Not all printers must be connected with the USB cable or via Ethernet cable: many printers include the WiFi connection module, so that they can print wirelessly from any device on the network and configured to access the printer wirelessly. Compared to installation with a cable, installation via WiFi could be slightly more difficult, especially on models that do not have a color display to configure the password for accessing the WiFi network of the router present in the home.
In this guide we will show you how to configure a WiFi printer on Windows by following all the steps necessary for a correct configuration, so as to have a perfectly operational printer at the end and ready to print wirelessly from any PC with Windows operating system present on the network.
READ ALSO: Connect the Wifi printer and solve wireless connection problems
Installing printer drivers on Windows
Even before doing anything on the printer or on the operating system of our PC, we strongly recommend installing the driver for the management of the chosen printer on Windows.
By installing the driver first, we will not have any problems when we perform the following steps, being able to count on the compatibility of the operating system.
Let's forget the drivers present with the classic CD in the printer packaging (often they are not updated) and get the drivers by indicating the printer model and reaching one of the download sites below, according to the manufacturer of our WiFi printer:
- HP
- Epson
- Canon
- Samsung
- Brother
- Lexmark
We open the reference page for our printer, insert the model name (paying particular attention to similar variants) and download the Windows driver recommended by the site.
We can also install only the driver package ignoring all the accessory programs that are often supplied with the printer, in most cases unnecessary (let's just take a look to see if there is any good photo retouching program or for the scanner, in case of a multifunction printer).
Note separately if we have a printer without a display: in this case we recommend downloading the management software together with the driver, so as to make the installation procedure much faster (we will have to configure the printer using WiFi Direct, as explained in the second part of the guide).
Configure WiFi password on the wireless printer
In order to print wirelessly, the WiFi printer must know the access password of our WiFi network.
On printers equipped with displays and buttons it is very simple to configure the access password: we access the settings directly from the display, identify the Wireless, WLAN or WiFi menu (depending on the models) and start a scan of the wireless networks present nearby.
As soon as we view our WiFi network, select it and enter the access password using the keys provided by the printer (in the models with integrated Fax there is the alphanumericok keypad in other models we will have to select the characters with the directional arrows on a virtual keyboard present on the display).
Enter the password and confirm and wait: if we have done everything correctly, the WiFi LED light of the printer will remain fixed and on the display we will see the level of the WiFi signal in a corner of the same.
If the wireless printer is without display, communicating the WiFi password will require the presence of a management system on a PC or a specific app for the smartphone.
We turn on the WiFi module on the printer and pocuriamoci the right app or program (just take a look at the Driver section at the manufacturer's site, there should also be the management or the link for the app), make sure you are connected to the network WiFi (from PC or smartphone) where we want the printer to be added and open the management software.
In the program or app we choose the configuration of the wireless printer and wait for the search for the printer.
A WiFi printer without display at the first power on will position itself in "WiFi ad hoc" mode, creating its own open network (without password) which can only be accessed with the management software.
The program or app will then connect to this WiFi network created ad hoc by the printer and communicate which WiFi network to connect to, also indicating the password.
The network information will be taken from the configuration device we used, which is why it is important to make this type of configuration be done from a device already connected to the WiFi network.
If we cannot use the management software to configure the WiFi, we will have no choice but to connect the printer to a PC via USB and configure the WiFi access via the management software, indicating this time the USB port where we have connected the printer.
Configuring the WiFi printer on Windows
Once the printer is connected to the WiFi network, it's time to add it as a network printer on Windows operating systems.
On Windows 10, simply click on the Start menu and type Printers and Scanners, to open the menu of the same name.
In the window that we will see, just click on Add a printer or scanner to start the search for the new WiFi printer.
After a few minutes we will see the name of the printer appear among the available devices, click on it and finally on Add to make it available to any program or operating system; the drivers installed in the first part of the guide will be used automatically.
On Windows 8.1 we will have to type in the Start Printer screen and click on the Device Settings item.
In the window that will open we click Add a device to start the search for the printer.
As soon as it is visible we click on it and add it to devices that can be used by Windows 8.1 and other programs.
Finally, if we have Windows 7 as the operating system, simply open the Start menu, type Printer and click on the Add printer item.
A new window will open where you can select the Add network, wireless or Bluetooth printer item.
The search for the printer on the network will start; as soon as it appears, select it and click Next to add it to the operating system.
READ ALSO: Install a printer on a PC with Windows and solve driver problems
