Ultimate tips to add a wireless or network printer in windows 10

Most network printers do not need any additional setup and you can directly connect the device to your network using Ethernet or Wifi. The device will be immediately available to anyone on the same network. If you are tired of being unable to connect your printer to your PC, we are providing you with an all-in-one guide to successfully connect your printer and make the most of each printing session.

Locally connect your printer using a USB cable

One of the easiest ways to connect your printer with the personal computer is by using a USB cable. This will enable you to locally connect your printer and allow you to add a printer connected to another computer or install a wireless printer on your network. 

Follow the instructions given below to locally connect your printer. Go to the Start menu and open the Setting application. Click on devices and add the preferred printer. If Windows successfully detects your printer, select the name of your printer and follow the instructions that appear on the screen. 

In case Windows fails to detect your printer, click on "The printer that I want isn't listed" link. Allow the Windows troubleshooting guide to successfully find your printer. After the completion of the search, you can receive suggestions asking you to download drivers.

Take a quick look at the steps to add a network printer in windows 10

As long as your router is giving out the details on IP addresses, you can use DHCP to connect your printer to the network. In case of wireless printers, you need to refer to the instructions provided in the user manual to successfully configure your printer with the wireless network settings. Try the steps mentioned below to add a wireless or network printer in Windows 10:

• Press Windows Key + Q to open Cortana

• Type "Printer" in it

• From the menu, select "Printers & Scanners."

• Now turn the printer on

• Try to connect the printer to your Wifi network by referring to the manual provided with the printer.

Unfortunately, the procedure varies not just from one printer manufacturer to manufacturer but also from one printer model to another. To avoid technical complexities, you need to comply with the information given below:

1) After connecting the printer, click on "Add a printer or scanner"

2) Now click on Add device

3) From the results provided, select the model of your printer.

By following the above-mentioned steps, you can successfully add a new printer to the home network and start your printing session. Though Windows 10 supports most models of printer, there is a greater chance that you don't have to install any special printer software for accessing the wireless printer on the network. There is a possibility that because of some critical reason Windows 10 will fail to locate your printer. You will receive an error message which says printer driver is unavailable Windows 10.

This error can be easily rectified by connecting your printer manually to Windows 10. To do this you are required to run your printer through a wizard. However, it is necessary to gather some details regarding your printer before attempting to add it manually. You can also look for additional printer drivers and support through Windows update.

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Add a Wireless or Network Printer in Windows 10

Prerequisites to know before you add wireless printer windows 10 manually:

Before you are manually adding your printer to the network, make sure you know the name of your device. Search for the printer’s name by visiting the control panel of the device. Open Windows Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E and go to the Network Panel option. In case your printer is correctly connected via Ethernet, it will be definitely listed there. You need to press the right click button on printer to find out the following details:

• Printer manufacturer

• Printer model you are using

• The model number of the printer

• MAC address

• IP address

With the help of accurate information, you will not face any difficulty in manually adding your wireless printer to the network in Windows 10.

Here's how you can manually add the wireless printer in windows 10:

Shared printing is more common these days. In case your printer is outdated or causing some problems, you need to manually add a network printer to your PC to avoid technical errors. Before looking for a nearby printer repair, try out the recommended procedure. Here are some of the basic steps which you can try:

1) Press Windows Key + Q to open Cortana

2) Type in "Printer"

3) Select the option "Printers & Scanners."

4) Click on "Add a printer or scanner."

5) Choose the option "The printer that I want isn't listed."

6) From there, select "Add a Bluetooth, wireless or network discoverable printer."

7) Now choose the printer which is being connected

In most of the cases, these steps are sufficient to add your printer. You can confirm this by printing a test page. Sometimes, even after installing the printer driver, the problem remains. For solving the same you need to check the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting the information on driver updates and get up-to-date software for your printer.

If you are still unable to locate your printer and encounter printer driver is unavailable in Windows 10 error in your PC, make sure that your printer is switched on. Also, ensure that both Windows 10 PC and the printer are on the same network connected via one router. You can verify this by checking the IP address. After completing the above-mentioned steps, if you are still unable to connect your printer, you should opt for affordable printer repair service that attends to your queries at the earliest.