How to Set Up Wi-Fi Printing on a Samsung ML-2168W Printer: A Complete Guide

Wireless printing saves time and eliminates the clutter of wires, but setting up Wi-Fi on your printer Samsung ML-2168W This model, while not the newest, remains popular due to its compact size and reliability. However, its control interface and the specifics of the Wi-Fi Direct/WPS protocols can be confusing even for experienced users.

In this article you will find detailed instructions on connecting the printer to the network — from preparing the router to installing drivers on your computer. We'll cover both setup methods (WPS and manual), as well as common errors that interfere with stable operation. If your ML-2168W If your Wi-Fi connection refuses to print or keeps losing connection, here's how to fix it without calling a technician.

1. Preparing for setup: what to check before connecting

Before you begin setup, make sure all system components are ready for use. 90% of Wi-Fi printing problems arise from missed preparatory steps. Start by checking the following:

• 📶 Router: must maintain standards 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz). ML-2168W Doesn't work with 5 GHz networks. Make sure the network's SSID is visible in the list of available networks.
• 🖨️ Printer: The printer is plugged into a 220V power source, and the power indicator is green. There should be no red lights on the control panel (paper/cartridge error).
• 💻 Computer: Connected to the same Wi-Fi network you'll be connecting the printer to. Disable VPNs and proxies—they can block device detection.
• 📡 Distance: The printer should be no further than 5 meters from the router. Walls and metal objects weaken the signal.

Pay special attention router security settings. Samsung ML-2168W does not support modern encryption protocols WPA3 - use WPA2-PSK (AES)If your router has a MAC address filter enabled, temporarily disable it while you're setting it up.

⚠️ Attention: If the printer was previously connected to a different Wi-Fi network, reset it. To do this, hold down the button Cancel (❌) 10 seconds, until all indicators flash. This will restore factory settings, including network settings.

2. Method 1: Connecting via WPS (the fastest method)

Technology Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Allows you to connect your printer to the network without entering a password—just press a button on the router. This method works if your router supports WPS (usually there's a button with a 🔄 icon or text).

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Make sure the WPS indicator on your router is lit (usually blinking).
2. On the printer ML-2168W hold the button Wi-Fi (📶) 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.
3. Within 2 minutes, press the WPS button on the router. The Wi-Fi indicator on the printer should turn green.
4. Wait for the printer to print a test sheet with network parameters (IP address, MAC, SSID).

If the printer does not print the settings sheet, check the connection status: press and hold Wi-Fi 1 second. The indicator should be on. green (connected) or orange (error).

Make sure the Wi-Fi light is green|Check that the printer has received an IP address (print network settings)|Try sending a test document to print|Make sure the computer and printer are on the same network-->

⚠️ Attention: Some routers (eg. TP-Link Archer C6) require WPS activation in the web interface before pressing the button. Go to Advanced → WPS and turn on the mode Push Button.

3. Method 2: Manual Wi-Fi setup via the printer control panel

If WPS isn't working or your router doesn't support it, configure the connection manually. This will require entering the SSID and network password directly on the printer.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi (📶) on the printer for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing quickly.
2. Click the button Cancel (❌) once - the printer will switch to manual input mode.
3. Use the buttons ↑/↓ to select the letters/numbers of the SSID (your network name). To confirm the symbol, press OK.
4. Enter the network password in the same way. It's case-sensitive!
5. After entering, press and hold OK 3 seconds to save. The Wi-Fi indicator should turn green.

The main difficulty of this method is entering complex passwords using only two keys. If your password contains characters like @#$%, replace it temporarily with a simple one (for example, 12345678) during setup.

How to enter special characters on the ML-2168W

To enter characters that are not available on the printer's numeric keypad (e.g., "@", "#"), use the following combinations:

-"@" = press "1" four times (like on old phones: 1→A, 11→B, 111→C, 1111→@)

-"#" = hold"1" for 5 seconds

-"$" = press "5" five times

For a complete list of symbols, see the user manual (section "Wireless Setup").

4. Installing drivers and setting up printing on a computer

After connecting the printer to Wi-Fi, you need to install the drivers on your computer. Without them, the system will not be able to "see" the device on the network. Official drivers for Samsung ML-2168W are available on the Samsung website, but they can also be downloaded through Windows Update.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows 10/11:

• 🖥️ Open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners.
• 🔍 Click Add a printer or scannerThe system will start searching for devices.
• 📋 If the printer is not found, select The printer you need is not in the list.
• 🌐 Choose Add a printer by TCP/IP address and enter the printer IP (you can find out by printing the network settings).
• 💾 Specify the path to the drivers (if downloaded from the Samsung website) or select the model from the Windows list.

For macOS Drivers are installed automatically through System Preferences → Printers & ScannersIf the printer is not detected, download Samsung Printer Driver from the official website and install manually.

⚠️ Attention: If an error occurs when installing drivers 0x00000002, remove all previously installed Samsung drivers via Control Panel → Programs and Features and restart your computer.

5. Common mistakes and their solutions

Even after setting up Wi-Fi correctly, printing may not work due to hidden issues. the most common mistakes and ways to eliminate them:

If the printer is connected to the network, but Printing is extremely slow (more than 1 minute per page), check the quality settings in the driver. The default mode may be Max DPI - change it to Normal or Draft.

6. Setting up printing from mobile devices

Print from your phone or tablet to Samsung ML-2168W possible through applications Samsung Mobile Print (Android/iOS) or standard operating system tools. The main requirement is that the mobile device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.

Instructions for Android:

1. Download Samsung Mobile Print from Google Play.
2. Open the app and tap Add a printer.
3. Select ML-2168W from the list of detected devices.
4. Upload the document to print and configure the settings (number of copies, orientation, etc.).

For iPhone/iPad use the function AirPrint (built into iOS):

• Open the document (for example, in Pages or Safari).
• Click Share → Print.
• Select Samsung ML-2168W from the list of printers.

⚠️ Attention: On iOS, a printer may not appear in the AirPrint list if the printer is enabled in its settings. Wi-Fi Direct. Turn it off through the printer control panel (hold Wi-Fi 5 sec → select Off for Direct).

7. Optimize Wi-Fi connection for stable printing

To avoid connection drops and printing delays, configure your network according to your printer's features:

• 📶 Wi-Fi channel: In the manual settings of the router, select the channel 1, 6 or 11 - they are the least susceptible to interference.
• 🔄 Opening hours: Disable the feature 802.11r (Fast Roaming) - it may cause conflicts with the printer.
• 🔒 Safety: Use only WPA2-PSK. WPA3 and mixed modes are not supported.
• 📡 Signal strength: If the printer is far from the router, reduce the transmission power in the router settings to 50-75% - this will reduce interference.

For office networks with a large number of devices, it is recommended allocate a static IP address to the printer via DHCP reservation. This will prevent the address from changing when the router reboots. Instructions:

1. Find out the MAC address of the printer (print out the network settings).
2. Go to the router's web interface (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
3. Go to DHCP → Address Reservation.
4. Add a new rule specifying the printer's MAC and desired IP (e.g. 192.168.1.100).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about setting up the Samsung ML-2168W

Is it possible to connect a printer to Wi-Fi without a router (directly to a computer)?

Yes, but only through Wi-Fi Direct. Activate this mode on the printer (hold Wi-Fi 5 sec → select Wi-Fi Direct). Then connect to the printer's network from your computer (SSID will look like DIRECT-xx-SAMSUNG_ML-2168W). However, in this mode The Internet won't work on the computer..

The printer is connected to Wi-Fi, but it won't print from my phone. What should I do?

Please check the following points:

• The phone and printer are connected to one network (not to Wi-Fi Direct).
• In the appendix Samsung Mobile Print The correct printer model has been selected.
• The traffic saving mode is disabled on the phone (it may block local connections).

If the problem persists, reinstall the app and restart your phone.

How do I reset my printer's Wi-Fi settings?

There are two ways:

1. Soft reset: Hold Wi-Fi (📶) 10 seconds. This will only reset network settings.
2. Full reset: Hold Cancel (❌) 10 seconds. All settings, including paper settings, will be reset.

Does ML-2168W support cloud printing (Google Cloud Print)?

No, Samsung ML-2168W There's no built-in support for cloud printing. However, you can use workarounds:

• Set up printer sharing via computer (turn on General access in the printer properties in Windows).
• Use third party services like PrinterShare (paid).

Why does my printer print blank or streaky sheets?

This isn't Wi-Fi related, but it often occurs after setup. Causes:

• The toner is out - replace the cartridge.
• Incorrect driver settings - check the parameter Paper type (must match the real one).
• Dried toner - remove the cartridge and gently shake it from side to side.

If the problem persists, print it out test page from the printer panel (hold Cancel 3 sec). If the test page prints normally, the problem is in the driver or the document.