How do i get my computer to recognize my wireless printer

Connecting and using a printer on a W-Fi network is normally a quick and easy process. There may be some troubleshooting steps required depending on how the printer is connected to the network and how your computer is configured. Sometimes the printer may not be connected to the network, or your computer's firewall might be blocking the printer. Also, if the printer is shared through another computer on the network, the settings on that computer may need to be modified.

Table of Contents Show

Check the Wi-Fi Printer Settings
Check the Settings on Your Computer
Check for Firewall Settings on Your Computer
Check the Settings on the Computer Sharing the Printer
What can I do if I can’t find wireless printer on PC?
What to do when Windows can’t find wireless printer
1. Enable ‘Find Devices and Content’
2. Check your Homegroup
3. Properly add the printer to your network
4. Use Advanced printer setup
5. Run a wireless connectivity test
6. Disable network adapter
7. Repair network problems
8. Install the latest printer driver updates
9. Check for updates
10. Run the printer troubleshooter
Why is my computer not detecting my wireless printer?
How do I get my computer to recognize my wireless HP printer?
How do I connect my wireless printer to my laptop wirelessly?

Check the Wi-Fi Printer Settings

If the printer on your network has Wi-Fi built into it, check the settings on the printer to make sure it is properly connected to the network. Printer manufacturers use slightly different troubleshooting methods, but this is a common problem so it is typically easy to find the solution in the printer's user manual. If you don't have the user manual, look on the support section of the printer manufacturer's website.

Check the Settings on Your Computer

Windows 7 has a helpful troubleshooting tool that can identify the source of many printing problems, including connection glitches. Simply running this diagnostic tool could solve the problem. The troubleshooter is described in the Windows 7 support link in the References section; it can determine whether the network settings on your machine are correct and check many other issues that may be unique to your company's network set-up.

Check for Firewall Settings on Your Computer

Sometimes your computer's firewall, which is designed to stop attacks from malicious software, can also block some network settings that are required for printing. Depending on the firewall's configuration, it may be that it is being overprotective of your computer and is not allowing the computer to see the printer on the local network. The firewall settings vary depending on the vendor, so it is best to consult the user guide for your firewall or to visit the vendor's website to consult its support resources.

If the printer you are trying to use is being shared through another computer on the company network, check the sharing permissions and settings on that computer. Make sure the computer sharing the printer is turned on and has not entered sleep or hibernate mode. The computer must be connected to the network for anyone else to have access to the printer.

by Ivan Jenic

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and... read more

Updated on August 2, 2018

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What can I do if I can’t find wireless printer on PC?

Enable ‘Find Devices and Content’
Check your Homegroup
Properly add the printer to your network
Use Advanced printer setup
Run a wireless connectivity test
Disable network adapter
Repair network problems
Install the latest printer driver updates
Check for updates
Run the printer troubleshooter

I know that most Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 users who tried installing their printers on a wireless network are having issues connecting to it. I can tell you that if you carefully follow the steps below, in the order they are described, you will be able to fix your Wireless Printer if your Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 device does not recognize it.

Even though your network connection is working flawlessly and also the Wireless Printer is connected to the network, normally you can still have a lot of issues connecting to it. Some of the common issues that may appear are an incorrect setting of the Wireless printer you might have overlooked or Windows 10/ Windows 8.1 does not have the feature “Find devices and content switch”.

What to do when Windows can’t find wireless printer

1. Enable ‘Find Devices and Content’

Move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the window.
From the menu that appears left click or tap on the “Settings” feature.
Now from the Settings submenu left click or tap on the “Change PC settings” option.
Left click or tap on the “Network” button presented in the “Change PC settings” menu.
Left click or tap on the “Connections” button.
Now select your network connection by left clicking or taping on it.
Enable the feature that says “Find devices and content”.
Close the windows you opened so far and reboot your operating system.
When the device starts check again if you can find your Wireless Printer.

RELATED: How to fix printer queue in Windows 10, 8, 7

2. Check your Homegroup

Move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the screen.
Left click or tap on the “Search” feature.
In the search box write the following: “This PC” and hit the Enter button on the keyboard.
Left click or tap on the “This PC” icon that appears after the search.
Now look under “Homegroup” and see if you can find the Wireless Printer.
If it is not under the “Homegroup” topic search for “Workgroup or domain” and try to find your Wireless Printer over there.

3. Properly add the printer to your network

Now let’s try to properly add the wireless printer to the network.
Turn on the Wireless Printer first.
Now from the instructions manual that came with the Wireless printer follow the instructions on how to add it to the network.
Next you will need to log in to your Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 device which is connected to the same network.
Move the mouse cursor over to the upper right side of the screen.
Left click or tap on the “Search” feature presented in the menu that pops up.
In the search box you will need to write the following: “network” without the quotes.
After the search has finished left click or tap on the “Network” icon.
Now with the printer turned on check to see if in the Network menu you can see the Wireless Printer.

— RELATED: FIX: Printer is offline in Windows 7, 8, 10

4. Use Advanced printer setup

Move the mouse over to the upper right side of the screen.
From the menu that pops up left click or tap on the “Search” feature.
In the search box, you will need to write the following: “Advanced printer setup” without the quotes.
After the search has finished, left click or tap on the “Advanced printer setup” icon.
Now you can choose the “Choose a printer on the list” and search for the printer.
If the printer isn’t there, go back and left click or tap on the “The printer that I want isn’t listed”
Enter the printers name in the dialog box.
Left click or tap on the “Next” button.
Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the process.

5. Run a wireless connectivity test

Check to see if the printer has the wireless option turned on
Note: usually the wireless printers have a blue icon that displays if the wireless is working or not.
Follow the instructions that came with the wireless printer and conduct a wireless connectivity test.

RELATED: FIX: Windows 10 won’t open Devices and Printers

6. Disable network adapter

Move the mouse over to the upper right side of the screen.
Left click or tap on the “Search” feature.
In the search box write the following: “Network and Sharing”.
Press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
After the search has finished, left click or tap on the “Network and Sharing Center” icon.
Left click or tap on the “Change Adapter Settings” feature.
Right click or hold tap on your network adapter.
Left click or tap on the “Disable” feature from the menu that appears.

Note: You might be asked for an administrator account and password.
Now hold tap or right click on the network adapter again and left click on the “Enable” option.

7. Repair network problems

Move the mouse over to the upper right side of the screen.
After the menu pops up you will need to left click or tap on the Search feature.
In the search box write the following: “Identify and repair”.
After the search has finished left click or tap on the “Identify and repair network problems” icon.
Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the troubleshooting process .

8. Install the latest printer driver updates

Check on the Wireless Printer Manufacturer’s website to see if you have the latest drivers installed. This is usually one of the most common issues if your printer is not recognized on the network.

9. Check for updates

Move the mouse cursor over to the upper right side of the screen.
From the menu that appears left click or tap on the “Search” feature.
In the search dialog box write the following: “Windows Update”.
After the search has finished left click or tap on the “Windows Update settings” icon.
Now from the window that appears left click or tap on the “Check now” button.
You will get to a “Select updates you want to install” page check for any updates that are related to the printer.
Left click or tap on the drivers for the printer if there are any and left click or tap on the “OK” button.
Now go back to the Windows Update page and left click or tap on the “Install updates” button.

10. Run the printer troubleshooter

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If your computer can’t detect your wireless printer, you can also try to fix the problem by running the built-in printer troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooter >run the printer troubleshooter.

There it is, a short description on what to do if you’re Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 device does not find the Wireless Printer signal. If you do have any additional questions related to this article, let us know in the comments section below and we will help you further.

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Why is my computer not detecting my wireless printer?

Remove and Re-Add Your Printer in Windows If this happens, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and remove it. Then click Add a Printer or Scanner to re-add it to the device list. Incredibly (and frustratingly), this often gets things up and running again.