There is no doubt that printers have become more important than our other electronic devices whether it’s office or home. If you are facing difficulties finding a printer network, don’t get frustrated and angry. Users must be aware of printer functionality like how to add a printer network, if you are working in an office or at home. With every operating system you may experience a different process but don’t know exactly how to connect your new printer to your computer or laptop.
With help of this blog, Tech Dogs experts will introduce step by step guidance on how to set up a network printer and print to a network printer can save you a lot of time.
What is a Network Printer?
A network printer is a kind of shareable printer which is connected to a network. In this case, multiple devices such as computers, laptops, or smartphones are connected to the network through a cable or Wi-Fi. Apart from this, users can access the same printer using the print server.
Benefits of network printer:
- Office users can access the same printer without any trouble and no need to change the device.
- Offer your flexibility and improve productivity.
- Can print from anywhere within range. No need for cables to print the document.
- Printer supports multiple devices such as phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop to print documents.
Are you working remotely or in your office, or at home with multiple users? Now it is easy to print a document, if you find the network printer correctly and set it up carefully.
How to Find a Network Printer and Connect It?
Is this your first time using a printer? Maybe you will find it hard to find a network printer for the first time. It can seem confusing, especially when the printer isn’t showing up right away. But don’t worry, you are at the right place where an easy step of guidance can easily fix the issue.
Steps to Find and Add a Network Printer
1. First step to make sure that your printer is connected to the right network.
2. Turn on your printer if it’s not.
3. Another step is to check if your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer is connected too. If it’s not then find the printer settings and connect it manually.
4. For Windows:
- Click on Start, then Settings, then Devices and then Printers & scanners.
- Click on the “Add” option to connect with the printer or scanner.
- Wait a few seconds while your system searches for nearby printers.
- Once it finds your network printer, click on it and follow the on-screen steps.
5. For Mac:
- Find the “System Preferences” option then “Printers & Scanners”.
- Click on the “+” icon to add a printer.
- Your Mac OS will scan the available network printers.
- Select your printer and click on the Add option.
6. If you are having trouble to finding a network printer, check these steps:
- Restart your computer & printer.
- If you have an iPhone or iPad then check if your printer supports AirPrint (for Mac) or because it’s compatible with your OS.
- Make sure twicely if your device and the printer are connected with the same Wi-Fi network.
- Update the printer driver if it is outdated, or you can reinstall the printer drivers if they are corrupt.
Once you have added the printer with your device (laptop, computer, or phone), you can easily start printing your documents. Follow the process or you can get help from a printer expert like Tech Dogs.
How to Set Up a Network Printer?
If you find and add the network printer, always make sure that it’s properly set up to avoid printing issues. This step is important to make sure that you can print to a network printer without errors or delays.
Steps to Follow to Set Up a Network Printer
- First choose your default printer.
- For Windows operating system, go to Devices > Printers & scanners, click on the printer, and choose “Set as default”.
- For the Mac operating system, go to Printers & Scanners, and select your default printer from the drop-down list.
- Install the printer driver. Most printers automatically install the update drivers. But if not, visit the printer’s official website and download the driver manually.
- Print a test page to make sure your printer is working. If you are able to print without any errors, it means the connection is successful.
- You can use the IP address if the printer is not found automatically.
- Sometimes, your device might not be able to find the printer automatically. In that case, you can add the printer manually using its IP address:
- Go to Add Printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed > Add a printer using TCP/IP address.
- Enter the printer’s IP address and complete the setup.
- This method is helpful in finding a network printer in a larger office.
- After setting up everything, you should now be able to print to a network printer easily.
What are Tips for Effective Network Printing?
- You must update the printer regularly to improve printer speed and performance. Go through your printer settings or the printer official website for more updates.
- Make sure your Wi-Fi password is stronger, so unauthorized networks can’t access or steal your sensitive documents.
- Many printers come with mobile apps option so now you can print it with your smartphone or tablet as well.
- If you want to allow multiple users to use the same printer in the office, use the printer sharing settings option in Windows or Mac OS.
- If multiple printers are connected to the same network, give a name to every printer that can help to find an accurate printer for everyone.
Conclusion
If you are a beginner and don’t know how to set up a network printer, sometimes simple steps can be a little difficult for you. Check the right process which is mentioned above is quite simple once you follow the right instructions. If you are still unable to find a network printer or are getting confused about the setup, you can get a free consultation with Tech Dogs experts. Additionally, we also offer free onsite printer maintenance services nationwide.
With the help of the given process and easy guidance, you can connect your printer network to your device. Always remember to keep your devices on the same network, use the correct drivers, and test your setup after connecting. For more details, stay in touch with our team.
