Wireless Printers: A Definitive Guide

Setting up a network printer

For most of us, printing has become an essential part of being a college student.  We print homework, lectures, and important documents.  However, not all of us want to travel all the way to one of the 10 computer labs on campus in order to print something.  If you’re one of these people, I’ve compiled a few helpful tips for setting up your wireless printer according to your OS.

Network printers- devices designed to connect directly to a computer network as a stand-alone device—were once found mostly in large offices.

Windows

To install a network, Wi‑Fi, or Bluetooth printer

•  Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.
•  Click Add a printer.
•  In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
•  In the list of available printers, select the one you want to use, and then click Next.
•  If prompted, install the printer driver on your computer by clicking Install driver.  Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
•  Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then click Finish.

Tips
 Make sure that you have permission to use these printers before adding them to the computer.
You can confirm the printer is working by printing a test page. For details, see Print a test page.

Instructions adapted from:
 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-printer-home-network#1TC=windows-7

Mac

Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wifi Network

For a built-in display:

Printers with a touchscreen or other built-in display (control panel) generally expect you to use that display to select or enter the name and password of your Wi-Fi network. Check the printer's documentation for details.

If your Wi-Fi router is an AirPort Base Station:

• Open AirPort Utility, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
• Select your base station in AirPort Utility, then enter the base station password, if prompted.
• From the menu bar, choose Base Station > Add WPS Printer.
• Select either "First attempt" or "PIN" as the type of WPS connection to allow. Then click Continue.
• If you selected "First attempt," push the WPS button on the printer. When the printer's MAC Address appears in AirPort Utility, click Done.
• If you selected "PIN," enter the printer's PIN number, which should be listed in the printer's documentation. Then click Continue. When the printer's MAC Address appears in AirPort Utility, click Done.
• Quit AirPort Utility.

If the printer can connect to your Mac via USB

You may be able to use a USB connection to set up Wi-Fi printing:

• Connect the printer to your Mac using the appropriate USB cable.
• Install the Mac software that came with the printer, and make sure that it includes a printer setup assistant.
• Use the printer setup assistant to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. Check the printer's documentation for details.
• Disconnect the USB cable from the printer and Mac. The printer should remain connected to the Wi-Fi network.

If the printer can create an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network

You may be able to use the printer's own ad-hoc Wi-Fi network to set up Wi-Fi printing:

• Install the Mac software that came with the printer, and make sure that it includes a printer setup assistant.
• Make sure that the printer's ad-hoc Wi-Fi network is turned on. Check the printer's documentation for details.
• Open the Wi-Fi menu on your Mac by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, then select the name of the printer’s ad-hoc Wi-Fi network. While your Mac is on the printer's network, your Mac won't be able to connect to the Internet or other services on your regular Wi-Fi network.
• Use the printer setup assistant to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. Check the printer's documentation for details. The printer may restart before it connects to the network.
• Return to the Wi-Fi menu on your Mac and switch back to your Wi-Fi network.

Instructions adapted from:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201900