How to connect a printer to a laptop?

Connecting your laptop to a printer has become simpler and straightforward than ever since we progressed into the time of innovative technology, how it looks as though the number, sizes, colors, & complexity of all the wiring can get lost in translation. In fact, even when you think you have got the hang of connecting point A to point B, it can take a lot more than merely plugging in & out to deliver the best possible results.

Well, in this digital age, printing comes in two forms – wireless & wired.  So, today, we will walk you through how to connect a printer to a laptop, PC device.

Let’s get started

The very first thing is to be sure that you have properly taken out the printer from its box. Well do not forget to unbox all included pieces for swift & organized assembly. It is simple and straightforward to rush through the easiest part blinded by excitement and haste, and even simpler to skip the most generic steps.

And when you have got all the pieces of the puzzle laid out & ready for configuration, simply attach the double-pronged end of the power cable into a conveniently located power outlet. Your printer device might automatically turn on or you might require to press a power button in order to wake the device up. And this is where we come in.

How to connect a printer to laptop via wired USB cable

Among your puzzle pieces must be a USB cable that directly connects into your laptop’s body. And depending on your laptop’s OS, your device should notify you that a new connection is being made & that a driver will be required to be downloaded for it to finish the installation process.

Well, if you get this notification, then you need to follow your device’s intuitive lead & tap the notification. And it can do all the heavy lifting for you. So, if your laptop has left you to do all the exploring by yourself following these instructions.

Step 1: Open windows setting

• At the bottom left of the screen, head over to the Windows icon in order to reveal the Start Menu
• And then, at the bottom of the left-most column, you must find a gear icon connecting to your settings window

Step 2: Access devices

• Within the very first row of the Windows settings, try to find & hit the icon named “Devices”
• And in the left column of the Devices window, choose the option titled “Printers & Scanners”
• Afterwards, a new window brings up a page where you will find an option named “Add Printer or Scanner”

Step 3: Connect your printer

• When you have taped the “Add Printer or Scanner,” option, the Windows will detect your printer attached via USB cable
• And when the name of your printer device pops up on the display screen, tap it & complete the entire installation process as per your device’s instruction

That’s it! Your printer device must be connected & running, ready to churn out beautiful pages.

How to connect a printer via wireless network

If you desire to connect a wireless printer to a laptop, then the connection process might look more daunting, however, you will be surprised to see how easy and smooth the transition from wired to wireless can be.

Step 1: Explore your settings

• When turned on & ready for configuration, you will require to connect the printer device to your house WiFi
• While these instructions on installation can differ by manufacturer, the majority of the modern printers will have the LCD screen that lists all the available WiFi networks
• And on this screen, tap around & locate the setup page. It enables you to modify the Wireless LAN Settings

Step 2: Link your WiFi network

• After accessing the LAN settings, you will require to locate your home network service set identifier – which is usually known as the SSID
• You I’ll be able to find your SSID by hovering your mouse over the WiFi icon that is located at the bottom right side of the taskbar
• Your SSID can also be located on the side or bottom of your internet service provider’s router.

Step 3: Complete connectivity

• With the SSID chosen, you are ready to put your network password
• When accessed, your printer device is prepped for the printing activity

Step 4: Access your printer settings

• Hit the Windows icon that is located at the bottom left of your device screen. It will reveal the Windows Start Menu
• Try to find out the gear shaped icon link to your settings window – choose the icon named “Devices”

Step 5: Connect the printer to the computer

• Once you have accessed the “Devices” screen, you must find an option named “Add a Printer or Scanner”
• And after taping this, the name of the printer – usually with the model number & manufacturer name- should appear as available.
• Choose “Add Device” & your device will do the rest to do all the wireless configuration
• Print away!

How to connect a printer to your handheld devices

It looks as though we are continuously glued to our favorite handheld devices & reliant on them in order to perform thousands of everyday tasks. New & ever-improving technology enables those on-the-go to print with the touch of a finger. Require to quickly transform the content on your 6-inch screen into letters & images on an 8½ x 11-inch sheet of paper? Don’t worry, we:re here to show you how!

How to connect a printer to your iPhone or iPad

Engineered especially for Apple products, AirPrint-enabled printers are the real answer to your wireless printing wishes. And without any requirement to install printer-specific software or download drivers, AirPrint enables you to print computer quality documents & photos from any of your Apple products.

There are a number of wireless printers designed with AirPrint enablement. Go through the Apple Support in order to see if your printer is completely compatible.

Step 1: Connect to your WiFi network

• Head over to the Apple settings, now try to locate “WiFi” to see all available networks
• And for seamless processing, you need to be sure that both your printer & iPhone/iPad are connected to the similar WiFi network (it is especially essential in office settings where various networks might be hooked up)

Step 2: Locate your printer

• Invoke the app on the Apple device that you desire to print from
• When you have got the correct document, choose the app’s share icon
• And within the large list of shareable options, hit the “Print” icon & choose your printer

Step 3: Complete the task

• Your PC will present a print preview page that asks how you might desire to customize the print task & how many copies you desires to be made
• When you have completed accessing all the information, choose “Print” & the task is complete

How to connect a printer to your Android System

Much like their clever competitors, Android technology evolves with the times & provides people on-the-go even more freedom from their desktops & computers.

Thanks to Google Cloud, Google engineers, Print was built & designed to deliver seamless cloud printing. The application enables you to print from the tablet or Android phone and is even downloadable on the PC or laptop.

Easily available in the Android app store, users will require to download Google Cloud Print for wirelessly print from their handheld devices. Well, there are some of the significant instructions to complete the printing process, however we’ll break it down for you.

Step 1: Add your printer device to Google Cloud Print

• Head over to the Google Chrome on your device
• Hit the three stacked dots that are located at the top right corner of the browser window
• Now, move towards the “Settings”section
• Here you need to scroll down the Settings page & go towards the “Advanced Settings”
• Here, you need to be sure to down to printing & hit the option named “Google Cloud Print”
• Choose the option “Manage Cloud Print Devices”
• Access the new window and simply tap on the “Add Printers”
• Choose the name of your wireless printer after you be sure that your printer is on

Step 2: Download the Google Cloud Print app to your device

• Navigate to the Play Store from your system’s home screen
• Then, you need to enter “Cloud Print” into the Play Store search field
• Now choose the Cloud Print by Google Inc. & then install the application

Step 3: Print from your device

• Invoke the file that you desire to print from your system (it could be located in your Email, Photos, Docs, etc.)
• Now you need to hit the three stacked dots at the top right of the choosen document & tap on the option named “Print”
• Now, click on the corresponding printer & hit the printer icon in order to complete the entire process

Troubleshooting solutions to most prevalent printer connection oriented problems

My device can’t find my printer, what do I do?

It tends to occur with outdated printer models that are not properly compatible with your device’s current OS. There are a number of HP printers and Brother printer users who are reported about this issue. In the event that your device doesn’t recognize your printer, return to the “Devices” tab that is located on your Windows settings. Now you need to choose the option “Add Printers & Scanners” & allow your device search again.

If it still doesn’t appear, then an option under the “Refresh” button may come up that reads “The printer that I want isn’t listed.” Now, Windows’ integrated troubleshooting will take over & look for available linked printers. When located, Windows will give the corresponding driver in order to download to finish the installation process.

My printer is unable to print over a network, what do I do?

Even after following each and every step, if your print job is still stuck in limbo, then simply check to assure that everything is plugged in, turned on, & ready to act in the correct manner. And this to-do checklist will glue each and every piece together.

Popular Blog : How to Take Screenshot on Laptop

Is your printer connected properly?

It could be via a WiFi network for wireless printers or through USB for wired printers.

Is your printer connected to the correct WiFi network?

Make sure to revisit your device’s Wireless LAN Settings in order to be sure that it is connected to your house WiFi network. Check out your router and confirm your SSID & password. Therefore, attempt re-entering your network information into the printer.

Is your printer too far away?

Although we would prefer our devices to act in the correct manner from any point in our offices or homes, the main reality is that the closer to the source you’re, the better your system will respond. So make sure to try to print from a closer proximity. On the other hand, you can also move your printer closer to your wireless router.