start scanning for the printer on the network.
If you are using Windows 8, Windows will automatically scan for local and network printers not giving you the option to choose which one you want to search for
Step 8. Select your wireless printer from the list
Click Next.
Step 9. Install the driver (if prompted)
Windows may ask you to install the printer driver. Make sure you are connected to the internet then click Install driver. Once the driver is installed, you will be able to print to a network printer from any program that supports printing.
- If you don't have an internet connection, you can use the disc that came with your printer to install the.
- Not all printers require a separate driver installation.
Method 3 of 8: Setting Up a Network Printer (Mac)
Step 1. Understand what a network printer is
A network printer is a printer that is installed directly on your network. Network printers are independent of the computer they are connected to, but can be a bit tricky to configure, especially on older production printers. Not all printers can be configured as network printers.
Step 2. Read the installation guide for your printer if it has one
Installing a network printer is a bit more difficult than installing a USB printer, and many printers have a specific way to install them. Referring to the installation guide made especially for your printer can keep you out of trouble. You can usually find an installation guide as a PDF file on the manufacturer's support page for your printer model.
You can quickly find the support page for your printer by going to Google and typing "manufacturer model support"
Step 3. Connect the printer to your network
In general, there are two ways you can connect a network printer to your home network: wired or wireless.
- Cable - Connect the printer to your network router using an Ethernet network cable. Usually this does not require further network configuration.
- Wireless - Connect the printer to the wireless network using the display screen (if available). Most wireless printers will have a small display screen that you can use to locate and connect to your home network. If your network is secure, you will be asked to enter a password. If your printer does not have a display screen, you may need to connect the printer to your computer using USB and configure the printer in Windows first.
Step 4. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences
Step 5. Select Print & Fax
Step 6. Click the "+" button to search for a new printer
Step 7. Select your network printer from the "Default" tab
Step 8. Click
Add.
Your network printer will be installed in OS X, and you can select it from the Print menu in any program.
Method 4 of 8: Sharing Printers in HomeGroup (Windows 7 and 8)
Step 1. Understand the difference between a shared printer and a network printer
A shared printer is a printer that is connected to one of the computers on your network, and then set up for use by others. The computer to which the printer is connected must remain on in order to be used for printing. Almost any printer can be shared on the network.
Step 2. Install the printer on the computer you want to share with
Follow the steps in the first section to set up the USB printer as usual.
Note: This method only works on Windows 7 and 8. If you are using Vista or XP, click here
Step 3. Open the Start menu and type
homegroups.
Select "HomeGroup" from the displayed results.
If using Windows 8, start typing homegroup when you are on the Start screen
Step 4. Create a new HomeGroup by clicking the button
Create a homegroup.
If there is already a HomeGroup, you can join the existing HomeGroup.
Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic can only join HomeGroups, cannot create them. If all the computers on your network are using this edition or an earlier version of Windows, click here
Step 5. Make sure the "Printer" menu is set to "Shared" when you create the HomeGroup
In Windows 7, make sure the "Printer" box is checked.
Step 6. Write down the password that was generated when you created the HomeGroup
Step 7. Open the HomeGroup panel of the computer you want to use to access the shared printer
Open the HomeGroup menu the same way you would on any other computer by searching for it in the Start menu.
Step 8. Join the HomeGroup when given the option
You will be asked to enter the password provided earlier.
Step 9. Click "Install printer" to install the shared printer on your computer
You may also be asked to install drivers.
Windows 8 users can access the shared printer as soon as they join the HomeGroup
Step 10. Print to a shared printer
Once the printer is installed, you can print on it as if it were directly connected to your computer. The computer used to connect the printer must be turned on and logged into Windows in order to connect to the printer.
Method 5 of 8: Sharing a Connected Printer (All Windows Versions)
Step 1. Understand the difference between a shared printer and a network printer
A shared printer is a printer that is connected to one of the computers on your network, and then set up for use by others. The computer to which the printer is connected must remain on in order to be used for printing. Almost any printer can be shared on the network.
Step 2. Install the printer on the computer you want to share with
Follow the steps in the first section to set up the USB printer as usual.
- Use this method if you are using Windows XP, Windows Vista, or a mix of different versions of Windows on your network.
- The computer on which you installed the printer must be turned on each time another computer on the network wants to print using the printer.
Step 3. Open Control Panel
You must make sure that "File and Print sharing" is enabled.
Step 4. Select "Network and Sharing Center"
Step 5. Click the "Change advanced sharing settings" link
Step 6. Make sure you have selected "Turn on file and printer sharing"
Click Save changes.
Step 7. Return to Control Panel
Step 8. Open "Devices and Printers" or "Printers and Faxes"
Step 9. Right-click the printer you want to share and select Sharing
Step 10. Select "Share this printer"
Give it a name and click Apply.
Step 11. Open Control Panel on the computer from which you want to access the shared printer
Step 12. Select "Devices and Printers" or "Printers and Faxes"
Step 13. Click "Add a printer"
Step 14. Select "Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer"
Windows will search for available shared printers.
Step 15. Select the printer
You may be asked to install the driver. If Windows can't find the driver, you can download it from the printer manufacturer's site.
Step 16. Print to a shared printer
Once the printer is installed, you can print on it as if it were directly connected to your computer. The computer used to connect the printer must be turned on and logged into Windows in order to connect to the printer.
Method 6 of 8: Sharing a Connected Printer (Mac)
Step 1. Understand the difference between a shared printer and a network printer
A shared printer is a printer that is connected to one of the computers on your network, and then set up for use by others. The computer to which the printer is connected must remain on in order to be used for printing. Almost any printer can be shared on the network.
Step 2. Install the printer on the Mac you want to share
Follow the steps in the first section to set up the USB printer as usual.
The computer on which you installed the printer must be turned on each time another computer on the network wants to print using the printer
Step 3. Click the Apple menu
Select System Preferences.
Step 4. Select the Sharing option
This allows you to change the sharing settings for your computer.
Step 5. Check the "Printer Sharing" box
This allows OS X to share connected printers with other computers.
Step 6. Check the box for the connected printer you want to share
Now the printer is accessible to other computers on the network.
Step 7. Open the System Preferences menu on the computer you want to use to access the shared printer
You must add the printer on a second computer so that the printer can be selected when you print.
Step 8. Select Print & Scan
This will display a list of currently connected printers.
Step 9. Click the "+" button
This allows you to add more printers.
Step 10. Select your network printer from the "Default" tab
If you are trying to connect to the shared printer from a Windows computer, click the "Windows" tab.
Step 11. Click
Add.
Your network printer will be installed on the second computer, and you can select that printer from the "print" menu in any program. The computer to which the printer is connected must be turned on and logged in.
Method 7 of 8: Printing from an iOS Device
Step 1. Install an AirPrint compatible printer on your network
You can set up the printer as a network printer or connect it to a computer and use it together. AirPrint printers allow you to print wirelessly from iOS devices as long as they are connected to the same network.
Step 2. Open the file you want to print
You can print from almost any application that supports opening files, such as Mail, Photos, Pages, and various other programs.
Step 3. Tap the "Share" button
It looks like a square box with an arrow pointing up.
Step 4. Select "Print"
This will open the AirPrint printing menu.
Step 5. Select your printer
Your AirPrint printer will appear in the list of printers provided you are connected to the same network.
If your printer does not appear in the list, try turning it off and then on again. This might help fix the network connection
Step 6. Print the file
Your file will be sent to the printer, and will start printing in no time.
Step 7. Use a printer-only application
Many printer manufacturers offer applications that allow you to print to their network printers, even if those printers are not AirPrint compatible. Usually you can download this app for free from the App Store.
Be sure to download the correct application for your printer manufacturer. The HP ePrint application cannot be used to print on Canon printers
Method 8 of 8: Printing from an Android Device
Step 1. Open Google Chrome on a computer that can access the network printer
Step 2. Click the Chrome menu button (☰) and select Settings
Step 3. Click the "Show advanced settings" link
Step 4. Click the "Manage" button in the Google Cloud Print section
You'll need to sign in with a Google account if you haven't already
Step 5. Click the "Add prints" button
Chrome will scan your computer for available printers.
Step 6. Check the box next to the printer you want to print to
Click "Add print(s)" to confirm.
Step 7. Print from your Android device
You can select "Print" from the menu in many Android apps. Then you can select your Google Cloud Print printer and print from anywhere as long as the computer you used to set up the printer on is turned on.
