How to Connect a Samsung ML-2160 Printer to Wi-Fi: 3 Proven Methods

Printer Samsung ML-2160 — a compact and reliable monochrome device that's ideal for home or office use. However, its main drawback is the lack of built-in Wi-Fi in the basic package. This means that wireless printing will require either an external adapter or proper configuration via a router. In this article, we'll cover all possible connection methods. Samsung ML-2160 to Wi-Fi network, including workarounds for models without a built-in module.

It is important to understand: officially ML-2160 does not support wireless connection out of the box. But with the help of additional equipment (for example, USB-Wi-Fi adapter or print servers) or you can set up network printing through your router settings. We'll cover both standard methods for Wi-Fi models and alternative options for the basic version. If your model has the index ML-2160W or ML-2165W - you already have a built-in module, and the process is simplified.

Before you begin, please check:

• 📋 Printer model (on the sticker on the back or in the documentation). Basic ML-2160 requires an adapter.
• 🔌 The printer must have a USB port (required to connect the adapter or cable to the PC).
• 📡 Your router type (does it support WPS or have a USB port for a print server).

1. Check the printer model: does it have built-in Wi-Fi?

The first step is to determine if yours supports Samsung ML-2160 Wireless connection from the start. The manufacturer released several modifications of this model:

• 🖨️ ML-2160 - basic version without Wi-FiRequires external devices for wireless printing.
• 📶 ML-2160W or ML-2165W — versions with built-in Wi-Fi. Support direct connection to the network.

To find out the exact model:

1. Turn the printer over and look for the serial number and model label.
2. Please refer to the documentation (section "Technical Specifications").
3. Start printing test page: press and hold the button Cancel (Cancel) within 5 seconds.

If your model without the letter "W" At the end, go to the sections about USB adapters or setup via router. For ML-2160W/2165W A standard connection via the control panel or WPS will do.

⚠️ Attention: Some sellers list "Wi-Fi support" in the description for the base model. ML-2160, referring to compatibility with external adapters. Please check the package contents when purchasing!

2. Connection via WPS (only for ML-2160W/2165W)

The fastest way to connect a printer with built-in Wi-Fi is to use technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). It allows you to connect devices without entering a password, by pressing a single button on the router.

Conditions for this method:

• 📡 Your router supports WPS (usually there is a button with this name or icon 🔄).
• 🖨️ Printer Samsung ML-2160W/2165W with Wi-Fi turned on (the wireless network indicator should be blinking).
• 🔋 The printer is turned on and within network range (no further than 5 meters from the router).

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Make sure the WPS light on your router is on (or press the WPS button if it has one).
2. On the printer, press and hold the button Wi-Fi (or WPS) for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing quickly.
3. Within 2 minutes, press the WPS button on the router. The printer's indicator light should turn solid, indicating a connection has been established.
4. Print it out test page (hold Cancel 5 seconds) to check the network.

Turn on the printer and wait until it is ready|

Check if your router supports WPS|

Place the printer close to the router (within 5 meters)|

Make sure there are no active MAC address restrictions on your router-->

If the Wi-Fi light on your printer continues to blink or stays red, repeat the process or proceed to manual setupPossible reasons for failure:

• 🔌 The router does not support WPS (check the model documentation).
• 🔒 WPS is disabled in the router settings (enable it in the web interface at the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
• ⏱️ Sync timed out (repeat from step 1).

3. Manual Wi-Fi setup via the printer panel (for ML-2160W)

If WPS isn't working or your router doesn't support it, you can enter the network settings manually. To do this, use the printer Samsung ML-2160W There is a small screen and navigation buttons.

Setup instructions:

1. Click the button Menu on the printer panel.
2. Go to the section Network (Network) using buttons ▲/▼.
3. Select Wireless (Wireless Network) → WLAN Settings (WLAN settings).
4. Turn on Wi-Fi if it is disabled (On).
5. Select Setup Wizard (Setup Wizard) and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. The printer will prompt you to select a network from the list. Find your network (name SSID) and press OK.
7. Enter the Wi-Fi password using the buttons (use ▲/▼/←/→ to select characters).
8. Confirm your entry and wait for the connection to complete. The Wi-Fi indicator should turn green.

If your network is hidden (not broadcasting SSID), select from the menu Manual Setup (Manual setup) and enter:

• 📡 Network name (SSID).
• 🔐 Security type (WPA2-PSK (recommended).
• 🔑 Password (security key).

⚠️ Attention: When entering a password on the printer screen, the characters are displayed as asterisks (****). Be careful - a single character error will result in a connection failure. For complex passwords (with symbols) !@#$) easier to use setup via PC.

4. Setting up Wi-Fi via a computer (universal method)

This method is suitable for all models. Samsung ML-2160, including the basic version without Wi-Fi. You will need:

• 🖥️ A Windows or macOS computer connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🔌 USB cable (included with the printer).
• 📀 Software disc or downloaded drivers from official Samsung website.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Connect the printer to your computer via USB and turn it on.
2. Install the drivers from the disk or download the latest version for your OS. ML-2160 select a section Print Drivers, not "Scanning Software".
3. Launch Samsung Printer Settings (or a similar utility from the kit).
4. Go to the section Network settings → Wireless network.
5. Select your Wi-Fi network from the list or enter the details manually (as in previous section).
6. Confirm the settings and wait for the printer to reboot.
7. Disconnect the USB cable. The printer should now be accessible over the network.

To check the connection:

• 🖨️ Print it out network configuration page (hold Cancel 5 seconds).
• 📋 Find the section on the page Wireless - it should be displayed there SSID your network and status Connected.
• 🖥️ On your computer, try adding a printer via Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add a printer, by selecting the option Add a network printer.

5. Connecting the ML-2160 base model via a USB-Wi-Fi adapter

If your Samsung ML-2160 does not have built-in Wi-Fi, you can use external USB adapterHowever, not all adapters are compatible! The printer only supports certain models with chips. Ralink RT5370 or RT5372.

Recommended adapters (tested by users):

• 🔌 Edimax EW-7811Un (RT5370 chip) is the most popular option.
• 🔌 TP-Link TL-WN725N (version with RT5370 chip, do not confuse with RT5372!).
• 🔌 ASUS USB-N10 Nano (also based on RT5370).

Connection instructions:

1. Buy a compatible adapter (check the chipset!).
2. Connect the adapter to the printer's USB port (located on the back).
3. Turn on the printer. The light on the adapter should blink.
4. On your computer, install the drivers for the adapter (if required) and run Samsung Printer Settings.
5. In the program, select Network Settings → Wireless Connection and follow the setup wizard (similar to Section 4).
6. Once successfully connected, disconnect the USB cable from your computer. The printer will be accessible via Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Attention: Chip adapters Realtek or Broadcom not compatible with ML-2160Before purchasing, confirm the chip model with the seller or check the adapter manufacturer's website.

How to check the chipset of a USB adapter?

1. Connect the adapter to your computer.

2. Open device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).

3. Find the adapter in the section Network adapters.

4. Right-click → Properties → Details → Hardware ID.

5. In line VEN_XXXX And DEV_XXXX The first 4 characters after the underscore indicate the manufacturer and model of the chip (for example, VEN_148F - this is Ralink).

6. Alternative method: connecting via a router with a USB port

If your router has a USB port, you can connect Samsung ML-2160 directly to it and use a print server. This method works for most modern routers (for example, ASUS RT-AC66U, TP-Link Archer C7, Keenetic).

What you will need:

• 📡 Router with USB port and support print servers.
• 🔌 USB cable (usually included with the printer).
• 🖥️ Computer for initial setup.

Step-by-step setup:

1. Connect the printer to the router's USB port using a cable.
2. Turn on the printer and wait for the router to detect it (the USB indicator on the router should light up).
3. Go to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
4. Find the section USB devices or Print server (the name depends on the router model).
5. Enable printer support and configure network access (usually it is enough to check the box Enable print server).
6. Install the printer drivers on your computer if they are not installed automatically.
7. Add a network printer via Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add a printer, by selecting the option Add a printer by TCP/IP address (specify the IP of your router).

The advantages of this method:

• ✅ No need to purchase additional adapters.
• ✅ The printer is accessible to all devices on the network (PCs, laptops, smartphones).
• ✅ Stable connection without signal loss.

⚠️ Attention: Some routers limit print server functionality. For example, duplex printing or certain document formats may not be supported. Check the documentation for your router model.

7. Troubleshooting connection issues

If your printer won't connect to Wi-Fi or print over the network, try these troubleshooting steps:

The printer does not find the network:

• 📡 Check that the router is turned on and broadcasting the network (the Wi-Fi indicator is on).
• 🔄 Reboot your router (unplug it for 30 seconds).
• 📋 Make sure the network name (SSID) does not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces.
• 🔌 Move the printer closer to the router (within 1 meter) and try again.

The printer is connected but does not print:

• 🖥️ Reinstall the printer drivers on your computer (download from official website).
• 🔒 Check that the printer is not blocked by Windows Firewall or antivirus software.
• 📡 Make sure your computer and printer are on the same network (check IP addresses).
• 🖨️ Run a test print from your smartphone (via the app) Samsung Mobile Print).

Wi-Fi indicator flashes red:

• 🔑 Check your network password (it may have changed).
• 🔄 Reset network settings on your printer: Menu → Network → Reset Network.
• 📡 Change the Wi-Fi channel on the router (for example, from Auto on 6).
• 🔌 Unplug the printer for 1 minute, then reconnect.

If the problem is not resolved, Check your router's compatibility with the printer - some models (for example, Zyxel Keenetic Lite) require manual specification of the printer's MAC address in the DHCP settings.

8. Printing from a smartphone to the Samsung ML-2160 via Wi-Fi

Once your printer is successfully connected to the network, you can print from your smartphone or tablet. To do this:

For Android:

• 📱 Install the application Samsung Mobile Print from Google Play.
• 🔍 Launch the app and wait for it to find the printer on the network.
• 📄 Select a document or photo to print and adjust the settings.
• 🖨️ Click Seal.

For iPhone/iPad:

• 🍎 Install the application Samsung Mobile Print from the App Store.
• 🔗 Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.
• 📎 In the app, select the file and send it to print.

If the printer is not found:

• 📡 Make sure your smartphone and printer are on the same network.
• 🔄 Restart your printer and router.
• 📱 In your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings, enable the option Local area network (on Android 10+).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connecting the Samsung ML-2160 to Wi-Fi

Is it possible to connect the basic ML-2160 model to Wi-Fi without an adapter?

No, the base model Samsung ML-2160 does not have a built-in Wi-Fi module. For wireless printing, you will need either an external USB-Wi-Fi adapter (compatible models are listed in section 5), or connection via router with USB port (Section 6) An alternative is to use a print server, but this is a more expensive solution.

My ML-2160W printer connects to Wi-Fi, but disconnects after a few minutes. What's wrong?

This issue is common with Samsung printers and is related to energy saving settings. Solutions:

1. Disable sleep mode: Menu → System Setup → Sleep Mode → Off.
2. In the router settings, assign the printer's IP address via MAC binding (DHCP Reservation).
3. Update your printer firmware via Samsung Printer Settings.

How do I reset network settings on the ML-2160W?

To reset Wi-Fi settings:

1. Click Menu on the printer panel.
2. Go to Network → Reset Network.
3. Confirm the reset with the button OK.
4. The printer will reboot and you will be able to set up the network again.

⚠️ After resetting, the printer will return to the factory Wi-Fi settings (if this is the model ML-2160W).

Is it possible to connect ML-2160 to Wi-Fi Direct (without a router)?

No, Samsung ML-2160 (including Wi-Fi versions) does not support technology Wi-Fi DirectTo print without a router, you can use:

• 🔌 Direct USB connection.
• 📡 Create a temporary network via a laptop (Access Point mode).

What router settings might interfere with printer connection?

Connection problems are often caused by:

• 🔒 MAC address filtering — add the printer's MAC to the list of allowed ones.
• 📡 Hidden SSID - temporarily make the network visible or enter the data manually.
• 🔄 Incompatible Wi-Fi mode — install 802.11b/g/n (Not ac or ax).
• 🔐 With a complex password - use a password without special characters (!@#$) for the test.