Installing a printer on Windows

Installing a printer on Windows

Connect printer via IP address:

  1. Determine the manufacturer of the printer which can usually be found as a label or symbol on the printer.   
  2. Record the IP address (i.e 172.X.X.X) which can be found as a sticker on the printer or through the printer's network settings. If you need help locating it, please contact Science Computing. 
  3. Make sure you are connected to the University of Waterloo wired network or wireless network through eduroam.
  4. Please download the applicable driver depending on the manufacturer, model, and operating system of your device. Some common ones are linked below:
    1. HP (We generally recommend downloading the "HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL-6 64-bit driver" as it should work with most HP printers.) 
  5. Run the downloaded file and take note of the directory it's being extracted to. Click "Unzip" > Click "OK". 
  6. A popup installation wizard window may appear, but close out of it. 
  7. In Windows, go to "Settings" > "Bluetooth & devices" > "Printers & scanners" and click on the "Add device" button at the upper right.
  8. Wait about ten seconds and "The printer I want isn't listed." message will display. Click "Add manually".
  9. Select the checkbox to "Add a printer using an IP address or hostname".
  10. From the dropdown menu for "Device type", select "TCP/IP Device".
  11. In the "Hostname or IP address" field, type in the <IP address of the printer>.
  12. In the "Port name" field, this will automatically be filled out when you type in the IP address.
  13. Uncheck "Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use."
  14. Click "Next".
  15. On the "Install the printer driver" dialogue, click "Have Disk...", then browse to the directory the driver was extracted to.
  16. Open the extracted folder and it should detect the "filename.inf" file automatically.
  17. Click "Open".
  18. Click "OK".
  19. Choose the one labelled with PCL6 in the name (If there is more than one option, select the one with a version number as it is usually the latest version of the printer driver). Click "Next".
  20. You can change "Printer name" to a friendly name.
  21. Wait for the printer to install.  
  22. Select "Do not share this printer" and click "Next".
  23. You can print a test page to make sure the printer is working correctly then click "Finish".
  24. Your printer should now be added successfully. 

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