Adding a Printer by IP Address

Occasionally you will lose connection to your office or computer lab printer when attempting to print a document.  There are times when you cannot locate your printer when you attempt to add it to your computer.  Specifically, you will not see your printer amongst the hundreds of printers listed.  In such cases, you might need to reconnect or establish a connection with a printer via the printer's IP address.  To add your device by IP address, please note the following instructions:

How to add a printer in Mac OS:

  1. Open Apple System Preferences.
  2. Click Print and Fax.
  3. Click the + sign in the lower left of the Print and Fax window to add a printer.
  4. Click IP.
  5. Select the proper Protocol for your printer type. For HP printers use the Protocol: HP Jetdirect - Socket.
  6. Type in the IP Address (i.e., 130.207.14.144)  of the printer.  Leave Queue blank.
  7. Enter in the name of the printer under Name.
  8. Select an appropriate driver under the Print Using drop down menu. If you cannot find the correct driver, the Generic Post Script Printer driver.  Click Add.
  9. You may be presented with an Installable Options screen.  If so, select the appropriate options or accept the defaults. 
  10. Click Continue to add the printer

How to add a printer in Windows 10:

  1. Select “Start” and type “printers” in the search box.
  2. Choose “Printers & scanners“.
  3. Select “Add a printer or scanner“.
  4. Wait for the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option to appear, then select it.
  5. Select “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname” , then select “Next“.
  6. Select “TCP/IP Device” in the “Device type” list.
  7. Type the hostname or the IP address of the printer. Select “Next“.
  8. Windows should find the printer if the printer is on and configured correctly. You may have to specify more information. If prompted, Select the type of network adapter installed in the printer in the “Device Type” drop-down list. You can also click “Custom” to specify custom settings for the network printer. Select “Next“.

How to add a printer in Windows 11:

1.  Hit the Windows + I keys together to launch the Settings utility on Windows 11

2.  Click the Bluetooth & devices menu in the left-side navigation panel

3.  Find the Printers & scanners menu on the right-side panel and click on that

4.  Now, click Add device button on the Add a printer or scanner menu

5.  Wait until Windows 11 shows the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” remark along with the Add manually button

6.  Click Add manually to open the Add Printer dialog box

7.  Select an Add Printer option that indicates you can use an IP address or hostname to set up the printer

8.  On the next screen, click Device type and change it to TCP/IP Device

9.  Type in the networked printer IP address into the Host name box

10.  The Port name populates itself. But, you must rename by adding an additional text like 192.170.0.0_Y

11.  Windows 11 should be able to find and connect with the printer as soon as you hit the Next button

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