How to Network a Printer

Don't lug your printer around your home or office – network your printer so that all of your computers can access it.

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Learn how to set up and operate a computer printer with these Howcast videos.

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Steps

Step 1

Choose printer

Choose between a network printer, a network capable printer, and a printer with a USB port.
Step 2

Connect network printer

Connect a network printer using the ethernet network jack to a router with an ethernet cable.
Step 3

Connect network-capable printer

Connect a network-capable printer by installing a print server card in the expansion slot. This card adds an ethernet jack to the printer. Connect the printer to the router with the ethernet cable.
Step 4

Connect USB printer

Connect a printer with only a USB jack to a wireless print server using a USB cable. The router detects the printer server, and each computer connected on the wireless network can access the printer.
Step 5

Connect to one computer

Connect a printer to one of the computers via USB if you don't want to buy a network printer or print server. Open Printers and Scanners in Control Panel, right-click on the printer, select Sharing, and check Share printer.
To connect a PC to a printer that is also connected to a Mac, download a compatibility program such as Mac's Bonjour.
Step 6

Install print driver

Install the print driver for the printer on every computer that will be accessing the printer.
In 2004, nearly 3.2 million copier and printer cartridges were sent to Xerox for recycling.