Help Guides
How do I set up a wireless printer from scratch?
A new printer usually takes about 20 minutes to get up and running, once you know the order of the steps. Here is the full path from opening the box to printing your first page.
Unbox the printer, remove all the shipping tape, plug it in, connect it to your home Wi-Fi through the printer's own screen, then install the driver software from the printer maker's website on your computer. Print a test page to confirm it worked. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes.
Rather have someone set it up correctly the first time so you never have to think about it again? We handle new printer setups in Durham Region homes all the time. Give us a call.
Work through these in order
Unbox and place the printer carefully
Take the printer out of the box and find a flat, stable spot near a power outlet and within reasonable range of your Wi-Fi router. Remove all the bright orange or blue tape and plastic strips from the outside and inside of the printer. These hold things in place during shipping and the printer will not work properly with any of them still attached. Save the manual and the ink or toner cartridges that came in the box.
Plug it in and turn it on
Connect the power cable to the printer and then to a wall outlet. Press the power button (usually near the screen on the top or front). The printer will whir for a minute as it wakes up for the first time. Follow any on-screen prompts to pick your language and region. If it asks you to install ink or toner cartridges, unwrap them carefully, remove any tape, and slot them in where the on-screen diagram shows.
Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi
On the printer's own screen, find the Wi-Fi or Network setup option. It is usually under Settings or Wireless. The printer will scan for nearby networks. Pick your home Wi-Fi name from the list and type in the Wi-Fi password using the on-screen keyboard. If you are not sure what your password is, our Wi-Fi password guide covers where to look. The printer will confirm when it is connected and usually print a small test page on its own.
Would you rather we handled this?
We take care of this during visits across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. One visit, flat fee, no jargon.
Book a VisitInstall the printer software on your computer
On your computer, go to the printer maker's official website (hp.com, canon.com, epson.com, brother-usa.com, or whichever brand you bought). Find the Support or Downloads section, type in your exact printer model, and download the full installer for your version of Windows or Mac. Run the installer and follow the prompts. At one point it will ask how you want to connect. Choose Wireless. The installer will find the printer on your network automatically.
Print a test page
Once the installer finishes, open any document on your computer and press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac). Your new printer should show up in the printer list. Click Print. If a page comes out, you are done. If it does not, our printer Wi-Fi guide and offline printer guide cover the most common reasons a fresh printer refuses to print on the first try.
Add the printer to your phone (optional)
If you want to print from your phone or tablet too, open the AirPrint-compatible app on iPhone (Photos, Mail, Safari, etc.) and tap the share icon, then Print. Your new printer should appear. On Android, open the Google Play Store and install your printer maker's app (such as HP Smart, Canon PRINT, or Epson iPrint). Our phone printing guide covers this step in more detail.
A few things that trip people up
The most common setup problem is using the small CD that comes in the box (if one is even included). Those CDs are usually years out of date and miss important fixes. Always download the current installer from the printer maker's website, even if the printer is brand new. The second most common problem is trying to connect to the 5GHz Wi-Fi network when the printer only supports 2.4GHz. If the printer cannot see your Wi-Fi name at all, that is probably why.
When to call us instead
Call us if the printer screen is confusing, if the Wi-Fi refuses to connect after three or four tries, if the installer fails on your computer, or if you would simply like someone to do the whole thing in one calm visit and leave you with something that works. We handle printer setups as part of our printer help service.
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We unbox, connect and set up new printers during visits across Durham Region. No stress, no leftover cables.
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Common questions about new printer setups
- Do I need the CD that came with the printer?
No. Printer driver CDs are usually years out of date and miss important updates. Always download the current installer from the printer maker's website (hp.com, canon.com, epson.com, brother-usa.com). It is free and always newer than the CD.
- What if my printer only has a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi option?
Most printers under five years old only support the slower 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, not the faster 5GHz. If your router has a combined name, that is usually fine. If it has separate names like MyHome-2G and MyHome-5G, connect the printer to the 2G one. It will still print at full speed.
- Can I connect a new printer without installing anything on my computer?
For iPhone, iPad or Mac, usually yes, thanks to AirPrint. For Windows and Android, you almost always need the manufacturer's software for the full set of features. It is worth installing it properly on at least one main computer.