You bought a new Wi-Fi printer but can’t configure it properly? Whenever you need to print a document or photo, do you have to connect the device to the computer via USB cable? This should be a big problem, but don’t worry, it will take five minutes and we will solve the problem together.
Follow my advice on how to configure a WiFi printer and finally, you should be able to use your new printer without having to rely on a hated USB cable from a PC, smartphone, or tablet. All you need is the latest drivers (we’ll see how to download them soon), your home wireless network password, and a little patience.
Since the configuration of menus and setup software varies from brand to brand and model, I will not be 100% accurate in my directions but don’t worry, it will be easier to understand which options to choose or Which button to press You to need to pay close attention and you will get the desired result. So, ready to get started? Below are all the steps you can take.
How to Set Up a Wireless Printer Connection?
Installing Wi-fi Printer Drivers
I am the first step you should take to install insulation your printer on your computer. If you haven’t already, do so by linking to the device manufacturer’s website, and find and downloading drivers for your printer model. If you are having trouble right now, read my tutorial on downloading HP drivers, from Epson drivers to Samsung drivers and Canon drivers: there you will find all the steps to follow in detail.
Theoretically, you could also use the driver disk that came with the printer, but I recommend that you download the software from the Internet anyway – this will ensure that you avoid unnecessary incompatibilities. Install the latest version to avoid the risk.
Once you have downloaded the drivers, open your installation package (e.g. printer name ), and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. In general, always click Next and that’s it. Be careful not to remove checkmarks from any item related to the download of additional promotional software (for example, Bing or Google Toolbar).
If you use a Mac in most cases, you can install the driver for your printer by simply connecting the printer to the computer (using a USB cable) and answering yes. The driver installation request appears on the screen.
If the computer does not recognize the printer, contact the manufacturer’s website and download the driver for the macOS version installed on your computer. The installation procedure for the driver should be exactly the same as for the Windows PC (except for the installation file format, which is not an exception but pkg).
Set Up a Wireless Wi-fi Printer – Connection and Installation
At the end of the installation process, the instruction process should start automatically Create a Wi-Fi printer. Choose to use the device wirelessly and follow the on-screen instructions. To use the printer to copy data from a Wi-Fi network, you may be asked to temporarily connect the device to a PC using a USB cable.
If the automatic wireless connection setup process on the printer fails, you can choose to manually type SSID (ie network name) and its password or you can create a connection directly on the printer’s front panel Are
To make a direct connection to the printer without using a computer, you must use the keys on the device front panel. More specifically, you should look for the related option from the Wi-Fi Device menu, select it, and start scanning nearby networks. Then you have to choose the name of your wireless network, enter the required password to access it, and wait for the connection to be established properly.
As is easily understood, in order for devices such as printers and computers, smartphones, and tablets to communicate properly, all devices must be connected to the same wireless network.
Other Wireless Printer Connection Technologies
Many wireless printers also cooperate via WPS configuration. WPS (short for Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a technology that allows you to connect to routers and wireless devices that support them (for example, printers, signal repeaters, etc.) at the push of a button. Pressing or pressing an 8-digit PIN.
You press the WPS button on the router, and in a few minutes, you do the same with the WPS button on the printer and Viola. No long passwords to log in or no networks to configure. However, I do not recommend using this method to configure your printer.
If I do not recommend the use of such simple technology, the reason is that in the past it has been the target of numerous security breaches and, therefore, Could allow attackers to access your network illegally. For more information, read the Wikipedia page. Dedicated to WPS and then take a look at my guide on how to configure a WiFi password in which I’ve given you several tips on how to keep your wireless network secure.
Another technology you hear a lot about is Direct Wi-Fi which allows you to connect compatible printers to smartphones, tablets, and other devices without having to “rely” on the router’s network. Allows connecting to devices. To work, it also uses WPS but is generally considered more secure. To use it you do not need to cooperate via your PC, smartphone, or tablet: all you have to do is find the printer name in the available wireless networks, from the printer to the PC, smartphone, or tablet To connect And send the files to the device for printing
Many Android terminals are compatible with Wi-Fi Direct. There are also special apps, such as SuperBeam, that allow you to share files on Wi-Fi Direct devices, even with smartphones and tablets that do not support this technology. Apple’s portable devices, on the other hand, use proprietary direct Wi-Fi technology, called AirPrint, which is now compatible with many wireless printers.
How to Add Wireless Support to Printer
Not everyone knows this, but it is possible to convert a “normal” printer, that is, a wired printer that does not have Wi-Fi support, into a wireless printer. The “trick”, if we want to call it that, is to connect the printer to an A router un Pinto de Acceso or a computer equipped with Internet access and configure it so that it can connect all devices connected to the local network (or even That if you use a cloud printing system) can be “seen”.
For example, if you have a router with USB ports, you can connect your printer to the latter and translate it into a network printer accessible from all devices connected to the local network (router configuration panel May be necessary to access and enable the printer’s sharing function). Alternatively, the services can count on cloud printing as Google Cloud Print which makes it possible to turn any USB printer into a network printer connected to your computer through the Google Chrome browser Can be accessed remotely. I explained in detail in my tutorial how to print on a tablet: read it and you won’t regret it.