A printer is a device designed to convert a soft copy generated by a computer into a hard copy. The files such as images, pdf, docs and a lot more which we create on our computers and can access them on the screen, printer make those files physically accessible by printing it on a paper. Printing out documents, resumes, photos to frame is a forever game.
Connecting a printer with a PC is not rocket science as the CPU of a computer system provides a bunch of ports to connect output devices. Simply you have to find the right port and here you go converting blank papers into physical word files and PowerPoint slides.
USB printers are vastly common as they are affordable and easy to connect with almost every laptop. It can be used from a distance, it completely depends upon the length of the cable. The good thing about this connector is that it is faster and more versatile than other connectors.
But it becomes a little bit complicated when it comes to connecting a printer with a laptop. As most laptops don’t provide a set of ports to connect output devices, therefore, there are different ways to connect a printer with a laptop.
Contents
Connecting a USB Printer to a Laptop
USB printers are one of the most compatible ones when it comes to laptops. They are affordable and easy to use. How to connect a USB printer with a laptop is given below;
- Setup the printer:
This is the initial step of connecting this printer with your laptop. First of all, make sure that your printer is plugged in but switched off. Now arrange papers and ink respectively.
- Connect the Ethernet cable:
Now simply find the relevant port and connect the printer with your laptop
- Install the relevant software:
This is the last step before executing your setup. Mostly the laptop recognizes the printer and installs the required software by itself but in case it doesn’t install it automatically, browse for the relevant software and install it on your laptop.
USB printers come up with a few drawbacks. As it depends upon the length it includes a bunch of wires on your desk.
- Make sure that the printer is unplugged after you are done using it.
- Unlike USB pen drives and SD cards, you can safely remove the cable after completing your work without looking at the system tray.
Never turn off your printer while printing
Connecting a Wireless Printer to a Laptop
The second option is a wireless printer. There are a lot of advantages if you have a wireless printer as it is portable and will help you to avoid clutter on your desk. Nowadays most of the people who are using printers on daily basis as a part of their work prefer wireless printers over USB printers.
There are various ways to connect a laptop with a wireless printer majorly including either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). These are the two most used ways to connect wireless printers despite the fact that they are useful only when your home network is near the printer. Bluetooth mostly does not support more than 100m while Wi-Fi supports up to 300 feet.
Read also: What is the best printer with the cheapest ink cartridges?
The display screen of your printer will show the method of connection, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. Choose Wi-Fi and now move onto your laptop to set up the connection from your laptop. The first step is to initially connect your printer to your network connection by entering the SSID and password. It will probably ask you for the passcode while pairing your devices, that passcode will be provided with the printer
How to Connect a Wireless Printer to Windows 10?
It’s almost the same to connect a printer to every version of Microsoft Windows. You can add the printer similarly as we did in windows 7 but If you are not using the control panel follow the steps below,
- Use the short key “windows key + Q” to open the menu
- Click printers and scanners
- Hit add a printer
- Go for “the printer that I want isn’t listed”
- Now it depends upon you if you are using Bluetooth toggle to Bluetooth or go for Wi-Fi or any other network that you are using
- Choose the connected printer
You are all set to go!
How to connect a printer to Mac?
Install your printer to your network and make sure that your printer must support Air Print or bonjour.
- Hit the Apple Button and open the system preferences menu
- Select print and scan from the menu
- Select the network printer
- If it asks you to download and install but mostly the Mac OS X installs the printers automatically
We Have Reviewed: 8 Best Printer for Chromebooks
Conclusion
Connecting a printer with a laptop is a little bit complicated as compared to computers. Laptops offer fewer ports than computers and some of them do not provide ports to connect most of the output devices. There are two major ways to connect a printer with a laptop. Either with USB or Ethernet cable or wirelessly.
USB printers are easy to connect and are faster. All you have to do is to connect one side of the cable with the laptop and the other side with the printer. Meanwhile, wireless printers have various ways to connect mostly Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, They are more portable to use but you have to keep your devices near to work more swiftly.
