How to connect your wireless printer

Wireless printers are super convenient. They let you print from anywhere in your home or office without having to plug in your computer every time, and they allow you to quickly print from your phone or tablet too. Plus, as wireless printers don’t need to be tethered to your PC — you can put them wherever you like to free up space on your desk.

But why can connecting to them be so frustrating? That’s why we’ve put together this handy step-by-step guide. We’ll not only show you how to easily connect your printer to Wi-Fi, but how to also get it talking to different devices you might want to print from — including Windows and Mac computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Connecting your printer to Wi-Fi

To set up your wireless printer, you’ll want to make sure it’s connected to your Wi-Fi network first. That way, your printer will be able to easily communicate and receive printing jobs from your devices using the same network.

What’s more, a Wi-Fi connection allows your printer to receive the latest software updates and security patches. This makes sure that it remains compatible with the latest gadgets and protected against any nasty cyber threats. So, here’s how to connect your printer to Wi-Fi…

Using the wireless setup wizard

Most modern wireless printers have easy-to-use touchscreens that let you quickly adjust settings and features on the printer itself. This includes a Wi-Fi setup wizard tool that’ll help you get your printer connected to your network in no time at all.

The following steps should apply for most printer makes and models:

1. Plug in your printer, turn it on, and make sure it’s within range of your Wi-Fi router.
2. Using the touchscreen panel, find your wireless settings or a Wi-Fi setup menu.
3. From the list of available networks you see, select your Wi-Fi network’s name. If you don’t know it, just have a look at the label or removable info card on your router.
4. Type in your Wi-Fi network password when asked. This information should also be somewhere on your router.
5. Your printer will now be connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Alternative connection methods

While most wireless printers have touchscreens, there are some that don’t — particularly older models. If you’re using a wireless printer without one, there’s no need to worry. It’s pretty easy to get these paired up with your Wi-Fi network too:

Connecting printer to Wi-Fi with WPS

If your printer is equipped with WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you can connect it to your Wi-Fi router even without knowing your network’s name. Here’s how to do it:

1. Look for the WPS button on your Wi-Fi router and make sure it’s turned on.
2. Press and hold the WPS button on your printer until the Wi-Fi light starts flashing (this process might be different depending on your make and model of printer, so refer to your manual).
3. Once the Wi-Fi light starts flashing, press the WPS button on your Wi-Fi router.
4. Wait for the printer to connect to your Wi-Fi network router.
5. Once the printer is connected, the Wi-Fi light on the printer will stop flashing and remain solid to confirm it’s paired.
6. Print a test page from your device to check it has worked.

Via IP address

You can also connect a wireless printer to Wi-Fi using your computer’s web browser. These are the steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Make sure your printer is turned on and connected to your computer via a USB or Ethernet cable.
2. Open your web browser and type your printer’s IP address into the address bar. If you don’t know your printer’s IP address, you can usually find it in the printer’s manual or on your printer.
3. Once you’ve accessed your printer’s web interface, select the ‘Wireless’ or ‘Network’ option. Then click on ‘Wireless Setup Wizard’ or ‘Wi-Fi Protected Setup’.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your printer to your Wi-Fi network.
5. Once your printer is connected, unplug the cable between the printer and your computer.
6. Test your printer’s connectivity by printing a document.

Printing from different devices

One of the main benefits of wireless printers is that you can use them to print from all kinds of tech — including desktop PCs, laptops, phones, and tablets. Here’s how to get your wireless printer talking to them:

Wireless printing from a Windows computer

To print documents from your Windows computer without the hassle of cables, just follow these steps:

1. Make sure you’ve connected your printer to your Wi-Fi network using our steps from earlier in this guide.
2. Open ‘Settings’ from the ‘Start’ menu.
3. Click on ‘Devices’ and choose ‘Printers & scanners’.
4. Click on ‘Add a printer or scanner’, then wait for Windows to detect your printer.
5. Select your printer and click ‘Add device’.

How to print from Mac to a wireless printer

Apple Mac computers make it really simple to print wirelessly. Here’s how to get your printer and Mac working in perfect harmony:

1. Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
2. Open your Mac’s ‘System Settings’ from the Apple menu, then click on ‘Printers & Scanners’ from the sidebar on the left.
3. Click the plus (+) button and select your wireless printer from the list of available printers on your network.
4. Your Mac will install the necessary drivers for your wireless printer if required.
5. Once your wireless printer’s been added, you’ll be able to select it when printing a document on your Mac.

How to connect to a printer from a phone or tablet

You don’t have to fire up your computer or laptop every time you need to print something out. You can also do it straight from your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet for maximum convenience. Here’s how:

1. Connect your printer to your Wi-Fi network.
2. Download the official app for your brand of printer on your phone or tablet (most manufacturers will have one, including HP, Epson, and Brother).
3. Open the app and follow the setup instructions. You’ll be able to select your wireless printer and adjust a few settings before printing.

If you’ve got an iPhone or iPad and an AirPrint printer, you won’t even need a printing app. You’ll be able to wirelessly connect to your printer in seconds! Check out our how to print from your iPad guide for even more tips and tricks.

FAQs

Why is my printer not showing up on the printer list?

If your wireless printer isn’t showing up, there could be a few reasons why:

• Your printer isn’t turned on, is in sleep mode, or it hasn’t finished booting up.
• Your printer isn’t connected to your Wi-Fi network, or isn’t connected to the same network as the device you’re trying to print from.
• Your printer’s driver isn’t up to date (you can usually download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website).

Why is my printer not connecting to Wi-Fi?

If you’re wondering why your printer isn’t connecting to Wi-Fi, try moving it closer to your router. And obviously, double check that your Wi-Fi name and password are correct! If those don’t do the trick, read our why is my printer offline? article for some extra troubleshooting tips.

Can I print from my mobile device without an internet connection?

Yes. While connecting to wireless printers from your phone or tablet via a Wi-Fi connection and a specialised app is most common, there are alternative methods that don’t require the internet.

For example, some wireless printers support Bluetooth and can be connected to your phone or tablet that way. And most will printers allow you to connect your phone directly with a USB cable and adapter.

Source: CURRYS