In the age of wireless technology, having a printer that can only be connected via a bulky USB cable can often be annoying. This is especially true when you need to print a document from your laptop on the couch or send a photo directly from your smartphone. Fortunately, device upgrade It doesn't always require buying a new, expensive model. There are several proven ways to convert a regular printer into a Wi-Fi printer while maintaining your budget and equipment.
The process involves creating an intermediary that will receive data over the wireless network and transmit it to the printing device via a standard port. This could be the router itself, a desktop computer, or even a mobile device. The choice of a specific method depends on the functionality of your router, the operating system of the PC you're using, and, of course, the printer model itself. In this article, we'll examine all the available options so you can choose the most suitable one for your situation.
Before you begin setup, it's important to ensure all devices are in good working order. You'll need the printer itself with a working USB port, drivers for it, and a router that supports the feature. Print Server Or simply a free USB port. If your router doesn't have a USB port, don't despair—there are alternative solutions, which we'll also discuss in detail below.
Connecting via a router with USB support
The easiest and most reliable way to turn a regular device into a network device is to use the capabilities of your router. Many modern router models Asus, TP-Link And Keenetic have a built-in USB port designed for connecting external drives or 3G/4G modems. However, this same connector can often operate in Print Server, allowing you to share the printer with all devices on the local network.
First, you need to physically connect the printer to the router using a USB cable. Then, power on both devices and wait until they fully boot up. Note that the cable should be high-quality and short enough to avoid signal loss, as the router may not be located directly next to the printer. Then, you'll need to log in to the router's web interface by entering its IP address in your browser.
⚠️ Please note: Not all routers support printers out of the box. Even a USB port doesn't guarantee printing functionality. Before purchasing additional equipment or attempting setup, be sure to check the specifications for your model on the manufacturer's official website.
In the router settings, find the section responsible for USB applications or the print server. Enable the corresponding function here. The system may prompt you to select the device type from a list or configure it manually. Once enabled, the router will assign the printer an IP address on the local network, which will remain static or be assigned to the device's MAC address.
The next step is installing drivers on the computers from which printing will take place. You don't need to search for new drivers online; the ones already installed are sufficient. The key is to correctly add the new print port. To do this, in the printer properties on the computer, select "Create a new TCP/IP port" and enter the IP address assigned by the router.
After successfully adding the port, the system will begin a connection check with the device. If successful, you will be able to print documents from any computer connected to the network. It's important to note that printing speeds in this mode may be lower than with a direct connection, as data passes through the router's processor.
Using a computer as a print server
If your router doesn't have a USB port or doesn't support print server functionality, you can use a desktop computer or laptop as an intermediary. This method turns the PC into a print server, relaying print jobs from other network devices to a printer connected to it via USB. universal solution, which works with almost any printer model and any Windows operating system.
To implement this method, the computer to which the printer is connected must be constantly on and connected to the network. This is the main drawback of this method, as it increases power consumption and noise in the room. However, if the PC is already used as a home server or media center, this factor becomes insignificant. Configuration is performed using standard operating system tools.
In Windows, go to the Devices and Printers control panel. Find your connected printer, open the context menu, and select Properties. In the window that opens, go to the "Sharing" tab and check the box next to "Share this printer." Here you can also set a network name by which other users will see the device.
Problems accessing Windows 10/11
In newer versions of Windows, security settings may block sharing. If other computers can't see the printer, check if network discovery is enabled in the Network and Sharing Center. You may also need to disable password protection for sharing or add the user credentials of other PCs to the system.
Now you need to configure the connection on the client devices. On another computer or laptop connected to the same Wi-Fi network, open the Run window (Win+R) and enter the network path to the server computer in the following format: \\Computer_Name or \\Computer_IP_AddressIn the window that opens, you'll see the shared printer, which you can simply connect by double-clicking. The system will automatically download the necessary drivers from the server.
This method is also available for mobile device users, but requires installing additional software on the PC server. There are special utilities, such as Google Cloud Print (for older versions) or specialized software from router and printer manufacturers that forward a local printer to the cloud or make it visible to mobile printing protocols.
Organizing printing via an Android smartphone
Modern Android smartphones are powerful enough to act as a bridge between a Wi-Fi network and a USB printer. This method is especially useful if you don't have a PC that's always on and your router doesn't support printers. To implement this, you'll need a cable. USB OTG (On-The-Go), which allows you to connect peripherals to a mobile device.
First, you need to connect the printer to your smartphone via an OTG cable. Most modern phones will automatically detect the external device and prompt you to install drivers or go to the app store to download the appropriate software. There are many driver apps available, such as NPrinter, PrinterShare or USB OTG Helper, which support thousands of printer models from HP, Canon, Epson and other brands.
After installing the app and driver, you need to configure your smartphone as an access point or use the app's special features to share the printer over the network. Some apps allow you to create a local server that other devices on the same Wi-Fi network can connect to. This turns your phone into a fully-fledged printer. mobile print server.
It's important to remember that when using your smartphone as a server, it must not go into sleep mode, otherwise the connection will be lost. You should add the app you're using to the exceptions list in your phone's power saving settings. Furthermore, data transfer speeds may vary depending on the phone's processor power and Android version.
This method is ideal for temporary use or in situations where running a cable to the router isn't possible. It also allows you to print documents directly from instant messaging or email clients on your phone, bypassing the step of transferring the file to your computer.
Installing third-party software for remote printing
For those who want maximum flexibility and the ability to print from anywhere in the world, not just from their home network, there are cloud services and specialized software. Programs like TeamViewer, AnyDesk Dedicated printing solutions allow you to manage your printer remotely. However, for a home network, solutions that emulate a network printer are more effective.
One popular solution is to use software that creates a virtual printer on the network. An example is the utility Virtual Printer or features in antivirus packages, which often include tools for secure file sharing and printing. Installing such software on the computer connected to the printer allows other devices to see it as a fully-fledged network resource.
It's also worth mentioning services integrated into operating systems. For example, in the Apple ecosystem there is a technology AirPrint, but to use it on a regular printer, you need a computer running macOS to broadcast the signal. On Windows, a similar approach can be achieved by setting it up through standard IIS (Internet Information Services) tools, although this requires more in-depth knowledge and complex configuration.
| Connection method | Necessary equipment | Difficulty of setup | PC addiction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Via a router (USB) | Router with USB cable | Average | No |
| Via PC (Windows) | Always-on PC | Low | Yes, it is required. |
| Via Android | Smartphone, OTG cable | Average | Yes, you need a phone |
| Third-party software | PC, software, stable internet | High | Yes, it is required. |
The choice of software depends on your specific needs. If you need to print documents within your home, standard Windows tools are sufficient. However, if you need access to a home printer from the office, you'll need to set up more complex tunnels or use cloud gateways.
Setting up clients and mobile devices
Once the server component (be it a router, PC, or smartphone) is configured, the client devices must be properly connected. On Windows computers, adding a network printer usually occurs automatically when searching for devices on the network if network discovery is enabled. Otherwise, you'll need to use the Add Printer wizard and specify the path manually.
For macOS and iOS users, the situation is simplified thanks to the protocol AirPrintIf your "homemade" print server supports this protocol (many routers and emulators do), your iPhone or iPad will see the printer automatically. Simply select the device that appears in the print menu; no drivers are required.
☑️ Connection check
On Android devices, printing often requires installing a print plugin from the printer manufacturer (e.g. HP Print Service Plugin) or using universal apps. After installing the plugin and enabling it in the system settings, when attempting to print from any app, the "Search for printers" option or a specific network device will appear in the list of available printers.
It's important to ensure all devices are on the same subnet. If your router distributes Wi-Fi on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies with different network names (SSIDs), make sure the print server and client are connected to the same network or that routing between them isn't restricted by client isolation settings.
Common problems and their solutions
When setting up a homemade Wi-Fi printer, users often encounter a number of common issues. One of the most common is a lost connection after a router reboot. This occurs if the printer or print server is assigned a dynamic IP address that changes. The solution is to configure a static IP address for the device in the router's DHCP settings.
Another common issue is the "Printer Unavailable" or "Busy" error. This may indicate that the port is being used by another process or that your antivirus is blocking the connection. You should check your Windows Firewall settings and add an exception for the printing port (usually port 9100 for RAW or 515 for LPR).
⚠️ Caution: Using older printer models via USB hubs or long extension cables may cause data transmission errors. The USB signal is sensitive to cable length, and exceeding the 2-3 meter limit without an active amplifier often results in unstable operation.
It's also worth mentioning the encoding issue, where hieroglyphs are printed instead of text. This can be resolved by selecting the correct driver. If the standard Windows driver isn't suitable, try installing the manufacturer's driver, even if your OS version isn't listed as supported—drivers from similar operating systems are often compatible.
If all else fails, try resetting the print settings on your router or server and restarting the configuration, after deleting any old copies of the printer from the system. Sometimes, simply rebooting all components—the router, the computer, and the printer itself—can help.
In conclusion, it's worth noting that converting a regular printer into a network printer is an excellent way to extend the life of the equipment and improve user experience. Despite some speed limitations compared to native Wi-Fi models, the functionality of this solution fully covers the needs of a home office or school.
Is it possible to connect a printer to a router via a USB hub?
Technically, this is possible, but not recommended. Routers often have limited power to their USB ports. Connecting through an inactive hub (without additional power) may result in the printer not receiving enough current to start or operate. If the hub has its own power supply, the chances of success are significantly higher, but hardware compatibility is not guaranteed.
Will the scanner work with this connection?
In most cases, no. Printing protocols (LPR, RAW) only support printing. Scanning functions require bidirectional exchange of large amounts of data and specialized driver software, which is typically not supported by built-in router print servers. The scanner will only remain accessible on the PC to which it is physically connected, via remote desktop programs.
How do I know if my router supports printers?
Visually, by the presence of a USB port. However, for precise information, you need to go to the router's web interface and look for the "USB Application," "Print Server," or "USB Network" sections. You can also consult the manufacturer's website manual, which will list support for "Print Server" or "LPR" among the specifications.
Why is printing so slow?
Network printing speed depends on the network bandwidth and the CPU load on the router (if printing through one) or the server computer. Processing of graphic data may be slow. Try lowering the print quality in the driver settings or printing in text mode, if available.