Times change and so does Windows. If you've recently moved from a Windows Server 2012 and Windows 7 or viii environments into Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10, things are a little unlike.

The old means to connect to a network printer are all the same there. They may look a little unlike, too. And then nosotros'll show you how to connect to a network printer in Windows 10 or Server 2019. Our favorite style is the last method.

Use Add Printers & Scanners

The new Windows Settings world works the same as in the Control Panel, simply it looks different enough to crusade defoliation for some. Notation that if this is at work and you're non an administrator, the printer must be on the network and the driver already installed. If information technology'southward not installed, you'll become a prompt to enter the administrator business relationship name and password.

  1. In the Outset card, type add printers. When the effect Add a printer or scanner shows, select it.
  1. When the Printers & scanners window opens, select Add together a printer or scanner. It will start searching for available printers.
  1. It may look like it'southward still searching, even though all the printers available are showing. Find the printer needed, select it, and then the Add device button volition show. Select it.
  1. The printer will install. There'll exist a progress bar and when it's done, information technology'll say Ready.

Connect to a Network Printer Through a Network Share

Here'southward a way to install a printer that'south different from what you may exist used to. It requires that the printer is shared and on the network. Unless y'all're the administrator, the driver needs to be installed on your local machine or server. Y'all need to know the path to the share also. It will look something similar \\Print-Server-Proper name, where Print-Server-proper name is the proper name of the server.

  1. Open File Explorer. In the location bar, enter the printer share path and then press the enter fundamental. File Explorer will observe the share.

All the shared printers will show.

  1. There are ii options:
    1. Install a single printer
    2. Install several printers at one fourth dimension

To install a single printer, double-click on it.

When the installation finishes, you'll see the newly installed printer's print queue window.

  1. To install several printers at once, select printers past clicking and dragging a rectangle effectually them, or hold downwards the Ctrl key while selecting printers individually. Either right-click and select Open or simply press the Enter key.

Connect to Network Printer via Control Panel

The proficient old command console is still in that location. If you've used it before, y'all know what to do. If not, it'due south almost the aforementioned equally adding a printer through Settings.

  1. Open the Start menu and select Control Panel. If information technology's not there, start typing control and information technology will show.
  1. Select Add a device in the Hardware category.
  1. Select Add a printer.
  1. It will bear witness a selection of printers. Select the 1 needed so select Next.

The printer will outset installing. Information technology may take a few seconds or minutes.

  1. Once the success window opens, there are options to Set as the default printer and Impress a test page. Set the printer as default if needed. It'south always a good idea to print a exam page. To get out, select Finish.

Connect to Network Printer via IP Address

The printer you want to install might non be hands visible, but if you accept the IP address for information technology you can employ that to connect with the printer. Administrator rights may exist required. The get-go office is the same as adding a printer through the Control Panel until you go to the step to choose the printer. Let'due south pick information technology upwards from there.

  1. At the Add a device window, select The printer that I desire isn't listed.
  1. If administrator rights are required, select Add a local or network printer as an ambassador.

Otherwise, the window beneath volition evidence. Select Add a printer using TCP/IP accost or hostname then select Next.

  1. For Device type: there are several choices. Web Services Device and Web Services Secure Print Device are used for special cases. If yous don't know what those hateful, you lot probably don't need them. Autodetect may brand the incorrect choice as well. Select TCP/IP Device.

Enter the IP address in the Hostname or IP address: field. Notice how the Port name: field machine-populates with whatever is entered. The port name can be left as is or changed. In most cases, Query the printer and automatically select the driver to employ remains checked.

Sometimes an organization will use a universal printer driver to keep things simpler and use less storage. It besides keeps the registry modest and login times faster. The HP Universal Print Driver works well for HP and many other printers. Select Next.

It detects the TCP/IP port to come across if information technology exists.

Then information technology detects the driver model needed.

  1. Normally, Windows will notice a driver already installed, offer the selection to replace the driver, or enquire to install a driver. If it's on the network already, information technology probably installed the driver already. Select Use the driver that is currently installed and select Side by side.
  1. Information technology will machine-select a name for the printer. That tin change as needed. Select Next.

The real installation begins.

  1. If sharing the printer, add a location so others can see where the printer is located.

It successfully installed the printer. Set information technology as the default or not as needed. Every bit always, it's a good idea to Print a test folio. Select Finish closes out the window.

Connect to a Network Printer via PowerShell

Finally, the last, and maybe best, way to connect network printers is with PowerShell. Why is this all-time? If you're a System Administrator and take dozens of printers to connect, or if you need to make certain the printer is connected every time the server starts or someone logs in, a PowerShell script is all-time. Information technology'due south fast, done once, and easy to call many times.

You will need to know:

  • Printer IP accost
  • Printer driver name
  • What to name the printer

Following is a sample script. Go far into a looping script to install several printers at a fourth dimension, or make it a function to call from other processes.

# check if a printer port exists

$portName = "TCPPort:192.168.8.101"

$portExist = Get-Printerport -Name $portName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# if port doesn't be, add it

if (-not $portExists) {
Add-PrinterPort -proper noun $portName -PrinterHostAddress "192.168.8.101"
}

# cheque for print commuter

$driverName = "Brother MFC-7440N"

$driverExists = Get-PrinterDriver -name $driverName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# add printer if driver exists or else throw an error

if ($driverExists) {
Add-Printer -Proper name "My Brother Printer" -PortName $portName -DriverName $driverName
} else {
Write-Alert "Driver non installed" -ForegroundColor Red
}

When the script is run, information technology takes mayhap 3 seconds. And then you'll see the printer installed.

Whatsoever Other Means to Connect to a Network Printer?

Nosotros've given yous several ways to connect to a network printer or several printers. Ane of them volition be the best way for you lot. In that location is at least ane other way, and that's past the Command Prompt.

It works, but why mess with that when PowerShell is simpler and faster? We can deploy printers using a Group Policy Object. That's across this article, though. Allow us know what you remember in the comments. Did we help you lot?