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Most printers nowadays come equipped with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. If you want to share files or print from other computers, you’ll need to connect your printer to your router.
This is often both a blessing and a curse. Some printers connect to Wi-Fi without any hassle, while others make the process much more difficult than it should be.
Today we are going to be looking at some troubleshooting issues to think about when connecting your printer to your Wi-Fi.
Setting Up A Wireless Printer
There is no simple way to tell you how to set up a wireless printer, because they are all different. Depending on the make and model of your printer, there might be an obscure way to set your wireless printer up.
However, we will be looking at the general way to set up a wireless printer today. Bear in mind that your printer might word things differently, but the premise should remain roughly the same.
The best thing to do would be to look to the user manual for your printer that came in its box. Here will show you the instructions of how to set it up. However, if you don’t have this anymore, keep reading for our method.
Connecting A Wireless Printer To Windows 10
Make sure that your PC is up-to-date with the most recent Windows 10 update. To check for updates, follow these instructions:
Step
Updating Your Printer
Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and then select Check for updates.
If there is no update then you can get straight into setting up your printer. If your computer does find an update, however, make sure to install it before moving onto the next step.
Undownloaded updates are a common issue when it comes to connecting wireless printers to PCs.
Step
Connecting Your Printer
Now that your computer is all up to date with the newest updates, let’s begin the process of connecting your printer.
Head to your start menu on your laptop and navigate to Settings. Now head to Devices, and then find Printers and Scanners.
You should see a button here saying Add Printer – click this. There will be a pop-up list of available printers and scanners in the nearby area. Choose the name of your printer to add.
The good thing about adding printers is that they don’t typically have a good range, so you won’t have to scroll for long to find your printer!
Step
Adding Your Device
Select your printer and click Add Device. If you don’t find your printer, however, click the button labeled the Printer Wasn’t Listed and follow the prompts that you get from here on out.
Otherwise, if you clicked Add Device, your printer should begin working with your computer so that you can successfully connect them together.
What If Your Printer Isn’t Connecting?
There are a few things that you can do to help amend your wireless printer’s connection.
Step
Ensure That The Printer Is Connected Properly
First off, you need to ensure that the printer is connected properly. Do this by ensuring that you are following the instructions correctly as they pop up on your computer.
Step
Try Turning It On And Off
Remember that your laptop should be updated completely. Try turning your computer on and off and reconnecting the printer to see if that works.
Step
Connect Your Printer With A Wire
If all else fails, you can connect your printer to your computer with a wire.
This doesn’t allow you to enjoy the perks of a wireless connection, but it will ensure that your laptop and printer are properly connected and therefore will work together.
Step
Contact The Manufacturer
If you are still having issues with your printer, contact the manufacturing brand. They will be able to assist you further with specialist knowledge on the make and model of your printer. You should be able to find the number on the user manual for your printer or online.
Summary
Printers are a big investment, and therefore you want to make sure that you are using them correctly and have them set up, so they work well with your computer. To accomplish this, make sure that you are connecting it by following the instructions to a T.
If you’re still having issues, contact the brand of printer to get specialist advice on how to use your printer to the best of its ability.
So what are you waiting for? Get started now and enjoy your new printer.
