How to Set Up a Printer on a New Computer

If the printer is already on Wi-Fi

Make sure the new computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. On Windows, go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device, and your printer should appear automatically in the list — click it and Windows will typically install a driver on its own. On Mac, go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer, and it should show up the same way.

Install the full manufacturer driver for full features

The automatic driver Windows or macOS installs often covers basic printing, but may be missing scanning, ink-level monitoring, or advanced settings. For the complete feature set, download and install the official driver package directly from the manufacturer's site (or our driver library) using your exact model number, even if the printer already appears to be working after the automatic install.

If the printer doesn't appear automatically

Confirm the printer's own display shows it's still connected to Wi-Fi with a valid IP address — network settings occasionally get affected by router changes even when the printer itself hasn't moved. If it's connected but still not showing up on the new computer, you can add it manually using its IP address: on Windows, choose "Add a printer using an IP address" during the add-device flow; on Mac, use the IP tab within the Add Printer dialog.

If the printer is USB-connected to another computer

A printer plugged into one specific computer via USB isn't automatically available to other computers — that host computer needs to explicitly share it, and it needs to be turned on for anyone else to print. See our guide on sharing a printer between computers for the full setup, or consider connecting the printer directly to Wi-Fi if it supports it, which removes this dependency entirely.

Migrating from an old computer

There's no need to "transfer" printer settings between computers the way you might with documents — since the printer itself holds its own network configuration, the new computer just needs its own fresh driver installation and connection, exactly as if it were the first computer ever added. Don't try to copy driver files directly between computers; always use a fresh official install instead, which avoids compatibility issues from mismatched Windows or macOS versions.