There are several ways to set up a printer over a network on Windows 7. The printer can be connected to the network as a stand-alone or peripheral device to one of the computers, making it accessible to other computers in the network or workgroup. Read on to learn how to set up a printer over a network on Windows 7.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Install a network printer
Step 1. Find out the name that was assigned to the network printer
Contact your network administrator if you do not know the name of the printer you want to install
Step 2. Turn on the printer
Step 3. Click on the "Start" button or on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen
Step 4. Open the "Devices and Printers" section
Step 5. Click on the "Add Printer" button, and then the installation wizard will appear
Step 6. Click on the "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer" option
Step 7. Click on the name of the printer you want to install to select it from the list
Step 8. Click on the "Next" button
Step 9. Click on the "Install Driver" button if you are asked to do so
If you are connected to a network, you may be asked for an administrator password
Step 10. Click on the "Finish" button to complete the printer installation and close the installation wizard
Method 2 of 4: Set up Sharing on the HomeGroup network
Step 1. Sit down at the computer to which the printer cord is connected
Step 2. Click on the "Start" button or the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen
Step 3. Click on the "Control Panel" button
Step 4. Enter "Homegroup" in the search field
The search box is in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.
Step 5. Click on "Homegroup" when it appears in the search results
In the "Homegroup" section, click on the "Turn on file and printer sharing" link
Step 6. Check the box next to Printers
Step 7. Click on the "Save changes" button
There should already be a check mark next to the "Printers" option
Step 8. Sit down at the computer on which you want to share the printer
Step 9. Click on the "Start" button
Step 10. Select "Control Panel"
Step 11. Enter the phrase "Homegroup" in the search field
Step 12. Select "Homegroup" from the search results
Step 13. Click on the "Add Printer" button
Step 14. Click on the "Install driver" button in the dialog box
It will appear if you need to install a driver for the printer.
Step 15. Open the printer menu as if it were physically connected to the computer
To do this, open any program and click on the "Print" dialog box in it.
To print documents from a remote computer, the computer to which the printer is connected must be turned on
Method 3 of 4: Print a test page
Step 1. Click on the "Start" button and select "Devices and Printers"
Step 2. Find your printer and right click on it
Step 3. Select the "Printer Properties" option
Step 4. On the "General" tab, click on the "Test Print" button
Method 4 of 4: What to do if the network printer won't print on the remote computer
Step 1. Make sure that printer sharing is enabled on the host computer
Step 2. Sit down at the remote computer
Open Control Panel> Devices and Printers
Step 3. If you see a printer icon, right-click on it and select the "Remove device" option
Step 4. At the top of the window, click the "Add Printer" button
Step 5. Select "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer"
Step 6. If your printer does not appear in the window that appears, do the following:
Step 7. Click on the link "The printer that I want isn't listed."
Step 8. Click on the "Select a shared printer by name" option
Example: \ IP-35_64BIT-PC \ HP LaserJet 6P>. Then click on the "Next" button
Step 9. If you do not know the exact name and path to the printer, print a test page on the host computer
Step 10. The name will be listed next to the "Computer name" option
Step 11. In the last dialog box, click on the "Test Print" button
Advice
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi printers can be connected to a network without being connected to another computer or server.
- You can share your homegroup with any printer that has a USB port.