How to Find Your Printer on the Network
Windows 11 provides a few ways to connect to network printers. Here’s how to use the automated tool in Settings to search for available printers:
How to See Shared Printers on the Network
Windows users can share printers for other people to use. This is normally how it’s set up when multiple computers within a network want to print to a printer which isn’t network-enabled. One computer installs the printer via USB and then shares that printer which makes it available to anyone else who can reach it. One way to open Settings is by right-clicking the Start menu and choosing it from the list. You can also search for Settings or Printers & scanners. Here’s how to find shared printers:
How to Fix It When You Can’t Find a Network Printer
Connecting to a printer over the network has more challenges than one attached directly to your computer. Follow these steps to troubleshoot when you can’t reach a printer on the network, and be sure to test after each step to see if the printer is available.
Restart the printer. There should be a prominent power button somewhere on the face of the printer. Press it, wait for it to fully power down, and then press it again. Restart the computer. Especially if you’re the only device on the network that can’t reach the printer, the issue is likely with your computer, specifically. Restart the router. This is probably only necessary if more than one person on the network is having a problem, but if you’re not sure, and you have access to the router, a simple reboot is a good idea.
There are a few options, including one to add the printer using its IP address or hostname, which you can gather from the printer itself or from the computer it’s attached to. Get there through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Troubleshoot.
