When you want to connect your printer to your laptop, there are two ways to do it. You can either use a cable, or you can use wireless technology. If you choose to connect using a cable, then you will need to make sure that both devices support this connection type.
1. Make sure that both devices are powered on and connected to the same network.
2. Connect one end of the USB cable into an available USB port on your computer and the other end into an available USB port on your printer’s control panel or back panel (if possible). If there is no available USB port on either device then see step three below instead.
3. If there is no free USB port on either device then look at the backside of each device for a port labeled “network” or “LAN.” Connect one end of an Ethernet cable into that port and the other end into an Ethernet port on your router or modem if possible; otherwise plug it directly into your modem/router instead if those options aren’t available either.
How To Connect Printer To Laptop With Cable
Step 1: Plug the printer’s USB cable into a USB port on your computer. The other end of the cable should be plugged into the port on your printer.
Step 2: Turn on the printer and wait for it to load its software, if necessary.
Step 3: On your computer, open the “Control Panel” applet in Windows or “System Preferences” in Mac OS X. Select “Hardware and Sound” or “Print & Scan,” then click on “Add Printer.”
Step 4: Click “Next.” If the printer is already installed, you can skip this step. Your computer will search for new printers; select your printer from the list and click “Next.”
Step 5: Make sure that both boxes under “Use an Existing Port” are checked—this tells your computer where to find your new device—and then click “Next.”
Step 6: Select which type of connection you want to use (typically USB). Then click “Next,” followed by clicking “Finish.”
First and foremost, make sure you’ve properly removed the printer from its box with all included pieces for swift and organized assembly. It is easy to rush through the simplest part blinded by excitement and haste, and even easier to skip the most basic of steps.
Once you’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle laid out and ready for configuration, plug the double-pronged end of the power cable into a conveniently located outlet. Your printer may automatically turn on or you may need to press a power button to wake the machine up. This is where we come in.
How to connect a printer via wired USB cable
Among your puzzle pieces should be a USB cable that connects directly into your computer’s tower or your laptop’s body. Depending on your computer’s operating system, your computer should notify you that a new connection is being made and that a driver will need to be downloaded for it to complete the installation.
If you get this notification, follow your computer’s intuitive lead and click the notification. It could do all the heavy lifting for you. If your computer has left you to do all the figuring out by yourself follow these steps.
Step 1: Open windows setting
- At the bottom left of your screen, click the Windows icon to reveal your Start Menu
- At the bottom of the left-most column, you should see a gear icon linking to your settings window
Step 2: Access devices
- Within the first row of your Windows settings, find and click the icon labeled “Devices”
- In the left column of the Devices window, select “Printers & Scanners”
- This new window brings up a page where the first option will be to “Add Printer or Scanner”
Step 3: Connect your printer
- Once you’ve clicked “Add Printer or Scanner,” Windows should be able to detect your printer connected via USB cable
- When the name of your printer pops up, click it and complete the installation as per your computer’s instruction
That’s it! Your printer should be connected and running, ready to churn out beautiful pages.
How to connect a printer via wireless network
If you want to connect a wireless printer, the connection process may seem more daunting, but you’ll be surprised to find how smooth the transition from wired to wireless can be.
Step 1: Locate your settings
- Once turned on and ready for configuration, you’ll need to connect the printer to your home WiFi
- While the steps on installation vary by manufacturer, most modern printers will have an LCD screen that lists the available WiFi networks
- On this screen, click around and locate the setup page that allows you to adjust the Wireless LAN Settings
Step 2: Link your WiFi network
- After accessing your LAN settings, you’ll need to locate your home network service set identifier – better known as your SSID
- You can find your SSID by hovering your mouse over the WiFi icon located at the bottom right of your taskbar
- Your SSID is also located on the bottom or side of your internet service provider’s router
Step 3: Complete connectivity
- With the SSID selected, you’re ready to enter your network password
- Once entered, your printer is prepped for all printing activity
Step 4: Locate your printer settings
- Click the Windows icon at the bottom left of your desktop screen to reveal your Windows Start Menu
- Locate the gear icon link to your settings window and click on the icon labeled “Devices”
Step 5: Connect the printer to the computer
- Within your “Devices” screen, you should find an option to “Add a Printer or Scanner”
- After clicking this, the name of your printer – generally with the manufacturer name and model number – should appear as available.
- Select “Add Device” and your computer will do the rest to complete the wireless configuration
- Print away!
How to connect a printer to your handheld devices
It seems as though we are constantly glued to our favorite handheld devices and reliant on them to perform hundreds of everyday tasks. New and ever-improving technology allows those on-the-go to print with the touch of a finger. Need to quickly transform the content on your 6-inch screen into letters and images on an 8½ x 11-inch sheet of paper? We are here to show you how.
How to connect a printer to your iPhone or iPad
Engineered specifically for Apple products, AirPrint-enabled printers are the answer to your wireless printing wishes. Without any need to download drivers or install printer-specific software, AirPrint allows you to print computer quality photos and documents from any of your Apple products.
There are hundreds of wireless printers already manufactured with AirPrint enablement. Check Apple Support to see if your printer is compatible.
Step 1: Connect to your WiFi network
- Within your Apple settings, select “WiFi” to see all available networks
- For seamless processing, make sure both your iPhone/iPad and printer are connected to the same WiFi network (This is especially important in office settings where multiple networks may be hooked up)
Step 2: Locate your printer
- Open the app on your Apple device that you want to print from
- Once you’ve got the right document, tap on the app’s share icon
- Within the list of shareable options, tap the “Print” icon and select your printer
Step 3: Complete the job
- Your device will present a print preview page that will ask how you may want to customize the print job and how many copies you want to be made
- Once you’ve finished entering the information, tap “Print” and the job is complete