How to Share a Printer Through WiFi

By Jim Farthing

Home networks are becoming more common. These networks can be wired, wireless or a combination of both. Accessing one printer from any of the computers on a network is easily accomplished, and it doesn't matter if your network is wired or wireless.

Install the printer on one of the computers on the network according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Open the "Printers and Faxes" folder by clicking on "Start," "Control Panel" and "Printers and Faxes."

Right-click on the appropriate printer in the "Printers and Faxes" folder and select "Sharing."

Click the "Sharing" tab in the dialog box that comes up.

Click on "Share this Printer." Enter a name for the printer in the space provided. Click on "Apply" and then click "OK."

Go to another computer on the network and open the "Printers and Faxes" folder. Double-click on "Add Printer" and click "Next."

In the"Add Printer" wizard select "A network printer" and then click "Next."

In the "Add Printer" wizard dialog select "Browse for Printer" and then click "Next." This will bring up a list of shared printers on the network.

Select the printer that was just installed and click "Next." When asked if you would like to make this the default printer, select "Yes" if this is the only printer on the network or if it is the printer you will use most often, then click "Next." If you do not have the driver for the printer on your computer and both computers have the same operating system, then the driver will be automatically installed on the new computer. If not, then follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the driver.

Click on "Next." When asked if a test page is wanted, click "Yes" and let the printer print a test page to ensure that all is working properly.

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