Connect a printer

Here's how to connect a printer in Windows, whether it's a network printer at the office or a printer plugged straight into your PC with USB.

Network printer

A network printer is connected to the office network by cable or Wi-Fi, and everyone on the network can use it.

1. Click Start and open Settings.
2. Choose Bluetooth & devices and Printers & scanners.
3. Click Add device. Windows looks for printers on the network.
4. Choose your printer and click Add device.

Printer not showing up? Click Add manually and follow the wizard. Some printers have to be added by IP address. Give us a call, and we'll do it together.

USB printer

1. Connect the USB cable from the printer to the PC, and turn on the printer.
2. Windows installs the drivers by itself. You can follow the progress in the taskbar.
3. Wait until the printer appears under Printers & scanners.

If the drivers don't install on their own, download them from the manufacturer's website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother) and run the installer.

Test page and default printer

Go to Settings, Printers & scanners, and click the printer. There you'll find Print test page under the printer properties, and Set as default if you have more than one printer. Turn off Let Windows manage my default printer so your choice sticks.

Common problems

• The printer shows up but won't print. Check that it's on with no error lights. Right-click the printer and choose See what's printing. If jobs are stuck, right-click and cancel them. If that doesn't help, search for “Services”, find Print Spooler and restart it.
• The printer shows as offline. Right-click the printer, choose See what's printing, click Printer in the menu and clear the check mark next to Use Printer Offline.
• The driver stopped working after a Windows update. Give us a call, and we'll update or reinstall the driver.

Many office printers can scan too. If you want to scan to email or to a folder, we'll set it up for you.