• How to make any printer network. The process of connecting the printer to a computer via a network cable

    Question from a user

    Good afternoon.

    Can you help me with one problem... I have 3 computers at home: one PC and 2 laptops. All of them are connected to a Wi-Fi router. A printer is connected to the PC.

    How can I set up my PCs, laptops and network so that I can send documents to the printer from my laptops? I tried to configure it, but nothing... Now I write the files onto a flash drive, and then print them from a PC, it’s inconvenient...

    Good day!

    In fact, both at home and in small offices, one printer is usually enough (of course, if you can print to it from any computer on the local network).

    In general, setting up Windows itself to make a printer available to the public for a local network is not particularly difficult and any “average” user can handle it. In this article I will show you an example of how this is done...

    We open access to the printer for the local network

    Before describing the settings, I think important to report a few points:

    1. you must include a PC, printer, and laptops (other PCs) that will be configured;
    2. On the PC to which the printer is directly connected (to a USB port, for example), drivers must be installed (that is, printing should work normally on the PC itself). To find and install a printer driver -;
    3. The local network must be configured: computers have the same workgroups (you can see if you go to properties of my computer ), and different computer names (in general, if your local network is working, then this is so...).

    Here, by the way, is a relatively good (because it’s mine) article on setting up a local network, I recommend that you read it if you have problems with your local network. Link below.

    Setting up a local network -

    Note: all settings below are shown and are relevant for Windows 7, 8, 10.

    Now let's start setting up. The first thing you need to do is set up the computer to which the printer is directly connected (i.e., “share” the printer: we give access and permission to use it to another PC on the local network).

    1) First we open Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center . Next, click on the link on the left - "Change advanced sharing settings" .

    2) Next we will have three tabs: private, guest or public , And all networks. Now you need to open them one by one and check the boxes in the right places. More on this below.

    Note: in some cases there will be not 3 tabs, but 2. Then open those tabs that exist and do according to the screenshots below.

    3) Expand the tab , and set the sliders to the following positions (according to the screenshot below):

    • enable network discovery (enable automatic configuration on network devices);
    • enable file and printer sharing;
    • Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections.

    4) Then open the next tab - "Guest or public" . We exhibit:

    • enable network discovery;
    • enable file and printer sharing.

    5) Last tab , here we display:

    • disable sharing;
    • Use 128-bit encryption to secure shared connections;
    • disable password protected sharing.

    Important!

    A similar setting in these three tabs (private, guest, all networks) must be done on all computers on the local network (and not just on the one to which the printer is connected)! Otherwise, you will subsequently not be able to connect to the local printer.

    Allowing access to the printer

    First you need to go to: control panel/hardware and sound/devices and printers . If you have the drivers installed and everything is OK with the printer, here you should see it in the tab "Printers" .

    Right-click on the printer you want to make network (public) and go to it properties. In properties, open the tab "Access" and check a couple of boxes:

    1. Share this printer;
    2. rendering print jobs on client computers.

    Save your settings.

    Printer sharing (clickable!)

    To check whether your printer has become local, open a regular Explorer (you can open any folder). On the left in the menu you should see your computer name . In my case - the computer name is "Desktop-UGHM5R" - click on it and see that ours is present in the window that opens "shared" printer.

    Now you can start setting up other computers to enable them to print to the printer.

    Note: Please note that next to the name of your PC, the names of computers that are on the same local network with you will be displayed.

    How to connect a network printer and start printing

    Important! Before you start connecting the printer, you must configure three network tabs: private, guest, all networks (I wrote about this just above). If you do not give permission to use shared folders, printers, etc., you will not see the printer or connect it!

    1) Turn on the computer from which we want to print (note: the PC is connected to a local network in which there is a computer with a connected printer).

    Open File Explorer and click on the tab "Net"(on the left in the menu). Next, you should see a list of computers that are on the same local network as you: open the one that has a public printer (which we made network in the previous step).

    3) 1-2 minutes (usually) will be required to install and configure the driver. At this time, it is better not to touch the PC or close this window (example in the screenshot below).

    4) Next, if everything went well, the printer appears in the tab "Printers" and it can be used. Try opening a Word document, press the Ctrl+P key combination and send the document to print (don’t forget to select the printer; the default printer is usually not the one you added).

    Printer connected // task completed

    Actually, that’s all there is to setting up Windows to create a public local printer. As you can see, in this regard, in Windows (7, 8, 10) everything is organized quite simply - you can figure it out yourself.

    An even more convenient and versatile option would be to connect the printer directly to a Wi-Fi router. This way there will be no need to keep the PC connected to the printer turned on. In principle, there is nothing complicated there either - usually a special one goes to the router. Software that performs similar settings in automatic mode.

    How to connect a printer to a computer

    There are only two ways to connect the printer to a computer:

    1. Local.
      This method involves connecting the printer to a computer via Wi-Fi or USB. In this case, the connection occurs using the driver included with the purchased printer. The driver can also be downloaded from the Internet. As a rule, connecting in this way eliminates any problems with the connected printer, unlike the second method.
    2. Network.
      With this method, the printer can be connected to a computer locally and, thanks to the shared access provided, it is also possible to connect this printer to other computers on the local network or to a print server. It is very easy to make a network printer: just connect it to a computer or print server using Wi-Fi, USB or Lan and open access to all users of this network.

    Situations often arise when there are fewer printers in an office or home than there are computers on a given network, and when printing documents, additional printer settings are required so that it can print over the network.

    An example of the most common situation. There is a printer to which one computer is connected, and printing is required from another over the network. In such cases, there are several options for connecting the printer to a second computer. The simplest ones are the following:

    Connect a network printer using a computer

    Sometimes, in order for two computers to work with a printer over a network at the same time, additional settings are necessary (if the “No access” error occurs during setup of a network printer).

    Method No. 1

    Initially, you should find out the name of the computer (to which the printer is connected). To do this, you need to right-click on the “My Computer” icon. In this menu, select the “Properties” checkbox and in it – a tab called “Computer name”. In Windows7 software, this tab will be the last one in the list of “Properties” marks. You can also get to this menu in another way - by going to the control panel menu, find the “System” icon (“System Properties”).

    Having found out the name of the computer we need, we can move on to another computer. In it, click on the “START” button, or you can simply open one of the folders. Next, in the address line (folder address) that appears at the top, you must enter \\computer name. Example: if the computer name is “printserver”, then you need to enter “\\printserver” in the line. After these manipulations, press ENTER. Thus, we get to the remote computer and can see all the network resources available to it. These include a printer that can be installed by simply clicking on it.

    If the printer does not appear in the list of available network resources, then you need to open access to it. To do this, go to the computer to which the printer is connected. In it we go to “START”, then selecting the “Printers” tab and in this window that appears we should right-click on the printer that we need. In this menu window, select “Properties”, then find the “Access” tab. In this tab, you need to check the box next to “Share”. Thus, this printer will appear in the list of network resources.

    Method number 2

    You need to go to the control panel and select the “devices and printers” folder from the proposed menu. Then click “Add a printer” (or in other versions “Add a printer”). In the New Device Installation Wizard window that appears, you need to click the “Next” button, then selecting “Connect to a printer” or “Browse printers on the network”, confirming your choice by clicking the “Next” button. A new window that appears will offer a list of devices on the network, where you will need to find the printer you need and confirm its selection by clicking the “Next” button. The process will be completed by the operating system without your further participation.

    Note

    There are cases (if computers on the network have different versions of Windows) when you may need a printer driver during installation. Such a driver can be taken from the disk that came with the printer, or downloaded from the Internet - from the website of the manufacturer of this printer.

    If the printer is connected to the network directly using its own network interface or through a print server, then it is easier to connect such a device using the installation wizard, which, as a rule, comes with the printer (MFP) in the form of a CD.

    If it is not possible to use such a disk, then you should use another method. To do this, go to the “Add Printer Wizard” following the instructions in Method 2. Here you should select the “Local printer” checkbox and then “Create a new port”. In this menu, select “Standard TCP/IP port”. The “Add Printer Wizard” will appear on the screen. In the “Printer name/IP address” field, you must enter the IP address of the printer, which is specified in the instructions and settings of the printer itself. Having completed all the steps correctly, the process can be completed with a few clicks of the “Next” button in the windows that appear.

    Some printing devices require additional settings, which include TCP/IP port settings.

    If your home or business has several computers (PCs) and only one printer, then it would be more advisable to connect the printer via a local network. This will allow you to print documents from any computer, even if the gadget itself is not directly connected to an active computer.

    Connecting and installing the driver

    First of all, you need to connect the printer to your PC and install all the necessary drivers. You can do this as follows:

    After this, the printing device will operate in standard mode. Also, modern models require the installation of a cartridge and one sheet of paper. This is necessary for diagnostics, and the result will be printed on a piece of paper.

    There is also a way to connect via Wi-Fi (if this function is supported):

    1. Need to install drivers on the PC, and plug the device into a power outlet.
    2. After reboot it is required turn on Wi-Fi on PC.
    3. Go to Start and go to devices and printers.
    4. Select the required gadget and right-click to make it default device.

    After these steps, all files for printing will be sent to the device via a wireless network.

    Creating a local network

    To connect and configure a printer via a local network in Windows 7, 8, 10, you first need to create it:

    1. Go to control Panel.
    2. Choose network control center and general access.
    3. In the left column go to changing adapter settings.
    4. Right-click on the local network icon and select properties.
    5. Place a check mark next to the line Internet Protocol Version 4 and go into properties.
    6. A window will open with computer address, netmask and default gateway. The first line must be changed to 192.168.1.1; this value will change for each connected PC. Change the second line to the form 255.255.255.0. The third line must differ from the first by at least one digit.
    7. After which you need to select type of future network. It is recommended to choose homemade.

    For the second computer, we repeat the instructions, but change the last digit of the address, for example to 192.168.1.2. The mask and gateway must be identical, otherwise the computers will not connect. This will create a local network.

    Sharing the printer

    To allow anyone to print files, you must share the printer on the network. To do this, follow the instructions:

    1. Press keyboard shortcut Win+R.
    2. Enter command controlprinters and execute it.
    3. All gadgets will be displayed in the window that appears. Necessary choose one of them, set as default and go to its properties.
    4. In the access tab provide general.
    5. Also provide drivers that will install automatically to connected devices.
    6. The system will ask folder path with the necessary drivers. The files need to be run and the contents extracted.
    7. Select folder to extract files or create a new one.
    8. Click on review and select the path to this folder.
    9. Go to devices and printers and go to the property of the selected device.
    10. On the security tab, check the box next to the stamp in the column allow.

    If after trying to connect to the printer an error appears, then you should check whether Windows Defender is enabled. Quite often, when it is activated, all problems with gaining access go away. After this, the local printer will become a network printer.

    How to connect to a network printer

    You can find a network printer and connect to it on another computer using the following scheme:


    After this, just open any file for printing and print it through the top menu. The network device will be displayed in absolutely any program on the PC with which it is possible to send a document for printing.

    Connecting a network printer

    Simply connecting the printer to the local network is not always effective. For example, it will be impossible to print a file if the PC connected to the printing device is not functioning. To avoid such inconveniences, use network printers. Their connection occurs as follows:

    1. Connect cable into the Ethernet port on the printer, and the other end into the router.
    2. If a Wi-Fi connection is supported, it is enough enter password and login to connect to the network.
    3. Press keyboard shortcut Win+R, enter the command controlprinters. Execute it.
    4. There will be install button. Click on it.
    5. Add local printer, click next.
    6. Mark line creating a new port and proceed further.
    7. Provide address device, which can be found in the settings. Uncheck the device poll line. Click next and wait.
    8. In a new window go to parameters and set the following values:
    9. Install drivers from disk.
    10. After which set a name device, click next.
    11. In the last window, check the box so that the device was used by default.

    In order for more than one computer to have access to the printer, you need to complete all of the above steps on each PC.

    In office buildings, there are often several workstations in one office, equipped with computer equipment that allows you to perform multiple production tasks. However, the printer for printing is often installed only in a single copy. Therefore, you have to use portable flash drives in order to be able to print various documents. Now there are many practical ideas on how to connect a printer over a local network. Focusing on one of the proposed methods, it is possible to provide comfortable and fast printing of documents to each user whose computer equipment is connected to the printing machine via a local network.

    In large offices there is no point in using separate printers for each PC

    To ensure that everyone can use the same peripheral, you need to make some changes to your printing settings.

    Setting up a printer over a network begins with the fact that changes are made on the main personal computer, to which a single printing machine is connected, to ensure unhindered access via the network to all other office employees.

    Adding a local device

    When faced with the serious task of connecting a printing device to a local network so that every user has free access to printing, you must first determine which PC the printer will be connected to.

    It is important to consider that such a computer must have acceptable technical resources to ensure efficient operation and prevent freezes. Next, you need to connect the device to your computer via a USB cable. The computer itself will detect the newly detected device and offer to install the appropriate drivers. Once you have completed installing the drivers and printing a test page, you can follow the further recommendations on how to set up your printer over the network.

    It is very important to allow shared access to the specified printing machine over the created network. Initially, go to the Control Panel, after which you go to the “Printers and Faxes” tab. All detected devices located on the local network will be displayed there. You should indicate exactly the one to which you plan to provide public access.

    Right-click on the required icon and go to the “Properties” tab. In the dialog box that opens, select “Access”. It is there that the function is located that provides access for the peripheral device to all other computers, and it is also at this stage that the network name is assigned.

    On the “Security” tab, permission is set for all local users. This completes setting up the printer via a local network from the main computer, but it is extremely important to configure all other computers located in the local space without errors.

    Setting up other local computers

    The number of computers that can be involved in a local network is not limited. It all depends on production tasks or private interests. Each PC can use printing resources if it is configured correctly in advance.

    Setting up network printing

    It is important to remember that the main computer and the printing machine itself must be turned on, otherwise printing will be impossible. It is this parameter that one also pays close attention to when choosing a computer to which peripheral equipment is connected.

    In order to connect a network device to make printouts, you need to go to the Control Panel, go to “Devices and Printers”, then find the “Add” tab on the horizontal taskbar. By clicking on it, the PC will automatically start searching for an available printing device, and after a while a list of all found peripheral equipment will appear.

    In most cases, one available printer will be found, although multiple devices may be found. The user is obliged to select only the device from which it is intended to print documents in the future.

    Fortunately, modern operating systems are designed in such a way that they are able to independently find the required drivers, so no special user interaction is required here, other than confirming the desired selection of peripheral equipment. The operating system itself will detect the drivers and carry out the installation itself, so you just need to wait for the process to complete successfully.

    The printer has long been an integral attribute of any office. It also lives and works in the homes of the vast majority of users. Our review is intended for those who are connecting a printer for the first time. After reading, you will know exactly how to connect the printer and how to set it up.

    So, you have a computer and a box with a printer. Task: the printer needs to be connected to the computer and configured. When starting a task, we need to make sure we have the necessary tools to solve it. What to do:

    1. Make sure you have a cord that will connect the printer and computer. If it is missing, it must be purchased at any computer store. Don't bother with the names of cords and printers. It is enough for the seller to say that you need a USB cord for the printer - everyone will understand you perfectly.
    2. To install the printer, you will need an installation disk with drivers. It usually comes with the printer. Make sure you have it. If not, you need to go to the printer manufacturer’s website, find your printer model there and download drivers for it.
    3. Make sure that your computer has a CD-ROM reader and that there is free space on your computer's hard drive (Disk C).

    How to connect a printer to a computer.

    Option 1.

    • Connect the printer to the electrical network;
    • Connect the cord to the printer that will be used to communicate with the computer. You don't need to connect it to your computer yet;
    • Insert the installation disk (included with the printer) into the computer's disk drive;
    • After starting the disc, follow the prompts;
    • Installation and configuration will occur automatically.

    Option 2 (if there is no installation disk).

    • Install printer drivers on your computer system. From the folder in which you previously saved them, run the file;
    • Connect the computer and printer with the appropriate cord;
    • The computer system will find the printer itself. If everything is done correctly, the printer is ready for use.

    Option 3 - use the Found New Hardware Wizard.

    • Download and save the printer drivers to a folder on your computer’s hard drive;
    • Connect the printer to the electrical network;
    • Connect the computer and printer using the appropriate cord;
    • Go to the Start menu, then Printers and Faxes, then find and click Add a printer;
    • Complete the installation using the Installation Wizard.

    Key points about working with the Installation Wizard:

    • Select connection port (LPT1 or USB)
    • Select the manufacturer and model of your printer from the list;
    • If your device is not in the list, click “Have from disk”;
    • If the drivers are on your hard drive, click “Browse” and specify the path to the folder with the drivers;
    • Give the printer a name;
    • To check the functionality, check the box next to “Yes” in the “Print a test page?” dialog box;
    • Click "Finish" to complete the settings;
    • If the test page is printed without defects, pressing the OK button will close the window.

    We looked at how to connect a printer. I would like to believe that there will be no more issues with connection. Now we know all the steps that are needed to get a complete answer to the question “how to connect a printer.”

    There is another issue that we have not considered: connecting to a network printer. In our case, a network printer is a printer that is connected to a local network. There is a network of several computers and one printer with shared access. How to connect to it:

    1. Go to the “Start” menu, then select “Printers and Faxes”;
    2. Select “Printer Installation”. Alternatively: in the “Printers and Faxes” window, select free space. The right mouse button will bring up a menu in which we select “Install a printer”;
    3. In the “Setup Wizard” that opens, click “Next” and then select “Network printer” + “Next”;
    4. Select “Browse printers” + “Next”;
    5. From the list, select the name of the printer that is shared + “Next”;
    6. When asked “Use as default”, click “Yes” + “Next”;
    7. Click “Finish” - this will complete the connection process.
    8. The system may ask you to install printer drivers - click “Yes” or “Install”.
    9. Click “Finish” - and now you have access to printing. All your documents can be printed on this printer.
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