Adding a printer to the network depends on the printer hardware. A Wi-Fi printer joins the network directly, an Ethernet printer plugs into the router, and a USB-only printer needs a computer or print server to share it.
Does this affect you?
Use this guide if you want several computers or phones to print to the same printer instead of keeping it attached to one device.
Connect a Wi-Fi printer directly
Most current printers support this and do not need a shared computer.
- Turn on the printer and keep it within good range of the router.
- Open the printer wireless or network setup menu.
- Choose the wireless setup wizard and select your Wi-Fi network.
- Enter the Wi-Fi password exactly.
- Wait for the confirmation page or solid Wi-Fi icon.
- On each computer or phone, add the printer from Windows Printers & scanners, macOS Printers & Scanners, or the mobile print menu.
Once connected, devices on the same Wi-Fi should be able to find it without extra cables.
Connect a printer by Ethernet
Ethernet is stable and works well when the printer is near the router.
- Plug an Ethernet cable from the printer network port into a normal LAN port on the router, not the WAN/Internet port.
- Power on the printer and wait while the router assigns an address.
- Print a network configuration page and confirm it has an IP address.
- Add the printer from each computer. It should appear as a network printer.
Share a USB-only printer
Use this if the printer has no Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The sharing computer must stay on and awake.
- On Windows, open Printers & scanners, select the printer, open printer properties, and enable sharing on the Sharing tab.
- On Mac, open System Settings > General > Sharing, enable Printer Sharing, and select the printer.
- On other computers, add the printer as a shared printer from the same network.
More control
Avoid guest Wi-Fi
Guest networks isolate devices. Put the printer on the main trusted network so computers and phones can discover it.
Reserve a fixed address
Use your router DHCP reservation feature to keep the printer IP address from changing after restarts or power outages.
Use a print server for USB printers
A small print server can put a USB-only printer on the network without leaving a computer running.
Mesh and multiple routers
If devices cannot see the printer across a mesh or second router, check AP mode, bridge mode, or network segmentation settings.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Install a printer in Windows (2025)
- Apple Support – Share a printer on your network (2025)
- HP Support – Connect Your Printer to a Wireless Network (2025)