Multifunctional device HP LaserJet Pro M1132 MFP It is deservedly considered one of the most reliable and popular laser printers in its class. However, despite its excellent printing performance, the basic configuration of this model often limits the user, providing only a USB interface. This creates an inconvenience when it comes to sharing printing across an office or apartment without tying it to a specific computer.
Fortunately, there are proven ways to turn a wired device into a fully-fledged network node. You can use the router's built-in USB port or set up shared access through one of your PCs. In this article, we'll cover both methods in detail, focusing on the nuances of setting up IP addresses and installing drivers so you can print from any device on your local network.
Before beginning software setup, ensure the hardware is in good working order. Make sure the MFP is plugged in, the cartridge is installed, and the USB cable is securely connected to the computer. Only after confirming stable operation in local mode should you proceed to setting up a wireless printing infrastructure.
Preparing equipment and checking drivers
The first step is installing the latest software. Although Windows often automatically installs basic drivers, for full functionality HP LaserJet M1132 A full package of utilities from the manufacturer is required. Download them from the official website, selecting the exact device model and your operating system version.
During installation, select the "USB" connection type. This is critical: even if your ultimate goal is Wi-Fi, initial configuration of the network adapter (or virtual port) often requires direct connection. Wait for the installation to complete and ensure the test page prints correctly.
Please check your device's firmware version. Sometimes older firmware versions may not work correctly with modern routers that use the new WPA3 encryption standards. If your HP driver or utility has an update option, follow this procedure.
⚠️ Attention: Don't attempt to install network drivers until you've verified that the printer is working reliably via USB. Errors at the initial stage can create incorrect ports in the system, which will then have to be manually removed through the registry.
After successfully installing the software, the system should see the device as ready for use. Now you can choose a wireless printing method, which depends on the functionality of your router.
☑️ Ready to set up your network
Method 1: Using the router's USB port
The most elegant solution for HP LaserJet M1132 MFP — this is connecting the device directly to the USB port of your router. Modern routers (for example, TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik) have built-in Print Server functions that allow you to forward the signal from the printer to the entire wireless network.
To implement this method, you'll need a short USB cable. Connect the printer to the router's port, usually located on the back panel. After turning on the MFP, the router should detect the new device. Log into the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and find the section responsible for USB applications or the print server.
Turn on the function Print ServerSome router models may require you to specify the printer model from the list or download a specific PPD file, but for HP LaserJet Most often, the standard RAW or LPR protocols are sufficient. Make sure the printer status is displayed as "Connected" or "Ready."
It's important to understand that in this scenario, the router takes on the role of print spooler. Computers will no longer see the device as a local USB port, but will instead send print jobs over the network. This frees the host computer from the need to be constantly on.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Data transfer method | RAW (9100) or LPR |
| Port | Service network port | 9100 (standard) |
| Interface | Connection type | USB 2.0 |
| Status | Connection status | Connected / Ready |
Setting up a static IP address
The key to setting up network printing is assigning a permanent address to the device. If your router assigns a new IP address to the printer each time via DHCP, computers will lose connection after a reboot. To avoid this, you need to reserve an address.
Access the LAN or DHCP server settings in the router interface. Find the Client List. Your printer should be listed (sometimes it's identified by its MAC address or hostname). Select "Address Reservation" or "Static DHCP."
Assign the device an address that's outside the dynamically assigned range but within your subnet. For example, if your router assigns addresses from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200, assign the printer an address of 192.168.1.50. This ensures that the address isn't occupied by another device.
Example of setting up a static IP:IP Address: 192.168.1.50
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
After saving the settings, reboot the printer and router. Check the device's availability by running the ping command in the Windows command prompt. Enter ping 192.168.1.50 (or your assigned address). If packets are sent and received, the network is configured correctly.
Installing a network printer on Windows
Now that the printer has a permanent network address, you need to teach the operating system to work with it. Don't rely on automatic detection, as Windows may not see a device connected via a third-party router print server. We'll create the port manually.
Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers (or Printers and Scanners in Windows 10/11). Click Add a Printer. When the search begins, select "The printer I want isn't listed." Then select "Add a printer using its TCP/IP address or hostname."
In the window that opens, enter the previously reserved static IP address in the "Name or IP address" field. The port name will change automatically. Uncheck "Query the printer and select a driver automatically" to avoid detection errors. Click "Next."
The system will attempt to detect the device. If a window appears asking for additional port information, select "Custom" and ensure the protocol is set to RAW, and the port is 9100These are the standard settings for most HP network interfaces.
What to do if Windows doesn't find the driver?
If the automatic driver search fails, click "Have Disk." Specify the path to the folder where you previously unzipped the drivers from the HP website (the .inf file). This is the most reliable way to avoid installing an incorrect generic Microsoft driver.
In the final step, give the printer a descriptive name, such as "HP M1132 Network," to distinguish it from local copies. Disable sharing, as the printer is already a network resource. Once complete, the wizard will prompt you to print a test page—do so to verify.
Organizing shared access via a PC
If your router doesn't support the Print Server feature or the USB port is busy, you still have the option of using one of your computers as a print server. In this case, HP LaserJet M1132 Connects via USB to the host PC, which must always be on to enable printing from other devices.
On the computer connected to the printer, go to the printer properties (Right-click → Printer properties). Open the "Sharing" tab and check the "Share this printer" box. Create a short network name without spaces, for example, HP_M1132_Office.
Now you need to configure access rights. In modern versions of Windows, this may require enabling network discovery. Go to "Network & Internet Settings" → "Advanced sharing settings." Enable "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing" for the current network profile (private network).
⚠️ Attention: When using PC sharing, the host computer's sleep mode must be disabled or configured to maintain the network connection. Otherwise, the print job will be queued and won't complete until you wake the PC.
To connect client computers, open "Network" in File Explorer, find the host computer's name, double-click it, and select "Connect." The system will automatically install the necessary drivers from the host computer. If necessary, specify the path to the drivers manually.
Setting up printing from smartphones and tablets
Mobile printing is becoming increasingly popular. Different approaches exist for Android and iOS, but they all require the smartphone and printer to be on the same local Wi-Fi network. Directly connecting the phone to the router's USB port is impossible without special OTG adapters and routers that support this feature.
For iOS users (iPhone, iPad) the situation is most simple thanks to technology AirPrintIf your router supports AirPrint (or Bonjour) passthrough, the printer will automatically appear in the print menu of any app. Simply tap "Share" → "Print" and select HP LaserJet M1132.
Android device owners will need an app HP Smart or Mopria Print ServiceInstall the printing service from Google Play, launch it, and click "Search for printers." The app will find the device by IP address. For full scanning, it's best to use the official app. HP Smart, which allows you not only to print, but also to manage the MFP settings.
It's important to note that Wi-Fi printing speeds may be slower than USB printing, especially when printing large graphic files. This is due to the overhead of wireless data transfer. For text documents, the difference is virtually imperceptible.
Diagnosing and troubleshooting common problems
During operation, situations may arise where the printer becomes unavailable. This is most often due to a change in the IP address (if you haven't configured a static IP address) or a freeze in the print service. First, check the indicators on the router and the printer itself.
If the printer status in Windows is "Offline," try clearing the print queue. Open the Print Spooler and click "Tools" → "Clear Print Queue." Sometimes restarting the Print Spooler service through Windows Services (services.msc).