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Quick answer: On the printer’s control panel open Settings > Network > Wireless setup wizard, choose your network name and enter the WiFi password. No screen on the printer? Hold the WPS button on your router, then the WiFi button on the printer. Finally add the printer in Windows Settings > Printers & scanners or Mac System Settings > Printers.
Method 1 – The wireless setup wizard (printers with a screen)
On the printer panel go to Network / Wireless settings > Setup wizard. The printer scans and lists nearby networks: select your SSID, type the password carefully (case matters), and wait for the confirmation. The WiFi indicator turns solid when it joins.
Our pick for this guide: Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Laser Printer
If your current printer lacks a screen or WPS, this Brother pairs over Wi-Fi in minutes through its mobile app.
Method 2 – WPS push button (no screen needed)
Press the WPS button on the router until its light blinks, then within two minutes hold the WiFi button on the printer. The two negotiate automatically and no password is typed. This is the fastest route for basic printers, as long as the router has WPS enabled.
Method 3 – The manufacturer app
HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel and Brother Mobile Connect can push your WiFi details to the printer from your phone during first setup: the app finds the printer over Bluetooth or its temporary setup hotspot, you pick your home network in the app, and it transfers the credentials. This is also the easiest way to set up scanning to phone.
Add the printer to your computer
- Windows: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. The printer appears within seconds when both are on the same network.
- Mac: System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, select it from the list, and macOS grabs the driver.
Stop it from dropping off the network
The classic complaint is a printer that vanishes weekly. Two fixes solve almost all of it: give the printer a reserved IP address in the router’s DHCP settings, and keep it on the 2.4GHz band, which reaches further through walls. If your router struggles with a stable 2.4GHz signal at the printer’s location, see our tested modem-router combos and mesh WiFi systems for large homes.
Shopping for a less painful printer?
Modern printers hold WiFi connections far better than models from five years ago. Our current picks: best all-in-one inkjets for versatility and the best laser printers for volume printing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my printer not find my WiFi network?
Nearly all home printers only support the 2.4GHz band. If your router broadcasts a combined 5GHz/2.4GHz network, the printer may not see it: enable a separate 2.4GHz SSID in the router settings, or use WPS. Also keep the printer within decent range of the router during setup.
What is the WPS button method?
WPS pairs devices without typing a password. Press the WPS button on the router, then within two minutes press the WiFi/WPS button on the printer until its wireless light blinks. When the light turns solid, the printer is on the network. Note that some routers ship with WPS disabled for security, so check the router admin page if nothing happens.
How do I print from my phone once the printer is on WiFi?
On the same network, iPhones print natively via AirPrint from the share menu, and Android uses the built-in print service in the share or print menu. The manufacturer app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel) adds scanning and ink levels on top.
Get the printer on the 2.4GHz band once, reserve its IP in the router, and wireless printing stops being a monthly fight.
