Getting a printer onto your home or office network used to take an afternoon. Today, most wireless printers are ready in under 15 minutes — if you do the steps in the right order. This guide walks you through that exact order.
Before you begin
- Unbox the printer and remove all orange tape and plastic strips.
- Have your Wi-Fi password ready.
- Place the printer within range of your router for the initial setup.
Step 1 — Power on and install ink/toner
Plug in the power cable and turn the printer on. Open the cartridge bay and install the starter cartridges that came in the box. Most printers will run a brief “charging” cycle — just let it finish.
Step 2 — Load paper and run alignment
Load a small stack of plain paper into the main tray and adjust the side guides until they’re snug. The printer should automatically print an alignment sheet.
Step 3 — Connect to Wi-Fi
Use the printer’s touch screen to open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi Setup Wizard. Select your network and enter your password. Avoid “Wi-Fi Direct” for now — that’s a separate, peer-to-peer mode. Need help? See our complete Wi-Fi guide.
Step 4 — Install the official driver / app
On the device you’ll print from, install the manufacturer’s official software. See our driver download guide for the correct links by brand. Skip any third-party “driver finder” sites — they often bundle adware.
Step 5 — Add the printer to your computer
- Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device.
- macOS: System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer.
- iPhone / iPad: Most modern printers support AirPrint — no driver needed. Just choose your printer from the share sheet.
- Android: Install the Default Print Service or your brand’s plugin from Google Play.
Step 6 — Print a test page
Right-click your new printer in the OS settings and choose “Print test page”. If it prints, you’re done!
Common first-time setup issues
- Printer not found: Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz works for most printers).
- Driver not installing: Temporarily pause antivirus during installation.
- Mac “Software not available”: Run Software Update first, then retry.
Next steps
Now that your printer is set up, you might want to learn how to scan to PDF or troubleshoot a printer offline issue.
Trademark notice: USA Print is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. Always download drivers from the manufacturer’s official website.