Download Article
Download Article
This wikiHow teaches you how to set up a printer on your computer if you don't have the printer's software installation disk. You can usually do this with a USB cable that comes with your printer, though you may need to download the software directly from the printer manufacturer's website if the printer is older.
Things You Should Know
- Most printers, like HP, Epson, or Cannon, will automatically prompt you to download the appropriate software once it's connected to a computer.
- Connect your printer to a computer with a cable for Mac and Windows.
Steps
-
Plug the printer's USB cable into your computer. It should fit into one of the USB ports on the side of your computer (laptop) or on the back or front of the CPU box (desktop). [1] X Research source
- If your printer doesn't have a USB cable, you may have to buy one for your printer before continuing. Look up the printer's model number followed by "USB cable". If there isn't a USB cable available for your printer, you'll need to install the software manually instead.
You may also have to plug the non-USB end of the cable into the printer.
-
Turn on the printer. Press the printer's On button to turn on the printer. Be sure to wait for a minute or so after doing this before proceeding. [2] X Research source
- If plugging the printer into your computer doesn't prompt the installation process to start, continue with this method.
In many cases, simply turning the printer on after connecting it to the computer will prompt the printer installation to begin. If so, follow the on-screen prompts until your printer is installed.
Advertisement -
Open Start . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will open.
-
Type printers & scanners into Start. Doing so will search for the Printers & Scanners section on your computer. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
-
Click Printers & scanners . You'll see this at the top of the Start window.
-
Click Add a printer or scanner . It's at the top of the Printers & Scanners window. [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
-
Click your printer's name. It should be in the Add a printer or scanner window. Doing so will bring up the printer's installation window. [5] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
If your printer's name doesn't appear, click the the printer that I want isn't listed link, then select a search option and follow the on-screen prompts. You may end up downloading the printer's software before continuing.
-
Follow the on-screen installation steps. Each printer will have a distinct installation process. Once the installation process is complete, your printer should work.
-
Ensure that your printer is compatible with Mac. Not all printers can run on a Mac's operating system. Before you spend hours trying to install a printer on your Mac, look up the printer's model name and number to see if it is compatible with your Mac.
-
Make sure the printer is close to your computer. Most printers come with relatively short USB-to-printer cables that allow you to connect your printer to your Mac for direct communication between the printer and your computer. To attach this cable, your printer and computer must be close to each other.
-
Make sure you have a USB adapter if needed. Most modern Mac computers don't have traditional USB ports—instead, they have smaller USB-C ports. If this is the case, you will need a USB-to-USB-C adapter from Apple to attach a USB cable to your Mac. [6] X Research source
-
Plug the printer's USB cable into your computer. It should fit into one of the USB ports on the side of your computer (laptop) or on the back of the iMac display (desktop). [7] X Research source
If you need an adapter, plug the adapter into the USB-C port first, then plug the cable into the USB adapter.
-
Turn on the printer. Press the printer's On button to turn on the printer.
-
Click Install when prompted. Macs will automatically detect your printer and determine whether or not it needs to be updated; if you've never installed the printer on your Mac, you will receive the update prompt. [8] X Research source
-
Follow the on-screen prompts. Click through the printer's installation steps to install the latest software and drivers on your Mac. When the process is complete, you'll be able to use your printer. [9] X Research source
-
Consult your printer's manual. The manual may have a section with instructions specific to your printer model regarding what you can do to install your printer without the software. If this is the case, follow those instructions to find and download your printer's software.
-
Go to the printer manufacturer's website. For example, you would go to https://www.hp.com/ for an HP printer. Some other popular printer manufacturer's websites are:
-
Click the Printers tab. Each manufacturer website will vary in appearance, so you may have to poke around for this option at the top of the page.
If there's a search bar at the top of the website, type in your printer's model name and then skip the next step.
-
Search for your printer model. Either scroll through available models, or type your printer model's name into a search bar if applicable.
-
Look for a "Software" download link. You may have to re-enter your printer model in a search bar to find software here as well.
- Some websites place the Download Software link in very small text at the bottom of the page.
-
Click the download link for your printer's software. Doing so should prompt the software to begin downloading to your computer.
-
Wait for your printer's software to download. This can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
- If prompted, select a save location first.
-
Unzip the software's folder if you're on Windows. Simply double-click the folder, double-click the setup file, click OK when prompted, choose a location, and click Extract Here... to unzip the folder.
- Mac users can simply double-click the folder to open it.
- If your software downloaded in one unzipped setup file, skip this step.
-
Double-click the software setup file. On Windows computers, you'll first have to open the new unzipped folder and then double-click the EXE file in it. Mac users can simply double-click the setup file (most likely a DMG file) to run it.
- If you're on a Mac running MacOS Sierra, you may need to verify the software before continuing.
-
Follow the on-screen instructions. What you see after double-clicking the software setup file will vary depending on your operating system and your printer in general, so just follow the on-screen prompts until the installation is complete.
-
Try to connect to your printer. If your printer has a USB cable, connect it to your computer to see if your computer now recognizes your printer. If the printer connects via Wi-Fi only, make sure that both the printer and your computer are connected to the Internet. You should now be able to access your printer. [10] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
Community Q&A
-
QuestionCan you set up a printer without the disc?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, you can usually set up a printer without the disc, provided you have the printer’s USB cable. Also, you may need to download software from the internet for older printers. The instructions for doing this are set out in the steps above.
-
QuestionDo you need a USB cable to connect a wireless printer?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIn many cases you will still need the USB cable for the initial set-up with the computer before the wireless component is enabled. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for your printer or check the manufacturer’s website if the printer came without instructions.
-
QuestionHow do I install a printer with a disc?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerTo install a printer without a disc, you’ll need a USB cable (either one for Windows or one for Mac) and in some cases, you may also need to download software from the manufacturer’s website. The instructions for installing without a disc are set out above.
Tips
- Manufacturers may be willing to ship you a replacement driver disk for a fee. Check their support pages for more details.Thanks
- You may also be able to find your printer's software on a third-party site if the printer is too old to merit support. Be wary of downloading from third-party sites, however.Thanks
Warnings
- Do NOT download and install software from sites that you do not trust. Doing so can expose your computer to malware.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/how-to-set-up-a-new-printer/1/
- ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/how-to-set-up-a-new-printer/1/
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-a-printer-in-windows-cc0724cf-793e-3542-d1ff-727e4978638b
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-a-printer-in-windows-cc0724cf-793e-3542-d1ff-727e4978638b
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/add-a-printer-or-scanner-in-windows-14d9a442-0bcb-e11c-7a6c-63f00efae79f
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/add-a-printer-list-mac-mh14004/mac
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/add-a-printer-list-mac-mh14004/mac
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/add-a-printer-list-mac-mh14004/mac
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/add-a-printer-list-mac-mh14004/mac
About This Article
If you need to install a printer without an installation disk, you can use a USB cable. If you’re using a Windows computer, first, plug the printer’s USB cable into your computer’s USB port, which should be on the side of your computer if you have a laptop or on the front of your computer tower. Press the power button on the printer to turn it on. Then, click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen to open the Start menu. Type “Printers and Scanners” into Start, then click on the top result. Next, click “Add a printer or scanner,” which should open the printer installation window. Click on your printer, or, if the name of your printer doesn’t appear, click the “the printer that I want isn't listed” link to add it manually. Then, simply follow the on-screen installation steps. If you need to install a printer without an installation disk, you can use a USB cable. If you’re using a Windows computer, first, plug the printer’s USB cable into your computer’s USB port, which should be on the side of your computer if you have a laptop or on the front of your computer tower. Press the power button on the printer to turn it on. Then, click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen to open the Start menu. Type “Printers and Scanners” into Start, then click on the top result. Next, click “Add a printer or scanner,” which should open the printer installation window. Click on your printer, or, if the name of your printer doesn’t appear, click the “the printer that I want isn't listed” link to add it manually. Then, simply follow the on-screen installation steps. To learn how to install a printer on a Mac, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "I was able to install the printer, and it works. Thank you!"
