Gone are the days when setting up a printer required you to manually download drivers from a CD-ROM and wrestle with confusing port configurations. Windows 11 has streamlined the process significantly, making it easier than ever to add a network printer (a printer connected to your Wi-Fi network or router via Ethernet) to your computer.
Whether you are setting up a home office or connecting to a shared printer in a corporate environment, this guide will show you the fastest and most reliable way to add a network printer in Windows 11.
## Prerequisites for Adding a Network Printer
Before you touch your Windows 11 PC, you must ensure the printer is properly connected to your network. If the printer cannot communicate with your router, your computer will never be able to find it.
1. **Power on the printer:** Ensure the printer is plugged in and turned on.
2. **Connect the printer to the network:** If it is a Wi-Fi printer, use its built-in display screen to select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. If it does not have a screen, you may need to use the manufacturer’s mobile app or connect it directly to your router using an Ethernet cable.
3. **Ensure both devices are on the same network:** Your Windows 11 PC and the printer must be connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network (or wired network). If your PC is on a “Guest” network, it will not be able to communicate with the printer.
## How to Add the Printer in Windows 11
Once the printer is connected to your network, Windows 11 can usually detect it and install the necessary drivers automatically.
### Step 1: Open Settings
Click the **Start** button on your taskbar (the Windows icon) and click the gear icon to open **Settings**. Alternatively, press the **Windows Key + I** on your keyboard to open Settings instantly.
### Step 2: Navigate to Bluetooth & Devices
In the left-hand sidebar of the Settings window, click on **Bluetooth & devices**.
In the main panel, locate and click on **Printers & scanners**.
### Step 3: Add a Device
At the very top of the Printers & scanners page, you will see a button labelled **Add device**. Click it.
Windows 11 will begin scanning your local network for any available printers. A loading bar will appear as it searches.
### Step 4: Select Your Printer
After a few moments, your printer’s name (usually the manufacturer and model number, such as “HP OfficeJet Pro 9015” or “Brother HL-L2350DW”) should appear in the list below the button.
Click the **Add device** button next to your specific printer.
Windows will now say “Connecting” and may download required drivers from Windows Update automatically. Depending on your internet speed and the specific printer model, this process can take anywhere from ten seconds to a few minutes.
Once the status changes to “Ready,” your printer has been successfully added to Windows 11.
## What to Do If Windows 11 Cannot Find Your Printer
If Windows scans the network and returns the message *”The printer that I want isn’t listed”*, don’t panic. You can still add the printer manually.
1. Click the **Add manually** button next to the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” message.
2. A new dialogue box will open titled “Find a printer by other options”.
3. The most reliable fallback method is to add the printer using its IP address. Select the radio button for **Add a printer using an IP address or hostname** and click **Next**.
4. You will need to find your printer’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.50). You can usually find this by navigating the printer’s physical display menu to the “Network Settings” or “Network Status” page.
5. Enter the IP address into the **Hostname or IP address** field. Ensure “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” is checked, and click **Next**.
Windows will communicate directly with the printer’s IP address, bypass the automatic network discovery, and install the printer successfully.