Did you know your WiFi router can offer you even more functionalities apart from providing an internet connection? Well, taking print-outs is one of the most basic tasks for every office or any other organization.
So, how do they manage to do all of that with just a few printer units?. That’s where WiFi routers come in handy the other way as they allow you to centralize a printer for everyone, who are connected to the same network. For some modern printers, you don’t even need to make a wired connection, as you can directly connect them via Wi-Fi itself.
That’s highly efficient because you don’t need your computer to be physically connected to the printer every time you need a hardcopy. Also, you do not restrict others from using it by doing so. That said, everyone connected on a single network can utilize the same printer at the same time, cool! right?
So, in case you want to know about the exact process, and how it’s done on different platforms such as Windows and MAC OS, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide that you can easily follow and implement at your end. Thus, you should read this article carefully, so, let’s begin!
Table of Contents
Wired Network Printer Setup (Windows)
In case your printer model does not provide you with the functionality to connect with the router wirelessly, you can follow up on this method to set up your printer for working over the network.
- For the first step, we need to connect the printer with the network. You can do so by connecting the printer with your Wi-Fi router with the help of an ethernet cable. Usually, it’s present at the back of the printer.
- Don’t forget to plug in the printer to a power source and turn it On.
- Once you have connected the printer to your Wi-Fi router, you can simply go to Settings > Devices and Printers> Add a Printer, while connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The computer will automatically detect all the printers connected to the network and will install the required drivers for it on its own.
- Select the “Add a Network, Wireless, or Bluetooth Printer” option, it will show all the printers that are available on the network at that time.
- Select your Printer from the list, and click on the “Install Driver” option. Follow up the on-screen instructions and complete the setup.
Wired Network Printer Setup (MAC OS)
If you are a MAC OS user, and your printer does not have wireless connectivity to connect with the network directly. You can either use the USB port or Ethernet Port whichever your router supports.
- Connect your printer with the Wireless Router using a USB cable or the Ethernet cable. Usually, all modern routers come with USB ports, if not, you can use the Ethernet port instead.
- Make sure the Printer is connected to a power source and is turned On.
- Now, go to your MAC OS computer, and click on the “Apple Menu” on the top-left corner.
- Go to “System Preferences”.
- Here, select the “Print and Scan” option.
- A list of all the printer devices will be displayed on the left-hand side in a small window. Click on the “+” button present on the bottom-left corner to add a new Printer.
- Make sure your computer is connected to the same network while you search for the device to connect. After a few seconds, all the Printer devices on the network will appear on the screen. Select your Printer and follow the setup process.
Wireless Network Printer Setup (Windows)
Some advanced printers come with their own LCD panels which can be used for operating the printer and use its various functions. One such feature it offers is a wireless connection to the network. So, in case you have a wireless printer, the following steps will help you to use it with your Windows PC.
- To connect your wireless printer to a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is placed in the range of the router.
- Now, power on your printer and connect it to the Wi-Fi router by using the LCD screen. The prompt is usually very simple to operate and you can easily find the connection settings of your Printer. Select the correct SSID and enter the password to connect the printer successfully with the Wireless Network.
- Moving over to the Windows PC now, make sure the computer is connected to the same network as the Printer. Go to Settings > Devices and Printers> Add a Printer.
- Select, “Add a Network, Wireless or Bluetooth Printer” option to find your Wireless Printer over the network.
- Once the computer is completed the searching process, Click on your Printer’s name and follow up the setup process.
- After you successfully set up the printer, the necessary drivers will be installed and you will be able to use the printer wirelessly.
Wireless Network Printer Setup (MAC OS)
For a similar printer that has the functionality to connect with the Wi-Fi Router wirelessly, you can use the following steps to use the Printer over a network on a MAC OS computer.
- First of all, power on your Printer device and connect it with the Wi-Fi Router. If your printer has in-built functions, you can enter the SSID and password directly. Otherwise, you will have to connect the Printer with your computer via a USB cable and complete the connection with the Router using the dedicated Printer software.
- Once your Printer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, it is ready to be configured on your MAC OS computer. For that, connect your MAC OS computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Now, go to the “Apple Menu”, and click on “System Preferences”.
- Click on the “Print and Scan” option to open the list of Printers.
- At the bottom-left corner of the Printer’s List window, you will find a “+” button. Click on it to start searching for newly available devices.
- Find your printer and click on it to start the setup process. Follow the on-screen instructions to completely set up the Printer for use.
Troubleshooting Tips for WiFi Printer Issues
In case you are having troubles using your connected Wireless Printer, or maybe even during the setup, we have some useful tips for you that you can try out to fix the issues.
- While trying to connect a wireless printer with your computer, always make sure both the computer and the printer are connected over the same wireless network.
- In case your computer fails to find your printer over the network, you can connect your printer with the computer via USB and complete the setup on a wired connection to install the drivers. Later on, you can shift back to the wireless mode and start using the printer normally.
- If the printer has suddenly stopped responding, you can try turning off the printer for a few seconds, and then restart it, to fix the Printer hardware issues.
- If your problem is software-based, you can run the Troubleshooter program on your computer to look for the problems and fix them. Simply go to the “Devices and Printers” section on your computer > Click on your Printer’s name > Click on Manage > Run the Troubleshooter.
- If any of the above tips are not working, you can try to remove the Printer, and Add it back once again. For that, you can simply go to the “Devices and Printers” section > Find your Printer and click on it > Click on Remove. Now, connect your printer using a USB connection, and set it up once again by clicking on the “Add a Printer” option.
Conclusion
Using Wireless Printers are highly advantageous, especially when there are multiple users who need to use it at the same time. By setting the printer over a wireless network, not only it reduces the clutter of wires but also leaves one USB port on your system free for other devices to use.
That said, we hope you have learned how to set up a wireless printer on both the platforms, Windows and MAC OS, by reading this article. If you believe this article is helpful and worth telling your friends, do share it with others too.
Although the process is pretty simple and straight-forward, if you have any queries or you get stuck at some step, you can reach out to us and tell us about your queries in the comments section below.
