The actual problem for all home users is still connecting the printer to the home network and its operation. The owners of printers ask one and the same question: “How to make a network printer via WiFi?” Neither the manufacturer nor the seller are in a hurry to share useful information with customers, because they are interested in buying expensive equipment for the organization of the network. This is fundamentally the wrong approach for the 21st century. This article discusses all kinds of options for connecting the printer at home, which not only organize, but also facilitate the work and leisure of the user.
You need to understand what is at stake
To make it easier to navigate in the settings, you need to understand the existing printer interfaces - what they are, how they look and what they are for.
- USB wired port. A high-speed bus allows you to connect the printer directly to the device. By default, this is a computer, laptop and router. The interface cable is unique - on the one hand there is a rectangular connector for connecting to a PC, on the other hand - a trapezoidal port for connecting to a printer. It is the owners of USB devices that are primarily interested in how to make a network printer in order to print not only from a computer, but also from other mobile devices.
- Ethernet network port. It is present only in expensive devices and is designed to connect the printer to a network hub. This technology meets the printing needs of all owners of such devices.
- Wi-fi wireless technology. Most modern printers are equipped with such a module, but full functionality is not always possible. After all, printing requires proprietary software that does not always willingly work on smartphones and tablets.
Friendship with a router
It remains to be seen how to make a USB printer network. The presence of a USB port on a network router without a built-in Print Server module will not give positive connection results. Therefore, it is recommended first to study the instructions that came with the network equipment and make sure that the printer can be connected up to the model. And if the opportunity exists, you can safely perform the following actions:
- Connect the printer and router to power.
- By connecting the printer to the USB-connector of the router, you need to make sure that he "made friends" with the device. To do this, open the web interface of the network device in a browser. The router address, username and password can be found in the instructions, but if the provider set up the wireless point, then all issues with connecting the printer directly depend on the person who made the settings for the router.
- After authorization, the name of the connected printer should appear in the Print Server section.
Correct setup of USB connection with a router
- On a personal computer, go to the control panel and select the “Devices and Printers” tab. Further, all according to the algorithm: “Add a local printer” - “Create a new Standart TCP / IP port”.
- After clicking the “Next” button, you must enter the IP address of the router (by default, 192.168.1.1) and be sure to uncheck the box next to “Select driver automatically”.
- After finding the printer, select the Generic Network Card device type and click Next.
- The driver is installed manually from the disk using the menu of the same name.
- Having re-entered the “Devices and Printers”, you need to select “Printer Properties” by clicking the alternative mouse button on the newly installed device. Going to the “Ports” tab, you need to go into the settings, install the LPR protocol and set a name.
Having studied a simple description of how to make a network printer by connecting it to a router, it will not be difficult for the user to make all the settings on their own. It will not be redundant to open the instructions for the router and familiarize yourself with it in detail - very often the manufacturer offers its own algorithm for connecting the printer via USB.
Wi-Fi Troubleshooting
Office equipment has recently been equipped with a Wi-Fi module, offering the user a quick and easy way to make the printer network. Windows 8, 10, as well as later versions of Android installed on smartphones and tablets, may not always work correctly with the printer wirelessly. The problem lies in the compatibility of the software with the operating system. Very often, users in the post-Soviet space generally do not have the ability to fully use Wi-Fi printing, the module of which is built into the printer.
In such cases, there are two solutions:
- Connect the printer to the router using USB according to the previously described instructions.
- Connect the printer wirelessly via WPS. Naturally, the router must have a Print Server, support the existing printer model, and a fast WPS connection must be connected to the print server.
Wired network - way out of a difficult situation
If you could not connect the printer to the wireless network using the above methods due to the lack of technical support for the equipment, you should not be upset. There is a very easy way to make a regular printer network via a wired interface. To connect, the user needs to purchase a device called Print Server, which can be found in any computer store at a price of 200-300 rubles apiece.
In most cases, a certified print server has factory settings that the manufacturer indicates in the instructions or on a sticker located on the device’s body. It is enough to connect the printer via USB to the print server, which, in turn, is connected to the hub of the router with an Ethernet cable.
The network address of the printer can be found in the settings of the router or detected from the PC with special software. Next, the usual installation of the printing device is performed according to the instructions described above.
Expensive solution
Many users who are wondering how to make a network printer from a local printer are not stopped by the price of the question; therefore, a wireless print server created specifically for such purposes should not be left out of sight. Only the price can confuse - it is higher than most worthy routers with great features. Pay for a miracle device will have from 4,000 to 8,000 rubles. Setting up a wireless Print Server device is no different from a wired print server. All information on fine-tuning is present in the instructions for network equipment.
The main feature that attracts the buyer to such a device is the support of Apple's mobile technology. For some reason, many manufacturers of wireless printers and routers forget about this brand. Therefore, for owners of iPhone, MacBook and iPad, buying a wireless print server will be the only solution to the problem of printing with a printer.
Printer Sharing
The easiest, but no less effective way to solve the problem of how to make the printer network, is to share the local computer. The algorithm is quite simple and even a schoolboy will master it.
- Having gone into the properties of the printer installed in the Windows system, go to the “Access” tab and check the boxes opposite the “Shared” and “Drawing tasks” fields.
- Going into the system properties and going to the tab “Computer Name” make sure that the “Workgroup” is registered the same for all computers in the local network.
- To make the printer network, Windows 7, 8, and 10 require additional network adapter settings . To do this, go to the "Network Control Center" and change additional sharing options by checking the boxes next to all fields starting with the word "Enable".
- Encryption is recommended to be set to 128-bit, and password protection should be disabled.
Remote connection to an available printer
After completing the first step in deciding how to make the printer network, you can begin to connect the public device to other computers on the local network. There are only two options - they are different, but they have the same result. The first option is described above, because for the settings there is not much difference what type of connection is used - the main thing is to know the IP address of the printer.
But the second way is suitable for people who are looking for easy ways. In fact, this is an instruction on how to make a network printer local. Going to the "Network Connections", which can be found in the control panel, you must select the "Network Places". An alternative is to launch the “Network Places” shortcut from the desktop, if the user has not previously deleted it as unnecessary. Here you need to display the computers that are part of the workgroup - there is a corresponding button for this. Having found the necessary computer, go into it. The printer will also be displayed in the list of available resources. If you double-click on the device name and agree to all the warnings, the printer is easily connected.
Finally
Asking the question "how to make a network printer", the user can always find any solution he needs. After all, there are no options to be considered - there would be money and desire. However, for some reason, many people forget about security when using an insecure Wi-Fi communication channel. The printer will be visible to all users within the range of the wireless router. Judging by the numerous reviews of professionals in the field of IT technologies, it is not recommended to share a computer through a wireless network, because the safety of personal information is always above any convenience.