How Do You Find a Network Printer Name by IP Address
The process is a little cumbersome since most cases will have you trying to find the IP address for a particular printer given its name. But it’s straightforward enough.
What if I Don’t Find the IP Address?
If you can’t find the IP address, it means the printer with the IP address you’re seeking isn’t installed on your PC yet. Check out our guide to adding a printer in Windows 11 to get your network printer up and running.
Why Does My Printer Have an IP Address?
There was a time when most consumer printers were connected directly to a PC using a USB cable. If you wanted to print to it from another computer, you’d need to set up printer sharing on the PC where it was connected. It was a complex process that required the “host” PC to be on whenever you wanted to print. More recent printer models include built-in networking such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (well, recent consumer models, as business-focused ones have had this for some time). This feature allows any device, PC or otherwise, to print to it directly over the Local Area Network (LAN), removing the need for a middleman “host” PC. And these newer printers make set-up a snap; if this interests you, check out our list of the best home printers for some great options.
