Double-click a Windows or Linux PC sharing a printer and you’ll see it shared printers. Open Windows Explorer or File Explorer and click the Network option to browse computers on your local network. RELATED: Customizing Your Network Sharing Settings You can also enable printer sharing while setting up a new printer. Visit the Printers list in the Control Panel, right-click the printer you want to share, and select Printer properties.Ĭlick the Sharing tab, enable sharing for the printer, and give it a name.
Once your computer makes a successful connection to the printer, the Add button at the bottom of the window will become active and you can click on it to add the printer.RELATED: How to Share Files Between Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs on a NetworkĪs with file sharing, you’ll need to visit the Network and Sharing Center in the Windows Control Panel, click Change advanced sharing settings, and enable “file and print sharing.” Macs and Linux PCs can’t connect to homegroups and use the more convenient sharing features built into modern versions of Windows, so you’ll have to set up printer sharing the old fashioned way. Under Address, enter the IP address for the printer (this is made up of four numbers separated by dots). Usually, this is Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), but for some HP printers you may need to choose HP Jet Direct. You will need to know the protocol used to connect to the printer. If you are installing an IP printer, select IP Printers at the top of the Printer Browser window. Once a connection has been successfully made, the Add button will become active and you can click on it to add your printer. Your computer will then attempt to make a connection to the printer. Select Default Browser and then choose a printer from the list. There will be two buttons at the top of the Printer Browser window that opens up next: Default Browser, and IP Printers. Next, click on the plus sign below the printer list.
To install a shared or IP printer, go to System Preferences, then select Printing under Print & Fax.
All you need to know is the printer’s IP address. You can even print to remote printers using the TCP/IP protocol. In addition to installing USB printers, you can also install printers that have been shared on the network. You may also need to install driver software if your printer has special features that are not enabled by the generic driver installed by the operating system.
You download the software from the website, then run an installer program which will guide you through the installation process. The procedure for installing the printer driver software will vary depending on the manufacturer, but it is generally straightforward. This may be the case if your printer is a recently released model. If your printer is not listed, you may need to visit the website for the printer’s manufacturer to download drivers. Your printer should be listed on the left hand side of the window. To see if your printer is recognized by the operating system, select Preferences from the Apple menu, then Print & Fax, and click on the Printing tab.
OS X includes printer drivers for most USB printers you can buy today. Once you have physically connected the printer and turned it on, it should be recognized by your Mac. The first step to adding a printer is to make sure the USB cable is properly connected to both the computer and the printer, and that the printer is plugged into a power outlet and turned on.