How to Add a Printer Using an IP Address

How to Add Printer Using an IP Address

If you are using a computer on a network, there may be multiple printers on the same network that anyone can use. Printer networks help save on printing costs and allow users to use a high-speed printer versus a slow printer that connects directly to a computer. If you don’t know how to access the printer on the network, you won’t be able to print anything to the printer. In order to access a network printer, you must add it to the computer using its IP address.

Adding the Printer

• Get the IP address of the printer you want to add. Many IT departments fix the IP address to the front of the printer. If you don’t know the printer’s IP address, see the instructions in Section 2 on how to get the printer’s IP address.
• Click “Start,” then “Control Panel.” Select the “Printers” option, and then “Add a printer”. This will open the “Add a printer” option.

• To establish a connection with a new printer, choose the “Create a new port” option and then opt for the “Standard TCP/IP Port” alternative.

• Choose a name for the printer, which will appear in the “Printers” folder on your computer. The wizard installation process ends. Check the printer to make sure the test page prints correctly.

Finding the IP address

• Click “Start,” then “Control Panel.” Select the “Printers” option, and then “Add a printer”.
• Select the navigation option for the network printer you will add, found in the “Add a printer” option in the window. The “Add a Printer” wizard will bring up a list of all shared printers.
• Select the printer you want to add and choose the name you want to appear on the computer. Complete the installation instructions, then check the printer to make sure the test page prints correctly.