Many users face a situation where a reliable inkjet printer Epson L120 It's out of touch with the modern conveniences of wireless printing. This model was originally designed as a budget solution with a wired interface, which often raises eyebrows among those accustomed to the freedom of Wi-Fi connections. However, thanks to its USB port, the device easily integrates into a home network via a computer or laptop acting as a print server.
You don't need to purchase expensive equipment to set up remote access to documents. All you need is a stable PC that will serve as a bridge between the printer and your local network. The key point The trick here is to set up sharing correctly in the Windows operating system, which will allow you to print files from any device connected to the same router.
The process of converting a USB printer to a network printer may seem complicated at first glance. In reality, the steps are logical and don't require extensive networking knowledge. The key is to follow the driver installation and sharing settings step by step to avoid address conflicts in the future.
Preparatory stage and installation of drivers
Before you begin setting up your network, make sure all the basic system components are ready to use. You'll need the printer itself. Epson L120, a USB Type-AB cable (usually included), a computer running Windows, and a configured Wi-Fi router. First, connect the device directly to the PC and ensure it works correctly in local mode.
Download the latest version of the software from the manufacturer's official website. Using the included disc may not be effective, as the driver versions are often outdated. You need the full package. Epson L120 Series Printer Driver, which contains not only printable files, but also monitoring utilities.
- 🖨️ Connect the printer to your computer via USB cable and turn on the device.
- 💻 Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions, selecting the "USB" connection type.
- ✅ Wait for the installation to complete and print a test page.
⚠️ Note: If your operating system automatically installed a universal driver, please uninstall it from Control Panel before running the official Epson installer to avoid port conflicts.
After successful installation, check whether the printer appears in the list of devices. There should be no unknown items or icons with exclamation marks in Device Manager. Only after ensuring a stable wired connection can you proceed with network configuration.
Setting up sharing in Windows
Converting a local printer to a network resource is done through standard operating system tools. Open the Control Panel and go to the Devices and Printers section. Find your printer in the list. Epson L120, right-click on it and select “Printer properties”.
In the window that opens, select the "Sharing" tab. Here, check the box next to "Share this printer." Create a descriptive network name, such as Epson_L120_Wifito easily identify the device among other devices in the house. This name will be used by other computers to find the print queue.
☑️ Check access settings
It's important to check your security settings. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Change advanced sharing settings. In your current network profile (private or guest), make sure "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing" are enabled. Without these, other devices simply won't see your computer on the network.
Connecting client devices to the network
Now that the print server is configured, you can connect other computers or laptops. On the client device, open Control Panel and select Devices and Printers. Click Add a Printer, then click The printer I want isn't listed.
In the window that appears, select the "Select a shared printer by name" option. In the input field, you must enter the path to the resource in the format \\ComputerName\Epson_L120_Wifi or \\Computer_IP_Address\Epson_L120_WifiUsing an IP address is often more reliable, as the computer name may not be resolved by DNS on simple home networks.
| Parameter | Value on the server (PC with printer) | Value on the client (Laptop/PC) |
|---|---|---|
| Connection type | USB | Network (TCP/IP) |
| IP address | Static (recommended) | Dynamic (DHCP) |
| Driver | The Complete Epson Package | Automatically from the server |
| Status | Ready (Server) | Waiting (Client) |
The system may ask you to confirm the driver installation. Accept this action, and Windows will copy the necessary files from the host computer. Once complete, the installation wizard will prompt you to print a test page, which is the best way to verify the settings were configured correctly.
Printing from Android and iOS mobile devices
For smartphone and tablet owners, connection Epson L120 This is also possible, but requires the use of intermediary software, as the printer itself does not have a built-in Wi-Fi module. Epson offers a free app. Epson iPrint, which allows you to send documents and photos to print directly from your mobile device.
Install the app on your phone and ensure it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the server computer. In the app, select "No printer selected" and find your computer's name in the list of available devices. If the automatic search doesn't yield any results, you can add the printer manually by entering the computer's IP address.
What to do if the phone doesn’t see the printer?
Make sure your computer isn't in Sleep or Hibernate mode, as these can disable the network adapter. Also, check your Windows Firewall to make sure it's not blocking incoming connections for the print service.
An alternative solution is to use third-party emulators, such as PrintShare or similar apps, which create a virtual printer on the phone and redirect the print job to a network resource. This is especially relevant for older versions of Android, where native network printing support may be unstable.
Solving common access problems
During the setup process, users often encounter the error “Unable to connect to the printer” or an error code 0x0000011bThis issue is often related to Windows security updates that change the RPC connection policy. A registry edit may be required to resolve this issue, but try simpler methods first.
Check that the server computer's IP address hasn't changed. If the router assigns addresses dynamically, the PC's address may change after rebooting the router, causing clients to lose connection to the printer. It's recommended to assign the IP address to the computer's network card in the router settings or TCP/IP protocol properties.
- 🔌 Restart the Print Spooler service on both computers via the Services menu.
- 🛡️ Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall to check their impact on the connection.
- 🔄 Delete the printer on the client PC and add it again using the current IP address.
⚠️ Note: Operating system interfaces and router menus may differ depending on the software version. If you don't find this option, look for a similar function in your equipment's documentation.
Alternative wireless printing methods
If the standard Windows sharing method seems too cumbersome or requires your PC to be constantly turned on, there are hardware solutions. The most reliable option is to purchase an inexpensive Wi-Fi router with a USB port and support for Print ServerDevices like those from TP-Link or Asus can receive print jobs directly and transfer them to the printer's USB port.
In this case, the server computer is no longer needed. The printer is connected directly to the router via a USB cable. The printing service is enabled in the router settings, and Epson L120 becomes a full-fledged network device, available 24/7, regardless of the state of other computers in the house.
Another option is to use a mini PC or single-board computer (such as a Raspberry Pi) with CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) installed. This solution is for advanced users and allows you to implement AirPrint for Apple devices and Google Cloud Print, transforming an old printer into a modern network device.
Is it possible to connect the Epson L120 directly to Wi-Fi without a computer?
No, the L120 model does not have built-in Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port. Wireless operation requires an intermediate device: a computer with public access enabled, a dedicated Wi-Fi router with a USB port, or a print server.
Why is my printer printing slowly over the network?
Print speed may be reduced by Wi-Fi bandwidth congestion, large amounts of graphic data being transferred, or low performance on the server computer due to other tasks. Using the PCL driver instead of the GDI driver can also speed up printing.
Does the Epson L120 work with macOS over a network?
Yes, but setup requires installing Epson drivers for Mac on the macOS computer that will act as the server, or using third-party software to forward USB devices over the network, as native Windows-to-Mac sharing support may require additional SMB configuration.