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How to Connect a Printer to a Wi-Fi Router – Getting Started
Numerous printers nowadays incorporate a convenient feature – wireless printing. Wireless printing lets you print from a computer or a wireless device connected to your wireless router.
This feature allows offices and institutions to print from desktops, laptops, smartphones, or tablets without cables.
Connecting your printer to a Wi-Fi router lets you print your documents without leaving your seat.
You do not need to be in the same room or building to print from a wireless printer. This built-in feature allows you to work wirelessly by connecting to a router.
However, before printing, you must connect your printer to your Wi-Fi network.
Connecting a wired printer is straightforward; you only need to connect one end of a cable to the printer and the other to your network or computer.
Although connecting a wireless printer may seem straightforward, it can be more complex than merely connecting a cable.
There are several types of wireless printing. Printers that offer infrared connections and are Bluetooth-enabled are also considered wireless printers.
In this context, we are explicitly discussing Wi-Fi printers.
Before attempting to connect your printer to a wireless router, ensure that your wireless printer supports WPS push-button mode and that the router also has a WPS button.
When using WPS to connect the printer to the router, a computer is not necessary.
Setting Up a Wireless Printer
The first step is connecting your printer to your Wi-Fi network. This action enables any device on your wireless network to print to the printer, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Begin by positioning your printer within the range of your wireless router.
Turn on the printer to enable connection to the Wi-Fi from the printer rather than connecting the printer to a desktop or laptop.
The subsequent step involves connecting your printer to the Wi-Fi router.
Although this process may vary depending on the model and make of your printer, it is essential to know the Wi-Fi network name and password for the subsequent steps.
This will make the printer available for wireless use. Ensure that the printer is connected to any devices that need to use the printer wirelessly.
To verify that you have correctly set up the wireless printer connection, test it by opening a document or file on your laptop or mobile device, then select “Print.”
Then, select the printer from the printer list.
If the printer’s name does not appear on the list, restart the printer. Select “print” or “ok,” and the file or document should include the printer after a short delay.
For printers with a wireless button, press and hold the button for about 3 seconds until the light blinks.
Press and hold the WPS button on the Wi-Fi router or modem when the connection begins. The WPS light will also start blinking.
After 2-3 minutes, the printer should be connected to the router.
For printers without a wireless button but with a control panel, navigate to ‘Wireless Setting’ or ‘Network Setting’ in the menu, open the ‘Wi-Fi Protected Setup,’ and use the pin option if you know the Wi-Fi password, or tap on the ‘Push Button,’ then press ‘Start.’
This will initiate the connection process, after which you should press and hold the WPS button on the router to connect the printer to the Wi-Fi router.
Once your printer is connected to the Wi-Fi router, you should install the software on your laptop, computer, or mobile device to start wireless printing.
How to Print Wirelessly from Your Mobile Devices
With the printer connected to the router, you can set up the devices you prefer to print from.
When printing wirelessly from your laptop or computer, add the printer to the device’s printer list and Windows or Mac.
When printing from Android mobile devices, go to the Default Printing Service Settings page to successfully add the printer and print files or documents from any app that supports printing, such as Google Chrome.
When using iOS mobile devices, use AirPrint if the printer supports it or a printing app if it doesn’t.
Apps like Printopia and HandyPrint can help computers receive data from AirPrint and send it to wireless printers.
In Conclusion
Once you connect your printer to your wireless router, you can print
from your mobile devices without connecting cables between your devices and the printer.
See Also
How to connect Canon Printer to WiFi