How To Make Printer Wireless? 7 Easy Ways

Although fashionable printers come built-in with Wi-Fi, older printer fashions lack such capabilities. A wi-fi connection presents nice comfort over a wired connection, so it could be a no brainer if you wish to make your previous printer wi-fi.

But earlier than that, your want to attach your previous printer to a router by way of USB or Ethernet cable. Printer producers additionally present a devoted wi-fi adapter for his or her printers to make them wi-fi. However, in case your printer doesn’t have one, you should utilize gadgets like a Wi-Fi vary extender or a devoted print server field.

Use Printer’s Wi-Fi

The best technique to make your printer wi-fi is by connecting it to a Wi-Fi network. But, it’s best to first confirm in case your printer has wi-fi capabilities. You can do a fast Google seek for the printer specs or see the consumer handbook of the printer.

Once you confirm that the printer has Wi-Fi capabilities, you should utilize quite a lot of strategies to attach it to Wi-Fi. You might use the contact panel, WPS button on the router, or manufacturer-specific apps to hook up with Wi-Fi.

If you need assistance connecting your printer to Wi-Fi, you may refer to those detailed guides for HP, Canon, Epson and Brother printers.

However, in case your printer shouldn’t be Wi-Fi enabled, you may undergo the strategies mentioned under to make your printer wi-fi.

Use Ethernet Port on Printer

If your printer doesn’t include Wi-Fi assist, you should utilize the ethernet port on the printer to make it wi-fi. First, examine the back panel, rear panel or underneath the highest cowl of your printer to see if there’s an ethernet port obtainable. If sure, comply with these steps.

1. Get an ethernet cable of an appropriate size.
2. Connect one finish of the cable to the printer.
3. Connect the opposite finish to the ethernet port on the router.
4. Now add the printer to your PC and begin using it.
5. Open Run in your pc.
6. Type management printers and press Enter.
   
7. Click Add a printer menu.
   
8. Choose the printer and click on Next.
   
9. Wait until the set up completes.
   
10. You can use the printer when you see this window.
    
11. Install the official drivers from the printer producer to entry the complete functionalities of the printer.

Once the printer is related to a Wi-Fi router using the ethernet cable, all of the gadgets related to that exact network can entry and use the printer.

Connect to Router Using USB Cable

Most routers right this moment include USB ports. While these ports are principally used for configuring Network Attached Storage (NAS), you too can use them to attach the printer and use the router as a print server.

Once related, your printer goes wi-fi and you may add it to different gadgets on the network.

1. Get a USB A-B cable.
2. Connect the A facet to the router.
3. Then join the B facet to the printer.
4. Open the configuration web page of your router.
5. Go to USB settings.
   
6. Enable the Print Server standing.
   
7. Once you enabled the print server, now you might want to set up the printer controller utility software.
8. For instance, you might want to set up the TP-Link USB Printer Controller to make use of the printer wirelessly by way of TP-Link routers.
   
9. Since the printer utility instruments differ relying upon the router, it’s essential to go to the official web site of your router producer and obtain the software.
10. Configure the printer using the utility software and you’re all set to make use of the printer wirelessly.
    

Share Printer on Network

Windows computer systems have a file and printer sharing characteristic that permits you to share the recordsdata or printer on a network.

First, you might want to join the printer to one of many PCs and share it on the network. After that, all different customers on the identical network can entry it.

However, the PC related to the printer should be at all times turned on. Otherwise, the printer won’t be obtainable throughout the network.

1. Go to the host PC the place the printer is related by way of USB cable and open Control Panel.
   
2. Click Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
   
3. Click Change superior sharing settings.
   
4. Turn on Network discovery and file sharing for all of the profiles.
   
5. Click Save adjustments.
6. Now return back to the primary window of the Control Panel and click on View gadgets and printers.
   
7. Right-click the printer you want to share and click on Printer properties.
   
8. Click Sharing and verify the field next to Share this printer.
   
9. Give your printer a reputation and click on Apply > OK.
10. Now go to the shopper pc the place you wish to use the printer.
11. Open Control Panel and click on View gadgets and printers.
    
12. Press the Add a Printer button.
    
13. Click The printer that I need isn’t listed.
    
14. Choose the second choice and click on the Browse button.
    
15. Double-click the identify of the host pc.
    
16. Double-click the printer identify.
    
17. Click Next.
    
18. It will set up the printer on the shopper’s pc.
    
19. Open the Devices and Printers part within the Control Panel and you will notice a network shared printer profile created there.
    

Use Wi-Fi Range Extender

You may get a Wi-Fi vary extender with an built-in ethernet port and WPS button to make your printer wi-fi. It is a greater choice you probably have an ethernet port on the printer however don’t need ethernet cables working throughout your room.

1. Plug the vary extender device into {an electrical} outlet.
2. Reset the device. You may have to press the Reset button on the device for a couple of seconds to finish the reset.
3. Then go to the router and press the WPS button till the WPS indicator on it begins blinking.
4. Press the WPS button on the vary extender until the sign indicator on it begins flashing.
5. Wait until the indications on each; the router and vary extender cease blinking.
6. Get an ethernet cable of appropriate size and use it to attach the printer and vary extender. You can now add the printer to your PC and begin printing wirelessly.

Use Dedicated Print Server Box

Purchasing a devoted print server field might be useful when you neither have an ethernet port on the printer nor a USB port on the router.

You can merely join the USB facet of the print server to the printer and the ethernet facet to the router and set up a connection between them.

The print server acts as a bunch pc by dealing with all of the print requests from the network gadgets and feeding them to the printer.

Use Wireless Adapter From Manufacturer

Some printer producers additionally present a wi-fi adapter to make their printers Wi-Fi succesful. However, such adapters are typically obtainable for less than older fashions of printers.

You ought to first confirm the supply from the official web site of the printer producer, and get it if there’s one.