How to Connect to a Network Printer

Edited by David Howarth, LaurieWasHere, Loolooicy

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If you are working in a business establishment, chances are that there is local area network (LAN) or wireless are network (WLAN) in place. Most business enterprises prefer to make use of a shared printer as a way of cutting down operational costs. Discussed herein are steps and guidelines on how to locate and connect to a printer in a wireless area network (WLAN).

Edit Steps

1. 1
   Search in your working area or nearby office for a shared network printer. If the printer is not shared, you will have to share it.
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2. 2
   To share a printer, follow the steps below.
   • Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ from the popup menu.
   • In the new Window that appears, select the printer you want to share and right click on it. In the popup menu select ‘Sharing and Security’.
   • In the dialog box that appears click on ‘Share this printer’. This will display the name of the printer. Note this down as it will enable you to quickly locate the printer on the network,
   • In the new page that appears click on ‘Share this folder. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’ to apply the settings.
3. 3
   Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and in the popup menu double click on ‘My Computer’. The printer settings ought to found under the ‘System Task’ if not, click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ option in the popup menu that appears therein.
4. 4
   In the Printers and Faxes Window that appears, under the ‘Printer Task’ click ‘Add a printer’. This will enable you to add a printer that is closest to you in the wireless network.
5. 5
   In the Add printer wizard that appears, click ‘Next” to start the process of locating and adding a printer to your PC. In the new page that appears, you will be provided with two options, i.e. Local Printer Attached to this computer and A network printer or a printer attached to another computer. Choose the latter and click ‘Next’. In the new page that appears, you will be prompted to specify the printer to connect to. Choose the option ‘Browse for a printer’ and click ‘Next’. This will locate the nearest printer next to you. The process may take quite some time to complete so be patient.
6. 6
   Upon finishing the search, all printers that are attached to the network will be listed. Double click on the name of the printer that you noted down earlier.
7. 7
   Upon completing the installation procedure, you will be prompted to print a test page. This is a test to ensure that the connection is okay.