How to install a printer on Windows 10
Knowing how to install a printer on Windows 10 is a useful skill, since printers rarely become obsolete. You may not be able to refill the ink cartridges for a particular model at some point and that’s when you buy a new printer, but older models will work even if you’re running a newer OS like Windows 10.
How to Install a Printer on Windows 10
Printers can connect over a network or you can connect one directly to your system. The installation process will differ in both cases. All printers can connect to a system directly, but not all can connect over a network. If your printer can connect over a network, it will say so on the packaging and there will be a button on it that indicates the feature.
1. Install printer on Windows 10 using automatic detection
Windows 10 does a pretty good job of installing a printer, even if it’s old and pre-dates Windows 10 itself. Microsoft’s built-in driver detection can handle most modern and legacy printers automatically via Windows Update.
- Make sure you’ve set up the printer correctly and removed all protective stickers.
- Turn the printer on and insert paper into the tray.
- Connect the printer to your system via the data cable.
- You will hear Windows 10 detect new hardware and it will automatically install drivers.
- To confirm the printer has been installed, open the Settings app.
- Go to Devices > Printers & Scanners.
- Your printer should be listed.
If the printer does not appear in the list immediately, click Add a printer or scanner and wait while Windows searches. If it shows up, click it and follow the on-screen prompts to finish setup.
Once the printer is installed, it is worth doing two quick checks. First, right-click the printer in Printers & scanners, select Printer properties, and click Print Test Page to confirm everything is working. Second, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. If Windows installed only a basic or class driver during setup, Windows Update may find a fuller, manufacturer-specific driver that unlocks all the printer’s features.
What to do if Windows 10 doesn’t find the printer automatically
Plug-and-play detection does not always succeed, particularly with older or network-connected printers. Before troubleshooting further, confirm these basics: the printer is powered on, it is connected to your PC via USB or to the same network as your PC, and it is showing a ready or online status light.
If the printer still does not appear, use Windows’ manual add flow:
- Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click Add a printer or scanner and wait for Windows to finish searching.
- If your printer appears in the results, click it and follow the prompts to complete setup.
- If it does not appear, click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
Clicking The printer that I want isn’t listed opens a dialog with several manual options. The most commonly useful ones are:
- Find a printer by other options — lets you search by name or browse the network.
- Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname — use this for network printers when automatic discovery fails (see the dedicated section below).
- Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings — useful when you already have the driver and want to create a port manually.
After completing installation through any of these paths, open Windows Update and check for updates. Windows may have installed a basic driver to get the printer working, and a better driver could be available that enables full functionality.
2. Manually install printer driver
Printers, particularly older ones from the Windows 7 years, came with installation disks. Modern systems generally do not have an optical disk drive anymore which means it may not be as easy to install the driver from a disk.
If your system has an optical drive;
- Insert the CD into the drive and open it.
- The CD will auto-run the set-up. If it doesn’t, double-click the EXE file in it.
- Allow the installation to complete.
- Connect the printer to your system via the data cable.
- The printer software will also install an app for managing the printer. Run it and print a test page.
- Once the test page has been printed, your printer is good to go.
Keep in mind that drivers bundled on installation discs are often outdated. Before using the CD, check whether a newer driver is available online — it will usually work better and include the latest fixes.
If your Windows 10 system does not have an optical drive, follow this safer sequence to find the right driver:
- Try Windows Update first. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates after connecting your printer. Windows can often find and install the correct driver automatically.
- Download from the manufacturer’s official support page if Windows Update does not find a driver. Go directly to the printer brand’s website (for example, hp.com/support, support.epson.com, or support.brother.com), search for your exact model, and download the driver for Windows 10. Always use the manufacturer’s site — avoid third-party driver download sites, as the files they offer can be outdated, bundled with unwanted software, or unsafe.
- Use the CD as a last resort only if no newer driver is available online, since bundled discs are frequently out of date.
- If you can gain access to a system with an optical drive, use it to copy the driver to a USB or to upload it online where you can download it on your system.
Note that some printers will work with a generic Windows class driver if no manufacturer driver is available at all. This gets the printer functioning for basic printing, but you may lose access to advanced features like duplex printing or ink level monitoring until the full driver is installed.
3. Install network printer on Windows 10
A network printer doesn’t connect directly to a computer. Instead, it connects to your network either via WiFi or an Ethernet cable. This is a convenient option when multiple users need to share the same device across a home or office.
The setup process has two distinct stages: first, connect the printer to your network; then, add it in Windows. Both steps are required.
Step 1: Connect the printer to your network
How you do this depends on your printer model. Common methods include:
- Printer touchscreen or setup wizard: Most modern printers have a built-in menu. Go to Network Settings or Wireless Setup Wizard, select your Wi-Fi network, and enter the password. This is the most reliable method for Wi-Fi printers.
- Companion app: Many manufacturers provide a setup app (such as HP Smart or Epson Smart Panel) that walks you through connecting the printer to Wi-Fi from your phone or PC.
- WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup): If both your printer and router support WPS, you can press the WPS button on the router and then the corresponding Wi-Fi or WPS button on the printer within two minutes. Note that WPS is just one optional method — many printers and routers do not use it, and it is not the standard process for most setups.
- Ethernet: Plug a network cable from the printer into your router or switch. This gives the printer a network connection, but you will still need to add it in Windows manually — the printer will not appear automatically just because the cable is plugged in.
Consult your printer’s manual if you are unsure which method applies to your model.
Step 2: Add the printer in Windows
Once the printer is on the same network as your PC:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click Add a printer or scanner and wait for Windows to search.
- If your printer appears, click it and follow the prompts.
- If it does not appear, click The printer that I want isn’t listed and continue with one of the manual options, including adding by IP address (see the section below).
Network discovery must be enabled for Windows to find printers on your network. If you are on a private network and discovery seems to be off, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), click your connection, and make sure Network profile is set to Private.
Install a network printer by IP address or hostname
When automatic discovery does not find your network printer, adding it manually by IP address or hostname is the most reliable fix. Here is how to do it:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click Add a printer or scanner.
- When the search finishes without finding your printer, click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
- Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname and click Next.
- Under Device type, select TCP/IP Device (or leave it on Auto detect).
- Enter the printer’s IP address or hostname in the provided field and click Next.
- Windows will attempt to detect the port. Follow the prompts through port detection.
- When asked to choose a driver, select your printer’s make and model from the list. If it is not listed, click Have Disk and browse to a driver you have already downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
- Give the printer a name you will recognize and click Next.
- When prompted, click Print a test page to confirm the connection is working, then click Finish.
How to find your printer’s IP address or hostname: Print a network configuration or status page directly from the printer — the option is usually found in the printer’s menu under Network Settings or Reports. The IP address and hostname will be listed there. You can also check your router’s connected devices list.
IP address vs. hostname: If your network assigns IP addresses dynamically (which is common on home networks), your printer’s IP address could change after a router restart, breaking the connection. Using the printer’s hostname instead — if it has one — is preferable because it will continue to resolve correctly even if the IP changes. Alternatively, you can assign the printer a static IP address through your router’s settings to avoid this issue entirely.
Conclusion
Installing a printer is fairly easy. If your Windows 10 system can’t detect the printer, you should try changing the USB port you’re connecting it to. You should also check out our troubleshooting guide for printers. If you encounter issues with your printer showing as unavailable after installation, our guide on offline printer setup can help resolve connectivity problems.
