Install a printer in Windows 10

When you connect a printer to your PC or add a new printer to your home network, you can usually start printing right away. Windows 10 supports most printers, so you probably won’t have to install special printer software. Additional printer drivers and support might be available if you update Windows 10.

Note: If your PC is running Windows 10 S, some printers might not work with it, or they might have limited functionality. For more info, see Device support on Windows 10 S.

If your printer is on and connected to the network, Windows should find it easily. Available printers can include all printers on a network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers or printers that are plugged into another computer and shared on the network. You might need permission to install some printers.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
Open Printers & scanners settings

Select Add a printer or scanner. Wait for it to find nearby printers, then choose the one you want to use, and select Add device.

If your printer isn’t in the list, select The printer that I want isn’t listed, and then follow the instructions to add it manually using one of the options.

If you use wireless access points, extenders or multiple wireless routers with separate SSIDs, you’ll need to ensure that you’re connected to the same network as the printer for your PC to find and install it.

If you have a new wireless printer that hasn’t been added to your home network, read the instructions that came with the printer, and check the printer manufacturer’s website to learn more and to get up-to-date software for your printer.

In most cases, all you have to do to set up a printer is to connect it to your PC. Simply plug the USB cable from your printer into an available USB port on your PC, and turn the printer on.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
Open Printers & scanners settings

Select Add a printer or scanner. Wait for it to find nearby printers, then choose the one you want to use, and select Add device.

If your printer isn’t in the list, select The printer that I want isn’t listed, and then follow the instructions to add it manually using one of the options.

Need more help?

If you’re looking for help with a scanner, see Install and use a scanner in Windows 10.

If your printer appears «offline,» find out how you can Change a printer’s status to «online.»

If you’re having problems with your printer after updating to the latest version of Windows 10, see Fix printer problems after updating Windows 10. For driver issues, see the «Step 3: Update drivers» section of this page.

How to Find the Printer on Your Network in Windows 10

Learn how to fix printer issues in Windows 10, 8, and 7

An inability to find a printer on a network usually occurs when you are trying to set up a connection, but it could also occur when attempting to use a wireless printer that was already connected. The printer will not appear in the list of available printers and devices when performing a search.

Causes of Inability to Find Printer on Network

The most common and easily resolved reason for this issue is that the printer is offline. However, it could also be caused by several other factors, including the following:

• Disabled Windows settings.
• The printer has not been added to the homegroup.
• The printer is not connected to the network correctly.
• Updates are required.
• Network issues exist.

How to Fix Inability to Find Printer on Network

The solution for this issue can be as simple as a reboot. If this does not allow you to connect, checking settings, installing updates, and checking for network problems are the best steps to take.

Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

Restart your Windows system. Sometimes you’ll also need to wait for your Windows system to install updates. Often, the combination of restarting the printer and your Windows system will resolve odd connection issues.

Restart your router and modem. Doing so is another way to resolve simple network connectivity problems.

When you restart your router, you will interrupt the network connection for every device on the network, so if other people are connected to the network be sure to make them aware of the interruption.

Check your printer manufacturer’s instructions to learn how to update your printer’s firmware. On the printer, look through the menu options for a way to update the device. Download any newer version of the printer’s firmware detected and install it. This process may require a reboot of the printer.

Download and install any available Windows updates. If prompted, allow the system to restart. Repeat the process until you see a message that says no updates are available. Then, test printing.

Update your printer drivers in Windows. In most cases, you can find the most recent drivers for your device at the manufacturer’s website. Brother, Canon, Epson, and HP, for example, all provide device drivers online. Some manufacturers periodically release updates that fix problems, improve performance, or enhance security.

Driver update software may require you to remove existing drivers, so be prepared for a possible system restart as part of that process.

Update your router’s firmware to fix various connection problems with specific devices. In many cases, you can access the router administration page by entering your router’s network address in a browser. If restarting and updating devices don’t fix your network printer problem, you may need to adjust specific settings to get things working again.

Select alternative network connection methods in your printer’s administrative settings. If you consistently have difficulty connecting to a printer over your Wi-Fi network, you might try to establish either a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi direct connection, instead. Allowed connection methods may include wired networks (e.g., Ethernet), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, in addition to Apple’s AirPrint. Make sure to enable network printing options in your printer’s settings.

If possible, configure your router to assign a static IP address to your printer. This ensures that your printer can always be found at a specific address. Without this configuration, it is possible that your printer’s address could change after a restart. In most cases, from your router’s administrator page, you can find your printer on a list of devices currently on your network, then adjust a setting to always assign the device a specific IP address.

You also might enable universal plug and play settings on your router. Again, this will be a setting in your router’s administrative settings. Most often, this is a simple checkbox option that is either enabled or not. With plug and play enabled, your printer and Windows system may more easily connect over your network.

On your home network, connect to your Wi-Fi network and configure it as a “private” network in Windows. This will may it easier for devices on the network, such as your printer and Windows system, to “see” each other.

How to find printers in Windows 10

Original Title: Epson Printer

How do I find my printer in Windows 10. please.

Replies (5) 

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Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.

You can access your printer by the following steps.

Open Control Panel

Click on Device and Printers

Select Epson printer

Open Start Menu

Type Printers

Open Device and Printers

I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

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Rather than spending too much more time fiddling I’d simply Clean Reinstall the printer which always works, lasts longer and actually saves time:

Power up the printer, if wired unplug it’s USB cable from PC.

Right click Start button in Windows 8/ 10 to open Apps and Features (or in Windows 7 type it in Start Search) to Uninstall all the printer software. Restart.

Next copy and paste in Start search box: printui /s /t2

Right click result to Run as Administrator.

Open the Print Server properties, Remove the printer’s drivers for this printer and for any other printers you don’t use presently. If you get a message about access denied or the printer being in use and you cannot find the driver or any installed program that would account for this, you may restart the computer in a diagnostic startup and then use the printui command to remove the driver package(s) (see How to perform a diagnostic startup in Windows ). You must restart back to normal mode before you will be able to install the printer again.

Now type Control Panel in Start Search, open CP, choose Icon View. In Control Panel open Devices and Printers, right click the printer to delete the Printer and any scanner or fax of the same name. Restart PC.

G o to the printer model’s Support Downloads webpage to download and install the basic driver. If a wireless printer you will need the full software package to get it set up fully. If you want to be able to scan from the printer top to the PC then you’ll also need the full package .

Extract Printer software, right click Setup file to Run as Administrator. Follow the setup screens closely as you install the software. For USB it should prompt when to plug in the printer.

If you have further problems reply back with results of each step.

Over 100,000 helped in forums for 11 years. I don’t quit for those who are polite and cooperative.

Windows MVP 2010-21

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