How to Attach a Printer to a Wireless Router

Connect a printer to a wireless router network

You can attach a wireless printer to a wireless router by making it the network printer on your wireless network. Printers come equipped with CD installation wizards that walk you through the wireless network connection process. To add your printer to the network, get the password you established when you set up your wireless router. This may be a WEP or WAP passphrase, depending on how you set up your network. If this is a brand new printer, have the ink cartridges and paper ready to install before you attach the printer to the network.

Instructions

1. Plug in your printer and turn it on. Follow any initial instructions that appear on the menu screen, such as inserting the ink cartridges and paper.

2. Attach the printer to one of your network computers with the USB cable that came with the printer. This is a temporary connection to add the printer to the wireless network.

3. Insert the printer installation CD in the computer. Double-click to open the install wizard if it doesn't automatically open.

4. Follow the prompts on the wizard. You'll be asked to enter your wireless network WEP or WAP passphrase. You may also be asked for your SSID, or network name.

5. Unplug the printer from the computer once the password has been recognized. Follow any remaining wizard steps and click complete. Some wizards may prompt you to print a test document.

6. Open a document and print a copy if your wizard didn't prompt you to. Install the printer software from the installation CD on all the network computers that will use the printer.

References

• Microsoft Windows: Install a Printer on a Home Network
• HP: Get Started with Wireless Printing