These days, adding a printer to windows 10 is simple and needs little to no special knowledge. However, the procedures differ from wireless to wired devices. You can add a printer to your desktop or laptop through USB, Bluetooth, or a wireless network.
1- Adding a Printer Using Wi-Fi
If you have a network-capable printer that your windows do not detect automatically, you will have to start it manually. That means you will go to your printer’s menu, configure a TCP/IP port, and install the drivers.
Use the following steps to add a printer network in Windows 10.
- Click on the Start Menu. The start button is the one that has a windows logo, and it is on your screen’s bottom-left corner.
- Click Settings. That is the icon shaped like a gear. You can see it above the power button on the start menu.
- Then select on Devices
- Next, Click on Printers and Scanners. You can see this on the left sidebar.
- Then Select Add a Printer.
Tip: when windows identify your printer, follow the instructions on your screen for set up. If windows fail to auto-detect a printer, please carry-on with the following steps.
- Go for “The Printer that I want isn’t listed.” Then the “Add Printers” will appear on your screen.
- Go to “Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings,” and click “Next.”
- Choose “Create a New Port,” then click on Standard TCP/IP on the drop-down menu.
- Key in the printer’s IP address, then click Next. Now your computer will search for the TCP/IP port. It may take time.
- Select the right device. In the drop-down box, Standard Device Type, choose the device corresponding with your printer. For example, if you are using a Canon printer, select either Canon Network Printing Device or Canon Network Printer. The window then detects the driver type. You will realize that the printer appears in the device-list in the “Printer and Scanners Menu” after detecting the driver.
- Install the printer driver. Select your printer manufacture. It’s on the left column and the right column, your printer’s driver. Then click ‘Next’.
Tip: If you do not see your model’s driver, click on “Have Disk.” And install the driver using the manufacturer’s disk. Copy it from the drive where your driver is located.
- Choose “Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended),” then click next.
- Set optional preferences. If you want, you can rename your printer. Otherwise, click on Next. In the following window, you can set printer sharing. Once done, click Next.
- Print a test page. You’ll get a notification that the set-up was successful. You can click on “Finish” or print a test page.
2- Adding a Printer using USB
- Using a USB cable, connect your computer to a printer. One end in your printer and the other end into your computer’s USB outlet.
- Follow the installation steps on your screen. Once Windows detects your printer, it will provide the steps you need to follow to install your printer.
- Confirm if the set-up was successful. Click the start button on your screen’s bottom-left corner, resembling the Windows logo. Go to “Settings,” select “Devices,” then “Printers & Scanners.”
Better still, under “Control Panel,” select “hardware and Sound” then “Device and Printers.”
If the printer is correctly set, it will appear in the printers list. From there, you can print a page to confirm the set-up.
3- Adding a Bluetooth Printer
- Click “Start,” go to “Settings” and select “Bluetooth and Other Devices.” Ensure that you toggle on the Bluetooth switch.
- Select “Add Bluetooth or Other Devices.”
- Choose Bluetooth as the device you want to add. Once Windows displays a list of the Bluetooth devices it detects, select your printer’s Bluetooth and click “Ready to Pair.”
- Pair the printer to your computer. If the printer doesn’t need a PIN, devices will connect automatically. Otherwise, put your PIN if needed; click connect. You still need to enter a PIN on the printer if it has a user display. Confirm connection by observing the instructions on both devices.
- See the COM port. Go to “Control Panel,” click on “Hardware and Sound,” then “Device & Printers.” Right-click on the Bluetooth printer and choose “Properties.” You can now see the COM port (on the service tab) the printer uses.
- Install a printer driver that matches the COM Port. The on-screen instructions will guide you in setting up the printer’s driver. On the printer’s Port tab in the driver-installation window, ensure that the port you are setting up with your print drive is similar to the one in Windows Device Manager.
- Print a page. Connect your printer, and print a test page.
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