3 Ways to Make a Printer Wireless with a Wireless Router

Table of contents:

3 Ways to Make a Printer Wireless with a Wireless Router
3 Ways to Make a Printer Wireless with a Wireless Router
Anonim

This article shows how to turn a normal wired printer into a wireless network printer by connecting it directly to the router that manages the LAN. If your printer cannot be connected directly to the router, you can still turn it into a wireless network printer by connecting it to one of the computers on the LAN and sharing it on the network to allow all other systems to use it as a printing device.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use a USB Printer and Network Router

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 1
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 1

Step 1. Verify that your network router has at least one USB port

If so, you can connect the printer directly to the router using a standard USB cable or the one supplied with the printing device.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 2
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 2

Step 2. If necessary, purchase a USB to Ethernet adapter

If the router that manages your LAN does not have a USB port, you will need to purchase an adapter to be able to connect the printer to one of the Ethernet ports of the device, but using the supplied USB cable.

You can buy this type of adapter directly online on sites like Amazon or eBay or in an electronics store like MediaWorld

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 3
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 3

Step 3. Place the printer next to the network router

You will need to arrange the two devices close enough, so that you can connect them together without the cables being too tight.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 4
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 4

Step 4. Connect the printer to the router

Insert one end of the USB cable into the printer's communication port (usually on the back of the printer), then connect the other end to the router (again, the communication ports should be on the back of the device).

If you're using a USB to Ethernet adapter, plug it into an RJ-45 port on your router first, then plug the USB cable into the adapter

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 5
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 5

Step 5. Plug the printer power cord into a working electrical outlet

To complete this step, you may need an extension cord or power strip.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 6
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 6

Step 6. Turn on the printer

Press the power button marked with the symbol

Windowspower
Windowspower
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 7
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 7

Step 7. Wait 10 minutes

This will allow the router to detect the printer and install its drivers.

During this time, your internet connection speed may be slower than normal because the router is downloading and installing printer device drivers

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 8
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 8

Step 8. Try connecting to the printer

First make sure that the computer you are working on is connected to the same LAN that the printer is connected to, then perform the following procedure (depending on the hardware architecture of the system):

  • Windows computer - access the menu Start clicking the icon

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    select the item Settings characterized by the icon

    Windowssettings
    Windowssettings

    choose the option Devices, access the tab Printers and scanners, push the button Add a printer or scanner, select the network printer you just configured and press the button Add device.

  • Mac - access the menu Apple clicking the icon

    Macapple1
    Macapple1

    choose the option System Preferences, click the icon Printers and Scanners, select the wireless printer you just set up from the box on the left side of the window, then press the button add.

  • If you are unable to connect the printer directly to your network router, try one of the following methods that allow you to share a printer connected directly to a computer on the network.

Method 2 of 3: Using a Windows Computer

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 9
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 9

Step 1. Connect the printer to the computer which will act as a link between the LAN and the printing device

In this way the computer will be transformed into a print server that will allow the printer to communicate with all systems connected to the wireless network. The first step is to connect the printer to the computer using a USB cable.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 10
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 10

Step 2. Plug the printer power cord into a working electrical outlet

Choose one that is close enough to the computer so that the cable is not too tight.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 11
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 11

Step 3. Turn on the printer

Press the power button marked with the symbol

Windowspower
Windowspower
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 12
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 12

Step 4. Follow the instructions that will automatically appear on your computer screen

If you are asked to download a driver update or specific software from the internet, you simply have to follow the instructions that will appear on the screen, after which you can continue with the procedure described in the article.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 13
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 13

Step 5. Enter the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 14
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 14

Step 6. Open the "Control Panel"

Type the keywords control panel into the "Start" menu, then click the icon Control Panel which will appear at the top of the latter.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 15
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 15

Step 7. Choose the Network and Internet category

It is located at the top of the newly appeared window.

If the "View by" drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the page is set to "Small icons" or "Large icons", skip this step

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 16
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 16

Step 8. Click the Network and Sharing Center icon

It is listed in the center of the page.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 17
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 17

Step 9. Choose the Change Advanced Sharing Settings option

It is one of the links located in the left part of the "Control Panel" window.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 18
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 18

Step 10. Select the "Turn on file and printer sharing" radio button

It is located within the "File and Printer Sharing" section of the active network profile.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 19
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 19

Step 11. Press the Save Changes button

It is located at the bottom of the page.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 20
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 20

Step 12. Select the Control Panel tab

It is visible within the address bar of the window. This will automatically redirect you to the main "Control Panel" screen.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 21
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 21

Step 13. Choose the View devices and printers link

It is located under "Hardware and Sound" located at the bottom of the page.

If you are using icon view and not category view, you will need to select the "Devices and Printers" option first

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 22
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 22

Step 14. Select the printer you just connected to your computer with the right mouse button

The relevant context menu will be displayed.

  • If you are using a one-button mouse, press the right side of the pointing device or press the single button using two fingers.
  • If you're using a computer with a trackpad instead of a mouse, tap it using two fingers or press the lower right side.
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 23
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 23

Step 15. Choose the Printer Properties option

It is listed in the center of the menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 24
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 24

Step 16. Go to the Sharing tab

It is one of the tabs listed at the top of the window.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 25
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 25

Step 17. Share the printer on the network with other computers on the network

Select the "Share this printer" checkbox, then press the buttons successively Apply And OK placed at the bottom of the window.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 26
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 26

Step 18. Try connecting to the printer

Perform the following procedure (depending on the hardware architecture of the system) using a computer connected to the same LAN to which the printer is connected:

  • Windows computer - access the menu Start clicking the icon

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    select the item Settings characterized by the icon

    Windowssettings
    Windowssettings

    choose the option Devices, access the tab Printers and scanners, push the button Add a printer or scanner, select the network printer you just configured and press the button Add device.

  • Mac - access the menu Apple clicking the icon

    Macapple1
    Macapple1

    choose the option System Preferences, click the icon Printers and Scanners, select the wireless printer you just set up from the box on the left side of the window, then press the button add.

Method 3 of 3: Using a Mac

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 27
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 27

Step 1. Connect the printer to the computer which will act as a link between the LAN and the printing device

In this way the computer will be transformed into a print server that will allow the printer to communicate with all systems connected to the wireless network. The first step is to connect the printer to the computer using a USB cable.

If your Mac doesn't have a USB 3.0 port, you'll need to purchase a USB-C to USB adapter

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 28
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 28

Step 2. Plug the printer power cord into a working electrical outlet

Choose one that is close enough to the computer so that the cable is not too tight.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 29
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 29

Step 3. Turn on the printer

Press the power button marked with the symbol

Windowspower
Windowspower
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 30
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 30

Step 4. Follow the instructions that will automatically appear on your computer screen

If you are asked to download a driver update or specific software from the internet, you simply have to follow the instructions that will appear on the screen, after which you can continue with the procedure described in the article.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 31
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 31

Step 5. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon

Macapple1
Macapple1

It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 32
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 32

Step 6. Choose the System Preferences… item

It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "System Preferences" dialog box will appear.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 33
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 33

Step 7. Click the Sharing icon

It is one of the options in the "System Preferences" dialog box. A new window will appear.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 34
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 34

Step 8. Select the "Printer Sharing" checkbox

It is listed in the left pane of the "Sharing" window.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 35
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 35

Step 9. Select the printer to share

Click the name of the printing device you just connected to your Mac, listed in the "Printers" pane of the window.

Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 36
Make a Printer Wireless With a Wireless Router Step 36

Step 10. Try connecting to the printer

Perform the following procedure (depending on the hardware architecture of the system) using a computer connected to the same LAN to which the printer is connected:

  • Windows computer - access the menu Start clicking the icon

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    select the item Settings characterized by the icon

    Windowssettings
    Windowssettings

    choose the option Devices, access the tab Printers and scanners, push the button Add a printer or scanner, select the network printer you just configured and press the button Add device.

  • Mac - access the menu Apple clicking the icon

    Macapple1
    Macapple1

    choose the option System Preferences, click the icon Printers and Scanners, select the wireless printer you just set up from the box on the left side of the window, then press the button add.

Recommended: