4 Ways to Configure a Network Printer in Windows 7

Table of contents:

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Windows 7 allows you to configure a print device as a network printer in several ways. A printer can be networked directly as a standalone, standalone device, or it can be connected to a computer and shared as a network resource to be available for use by all computers that are part of the same LAN or Homegroup. Read on to find out how to set up a network printer using Windows 7.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Install a Network Printer

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 1

Step 1. Find the network name that was assigned to the printer

If you are unfamiliar with this type of information, contact the administrator of the network you are connected to and ask them to provide you with the name of the printer you wish to install

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 2

Step 2. Turn on the network printer

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 3

Step 3. Access the "Start" menu by pressing the Windows logo button in the lower left corner of the desktop

Alternatively, you can press the "Windows" key on your keyboard.

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 4

Step 4. Choose the "Devices and Printers" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 5

Step 5. Press the "Add Printer" button

This will bring up the wizard to install a new printer.

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 6

Step 6. Choose the "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 7

Step 7. Select the name of the printer you wish to configure on your computer from the list of those available

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 8

Step 8. Now press the "Next" button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 9

Step 9. Press the "Install Driver" button, if prompted to install a specific driver for your printer

If your computer is connected to a corporate network, you may need to provide the password for one of the network administrator accounts

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 10

Step 10. Press the "Finish" button to complete the printer installation and close the wizard window

Method 2 of 4: Share a Printer on the Network Using Homegroup

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 11

Step 1. Log in to the computer to which the printer you want to share is physically connected

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 12

Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by pressing the Windows logo button in the lower left corner of the desktop

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 13

Step 3. Choose the "Control Panel" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 14

Step 4. Type "homegroup" into the search field in the upper right corner of the control panel

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 15

Step 5. Click the "Homegroup" icon as soon as it appears within the search results list

If you want, you can also select the "Share Printers" link located within the "HomeGroup" section

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 16

Step 6. Select the "Printers" check button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 17

Step 7. Press the "Save Changes" button

By default, the "Printers" checkbox should already be selected

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 18

Step 8. Now log in to the network computer you wish to use the shared printer from

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 19

Step 9. Access the "Start" menu by pressing the relevant button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 20

Step 10. Choose the "Control Panel" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 21

Step 11. Type "homegroup" into the search field

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 22

Step 12. Select the "Homegroup" icon from the result list that appears

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 23

Step 13. Press the "Install Printer" button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 24

Step 14. If you need to install a driver in order to use the printer, choose the "Install Driver" option from the dialog box that appears

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 25

Step 15. You can now access the printer from your computer, as if it were physically connected to it, using any software or application that supports printing functionality

Remember that the printer and the computer to which it is connected must be turned on in order to print from one of the other systems connected to the network

Method 3 of 4: Print a Test Page

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 26

Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by pressing the appropriate button, then choose the "Devices and Printers" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 27

Step 2. Find the name of the printer you want to make a test print with and select it with the right mouse button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 28

Step 3. Choose the "Printer Properties" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 29

Step 4. At this point, press the "Print test page" button in the lower right part of the "General" tab

Method 4 of 4: Troubleshoot Remote Printing

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 30

Step 1. Log into the computer to which the printer is physically connected and make sure the device is turned on and properly shared on the network

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 31

Step 2. Now go to the computer you want to print from (one of the machines connected to the same LAN)

Go to the "Start" menu, choose the "Control Panel" option and select the "Devices and Printers" icon

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 32

Step 3. If the icon of the printer in question is already present, select it with the right mouse button and choose the "Remove device" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 33

Step 4. Press the "Add Printer" button located at the top of the window

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 34

Step 5. Choose the "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer" option

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 35

Step 6. If the desired printer does not appear in the list, follow these steps:

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 36

Step 7. Select the link "The printer I want is not listed"

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 37

Step 8. Choose the "Select a shared printer by name" option

Enter the network path of the device, for example "\ computer_name / printer_name", then press the "Next" button

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 38

Step 9. If you don't know the exact network name and path to access the printer remotely, print a test page directly from the computer to which the device is physically connected

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 39

Step 10. The information you are looking for is indicated by "Computer Name"

Set up a Printer on a Network With Windows 7 Step 40

Step 11. If you wish, you can print a test page by pressing the "Print Test Page" button located in the last screen of the dialog box

Advice

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi printers can be connected directly to the network without having to connect them to a computer or print server.
Any printer with a USB port can be shared within the Windows 7 Homegroup.

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