How to Network a Printer. This is any printer that is connected to a network and is accessible by different devices at the same time using the same network. There is a difference between a network printer and a normal printer.

How to Network a Printer
How to Network a Printer

How to Network a Printer

A network printer is a shared printer that is connected to a network. When we say shared printer, this is the process of sharing printers installed on one computer with other computers on the same network. And the sole purpose of print sharing is speed; it makes the work more efficient and easier.

How to Network a Printer by Setting

To be able to network a printer through settings, follow the steps below:

  • Click on the gear icon.
  • The gear icon represents the settings, and under settings, you click on devices.
  • Under devices, you click on printers and scanners.
  • Then you click on the properties to know the properties of the printer.
  • Under the properties, you select the sharing tab.
  • It is from the sharing tab that you select the printer.

How to Connect the Printer through the Control Panel

To share the network with your printer through the control panel do following the steps below:

  • Search for the control panel from the search bar.
  • Under the control panel, click on hardware and sound.
  • From there, you would see the printer you wish to use.
  • You right-click on the printer in order to see the printer properties, and from there you could choose the sharing tab.
  • From the sharing tab window, you click on “share this printer.”

How to Connect the Printer to another PC.

In order to connect a printer to another PC, follow the steps below:

  • Click on the Windows icon on your keyboard.
  • Then you could access the settings icon or search for settings from the search bar.
  • Under settings, you could click on devices.
  • Under devices, you click on printers and scanners.
  • You would see different connected devices, but you would click on the printer you wish to use.
  • When you have chosen the printer, you click on Manage.
  • From the manage window, you click on the printer properties and click on the sharing tab.
  • From the sharing tab, you click on “share this printer.”
  • And from there, you could connect the printer to the PC you wish to connect it to.

How to Connect a Printer Using an IP Address

This is a different step from the steps above; to get started, you must know your printer’s IP address. In order to know your printer’s IP address, follow the steps below:

From the control panel, you go to hardware and sound, and under hardware and sound, you click on devices and printers. You right-click on the printer you choose to use and click on properties. Under the properties, you click on web services in order to access the IP address, or alternatively, you click on ports in order to access the IP address.

Now that we know our IP address, we can follow the steps below to network our printer with an IP address.

  • Download the printer drivers.
  • Go to Devices and Printers.
  • Under devices and printers, you click on add a local printer.
  • Click on “Create a new port.
  • Click on the drop-down menu, select “Standard TCP/IP Port,” and click on Next.
  • Next, you need to know the IP address of the printer and enter it. When you have found the type of printer, you will know the right driver to use. Click on “Next” to go forward.
  • You would see windows saying that “Additional port information is required.” You have to click on the custom button and click on Next.
  • You have to check for the location of the driver by clicking on “Have a disk” highlighting the right “inf” file, and clicking on “open”. After this process, you have to click “OK” in order to install the drivers from the location you specified.
  • Follow every on-screen instruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my network printer?

To find the network printer, type “cmd “on the search bar, and it will open the command prompt windows. On the search bar, you type “netstat,” and this would show a list of different connected devices, including your connected printer.

How do I connect my HP printer to the network?

You place the printer close to the router and check or change the wireless settings from the network under settings, then click on the Wireless Setup Wizard. And choose the name of the network, and type in the password to complete the connection.

Why is my printer not showing the network?

You should try removing and re-adding your printer in Windows. You can do that by checking for your printer in devices, and under devices, you click on printers & scanners. Then, from there, you click on your printer and remove it.

Is my Printer’s IP address the same as my computer’s?

The answer is no. Your printer’s IP address is different from that of your computer, and this is due to the fact that two devices connected to the same wireless network can have the same IP address.

How do I ping my printer?

To know how to ping your printer, you search for the command prompt by typing “cmd” into the search bar. When the command prompt window opens, you type “ping after the IP address, then click “enter,” and the computer would attempt to ping the printer via the network.

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