How to Connect your PC to a Network Printer
If you have a network printer in your home or office and want to connect your PC with it, but don’t know how or tried many times but fails to connect. Don’t worry here you’ll get separate guidelines for your version of Windows. A network printer is that which can connect with many computers of a network, and each computer can use it. This can be useful when you’ve multiple computers in your home or business but only have one printer. Here is how to connect a Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista computer to a network printer.
How to Connect a Windows 10 PC to a Network Printer
- Make sure your printer is on and connected to the network.
- Now, turn on your PC that you want to connect to the network printer.
- Locate to ‘Control Panel.’
- Click on ‘Hardware and Sound’ link in control panel.
- Into the Devices and Printers section, click on ‘Add a device’ link.
- Wait for Windows to scan for the printer.
- If Windows find the printer, you want to connect it with.
- Click on the printer.
- Click ‘Next.’
If Windows fails to find the network printer:
- Click on ‘The printer that I want isn’t listed.’
To connect the printer with the name:
- Click on ‘Select shared printer by name.’
- Enter the network path of the printer. For example, \\Networkname\printername, in place of “Network name” enter your network’s name and in place of “printer name” enter your printer’s name.
If you don’t know the printer name or printer’s path, then you can add the printer by using the printer’s IP address.
To connect the printer with the IP address:
- Click on ‘Add printer using TCP/IP address or hostname.’
- Enter the required details.
- Click ‘Next.’
During installation, if your Windows ask to install printer driver, select the drivers to install. If you don’t have drivers, then download drivers from your printer’s website.
How to Connect a Windows 8 Computer to a Network Printer
- Make sure your printer is on and connected to the network.
- Now, turn on your PC that you want to connect to the network printer.
- Locate to ‘Control Panel.’
- Click ‘Hardware and Sound.’
- Now, double-click on ‘Add a printer’ icon.
- Choose ‘Add a network’ or ‘Wireless or Bluetooth printer.’
- Then click ‘Next.’
- Wait for Windows to scan for the printer.
- If Windows find the printer, you want to connect it with.
- Click on the printer.
- Click ‘Next.’
If Windows fails to find the network printer:
- Click on ‘The printer I want isn’t listed.’
To connect the printer with the name:
- Click on ‘Select shared printer by name.’
- Enter the network path of the printer. For example, \\Networkname\printername, in place of “Network name” enter your network’s name and in place of “printer name” enter your printer’s name.
If you don’t know the printer name or printer’s path, then you can add the printer by using the printer’s IP address.
To connect the printer with the IP address:
- Click on ‘Add printer using TCP/IP address or hostname.’
- Enter the required details.
- Click ‘Next.’
During installation, if your Windows ask to install printer driver, select the drivers to install. If you don’t have drivers, download drivers from your printer’s website.
If you’ve other Windows installed in your PC, these steps will also work on Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and some other older versions of Windows.
Source: Hp printer support | Brother Printer support