How to Setup Printer on Windows 8 Laptop?

Different printer manufacturers recommend different ways of installing a printer on a Windows 8 laptop. Basically.

Different printer manufacturers recommend different ways of installing a printer on a Windows 8 laptop. Basically, there are two ways of doing this. A set of manufacturers will ask you to simply plug the rectangular-shaped connector of your printer into the USB port on your laptop. Then Windows 8 will automatically notice, recognize and find the new hardware installed and make it available for usage. All you need to take care is that you have stocked the printer with ink cartridges, toner and paper. This sounds simple and easy but at times it might turn out tricky.

However, another set of manufacturers will make things complicated for you by asking you to download their software bundle before connecting your printer to the laptop. They do so because only after installing the software the printer will work appropriately.

So what is the best way of setting up a printer on Windows 8 laptop? This can be known only after checking the printer’s manual. Check the manual if the installation of software has been recommended. If not then you just need to install the cartridges, put paper on the tray and follow the instruction given below to get your printer set on your Windows device.

Install a Printer

Turn on your laptop and let the Windows be active properly. Now plug your printer into your laptop and turn it on. Wait for a while and most likely you will get a message from Windows stating that the new hardware or printer has got successfully installed.

Check the Installation

Next, you must check whether the hardware has got properly installed or not. For this, launch the ‘Control Panel’ of your system. If you are using a touch Windows 8 device, then you can reach the ‘Control Panel’ from the desktop. From the right edge of the desktop screen, simply slide your finger towards inside. Now tap the ‘Settings’ icon and then look for ‘Control Panel’ in the ‘Settings’ Window’ and launch it. But if you are using the traditional non touch Windows 8 laptop then simply launch the ‘Start Screen’ and type ‘Control Panel.’ In the search results, click on ‘Control Panel’ to get it launched.

Under the ‘Control Panel’ window look for ‘Hardware and Sound’ option and then click on the ‘View Devices and Printers’ link.

This will list all the hardware installed on your laptop, including your printer. If you see that the list includes the printer, check the model or brand name. If everything is alright then it is confirmed that the printer has been duly installed. Now right-click on the icon of the printer and choose ‘Printer Properties,’ then click the ‘Print Test Page’ button. If you get a properly printed page then your printer is ready for use.

Set a Default Printer

If you have more than one printer plugged to your laptop, then you can set one of it as your default printer. You must choose your often used one as the default. To set as the default, right-click the icon of the printer you use often and choose ‘Set As Default Printer.’ From the next time if you chose to print, Windows 8 will automatically use the default one unless you command otherwise.

Remove a Printer

If you want to remove a printer installed on your laptop then right-click on its name or icon and from the pop-up menu chose ‘Delete.’ After this Windows 8 may ask you to uninstall the drivers and software bundled to that particular printer, click ‘Yes’ if you think that you are never going to use that device anymore.

Share Your Printer over a Network

If you want to share your printer over a network, then you require creating a Home group. After this your printer will show your printer to all the computers on your network.

 If you face any difficulty in using your printer or getting confused with its usability, just click the ‘Help’ button that appears on each and every dialog boxes relevant to the printer settings. Click on that button and you will be prompted with the wizard helping you out in the process. Windows 8 is a highly upgraded OS that delivers easy support to printers; hence you are not likely to have any difficulty in installing the printing hardware. Moreover, installing is very easy as you just need to plug in the hardware. But if your printer manufacturer recommends to install software then you might have go through it but that is also not very time consuming or complicated.

Hi! I am Brook M. Perry, a prolific blog writer and keen author of articles related to online laptop support. My areas of interest are PC security, endpoint security system, router support etc. You can follow me for my useful remote computer support articles on Ezine and other article-oriented websites.

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