How to connect a printer to a laptop via wifi: the easiest ways, to a computer, to a macbook

Wireless technologies are quickly gaining popularity among users. Compactness, usability and the absence of extra wires are undoubted advantages. We will tell about simple and fast methods of contactless connection in our article.

Connecting the printer via wi-fi router

There are several options to connect the model using a network device:

Through the WPS mode (with its software or hardware support).
Using the router software (depending on the manufacturer).
Using a special adapter.

WPS mode is carried out by one of the methods:

Consistently turn on the function of the same name in the printer menu, then in the router (between inclusions should take no more than 2 minutes).
The option can be located at Network - Wireless - Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
In the interface of the router we find the corresponding switch (for example, WPS Setup) and assign it the position Enabled.
Additionally, we check the type of network device protection enabled; the best modes are WPA or WPA2.

IMPORTANT. Filtering of MAC addresses should be disabled on the router.

The second method is suitable if there is an indicator on the hardware panel. First, activate the special key on the printing device (wait until the LED starts blinking), then on the network device.

In the case of a successful connection, the indicator will switch to the operating mode (it will be stable). The mode must be supported by both the printer and the network station. The activation method specifically for your model, see the manual (in addition to the usual pressing, for example, the button can be held for some time).

REFERENCE. At the bottom of the network device, you will find a special WPS character and a code that will be entered when the equipment is connected.

Some models of routers, such as Asus and TP-Link, can work with special applications, providing detection and further setup of wireless devices.

Work algorithm:

The equipment is in a disabled state.
The printer is connected to the router via USB.
The router is mated with a laptop.
We turn on the network device first, wait for it to load, then activate the gadget.
From the Asus brand site, download the Printer Setup Utility and launch the program. For Chinese devices, the application is called TP-Link Printer Controller.
Follow the instructions and search for the desired device.
After the device is detected using the Printer Setup Utility, you need to add it to the list of available items. To do this, follow the path Control Panel (Settings) - Devices and Printers. In the last section, click "Add Printer".
If the search for devices does not lead to the result, then click "Find a printer by other parameters" and select "Add a printer by its TCP / IP address or host name". Then we specify the address of the router.
In case of further problems, we use manual configuration of the TCP / IP port, where we select the LPR protocol, in the column "Queue Name" we write the name of the printer. The system will offer to install the driver, click on the model name. Downloading and installing the program will complete your manipulations.
With TP-Link, in the program window, select the device, go to the "Tools" section and use the "Auto-connect for printing" option. Further use of the equipment will be automatic, and no additional steps will be required.

ON A NOTE. If there are problems with detection, check the reliability and performance of all connections. A reboot of all hardware can help (up to the laptop).

Printing equipment may contain a special module that automatically establishes communication with the network.

In this case, you only need to adjust the connection to the PC, in the following way:

Go through the Control Panel - Devices and Printers.
Run a printer search. Here you can use the manual configuration of the TCP / IP port, in its window fill in the address of the printing device (you can see it in the settings of the router).
As a result, the system will detect and apply the actual drivers.
You will receive a message about the successful installation of the equipment.

Setting up a wi-fi printer

Procedure:

Install the cartridges, plug in the power cord, turn on the printer.
The gadget in the automatic mode will carry out the initial setting of the parameters.
Select the appropriate method of pairing with a PC.
Save the selected configuration.

Wireless communication methods do not always provide the right result. Here, much is determined by the features of the equipment: both the printing device and the PC. However, in most cases, possible problems can be eliminated. Consider the most accessible and simple options for connecting the device.

To the laptop.

You can use two basic methods that are simple and effective.

Direct connection using an access point. Procedure:

Turn on the laptop and device.
From the supplied disk (or from the manufacturer’s website) we download and install the device driver. Restart the system.
On a laptop, we search for a wireless network, looking for the model name. In the Devices and Printers section, select the desired device using PCM and click the "Use Default" item.
We go into the settings of the printing apparatus itself and mark the network in which it will work. Then enter the password.
We check the configuration of the wireless network. A flashing (or lit) wi-fi device indicator indicates activation.

In rare cases when a laptop does not detect a wireless connection, we act like this:

We reset the settings to the factory settings and then perform the basic settings (according to the user manual).
We check the network performance.
As a result of these actions, the equipment appears in the list of working devices.

REFERENCE. The method has the need to manually connect each session. Positive effect - from any wireless device, you can immediately print the document, bypassing the PC. This saves you time.

For HP printing devices popular in Russia, the HP Smart Install feature has been developed.

REFERENCE. This method is also suitable for other models that support wireless network and WEP or WPA security modes. As a rule, they have an installation wizard option.

To use this tool, proceed as follows:

Temporarily connect the printer to the PC via a USB cable.
On the hardware panel, press the "Settings" button, in the opened menu use the "Network" item.
The wizard for installing wireless equipment is activated, after processing the data, it will provide a list of available networks.
We select in the list the Wi-Fi protocol. You will need to enter a network password (WEP or WPA key).
When the setup is complete, the wizard will inform you that you can disconnect the USB cable.

ON A NOTE. The availability of the HP Smart Install option is listed in the product manual.

If tool support is not detected, an alternative program can be used.

To do this, go to the manufacturer's website, go through the sections Drivers and Downloads - Printers - Products.
Enter the name of the device and wait for the search results.
We confirm the OS version, select the utility and download. It is desirable that this was a complete software.

Install the downloaded file.

We connect the printer to the PC via USB cable.
In installation mode, the installation wizard prompts you to specify the type of connection.
Choose a wireless option.
Follow the instructions of the application and, if necessary, fill in the data (password and ID).
Hardware installation is complete, the wizard will inform you that you can disconnect the USB cable.

To computer

The PC supports identical wireless connection methods as the laptop. Therefore, we will focus on connecting to a local network, that is, a united group of computers, this allows network printing. Necessary condition - the device is already paired with one of the computers.

On the main PC we go through the Control Panel, Devices and Printers.
In the window, select the desired device, if necessary, add it.
The device should be available for all PCs.
To do this, on the main computer, in the Devices and Printers section, select Printer Properties - Access.
Activate the item "Share this printer."
Then on each computer in the same section, select the "Add Printer" command.
Pass by the message "Required printer is not in the list."
Use the item "Select a shared printer by name."
In the line we drive in first the computer name, then the printing device.
The system will search for the device and driver package, the installation of which completes the initialization of the equipment.

To macbook

Apple computers do not have any differences when installing a wireless printer. Therefore, we present a general algorithm of actions:

Install the cartridges, turn on the device, and load paper in the main tray.
Download the driver (from disk or Internet), and after installing them, restart the system.
On the PC, activate the wireless sign and then select the printer from the list of available networks.
The system will request a password, enter data.
The initialization of the printing device is completed.

IMPORTANT. When using any of the mentioned methods, you will need to install drivers for your device on your windows.

In the article, we discussed in detail the methods of how to set up (bind) the printer and hope that we helped you solve all the questions that have arisen.