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How to Connect a Printer to a Laptop ?
Print from further away using your laptop
Wireless printers use your Wi-Fi network to print from your laptop. With a wireless printer, your laptop isn’t attached to a printer cable and files can be sent to the printer from any room in your home or office. When you’re away from your Wi-Fi, your wireless printer may be able to print files you email to it. Find out how to print wirelessly.
How to Connect the Wireless Printer to Your Wi-Fi ?
Wireless printers work over a network connection. If you use the printer at home, this would be your wireless internet connection. If you work in an office, it’s your office network.
The directions for connecting your wireless printer to your Wi-Fi network vary depending on the manufacturer. So, before you begin, read the printer manual and follow the manufacturer directions to connect the printer to a Wi-Fi network.
Configure Internet Access on the Printer -
These are the general steps to connect a wireless printer to a Wi-Fi network:
1. Power on the Wi-Fi router and the laptop.
2. Power on the printer.
3. On the printer control panel, go to the wireless setup settings.
4. Select the wireless SSID of the Wi-Fi network.
5. Enter the Wi-Fi security password. The password is the WEP key or WPA passphrase for the router.
6. The wireless light on the printer will turn on when the printer connects to the Wi-Fi.
Troubleshoot Connection Problems
If you have problems connecting the printer to the Wi-Fi network:
• Connect the printer to the laptop with a printer cable or USB cable. If the laptop prints to the printer with the cable, the printer may not be able to connect to the Wi-Fi.
• Move the printer to get a better Wi-Fi signal. Something may be blocking the printer’s access. Check the printer display for the Wi-Fi strength; some printers do not have this feature.
• Clear any pending print jobs. There may be a problem with a document that blocks the printer’s ability to connect to the Wi-Fi.
• Restart the printer.
• Make sure the printer’s firmware is up-to-date.
How to Connect a Printer to a Laptop Wirelessly ?
After the printer has access to the Wi-Fi network, add the wireless printer to your laptop.
1. Power on the printer.
2. Open the Windows Search text box and type "printer."
3. Select Printers & Scanners.
4. In the Settings window, select Add a printer or scanner.
5. Select your printer.
6. Select Add device.
7. Wait while Windows sets up the necessary drivers and adds the printer to the laptop.
8. Windows might prompt you to install additional software. If so, select Get app to download and install the software from the Microsoft Store.
9. When the setup is complete, the laptop prints to the wireless printer without being connected to the printer with a USB or printer cable.
10. If Windows didn't recognize the printer, go back to Printers & Scanners.
11. Select Add a printer or scanner.
12. Select The printer that I want isn’t listed.
13. In the Add Printer box, select Add a Bluetooth, wireless or network discoverable printer and choose Next.
14. Select the wireless printer and choose Next.
15. Close the Settings when you’re finished.
Add a Printer in Windows 8 and Windows 7
Accessing the settings to add a wireless printer to a Windows 8 or Windows 7 laptop are slightly different.
1. Go to Start and select Devices and Printers.
2. Select Add a printer.
3. In the Add Printer wizard, select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
4. In the list of available printers, select the printer.
5. Select Next.
6. Windows might need to install the printer driver. If so, select Install driver to continue.
7. Complete the steps in the wizard.
8. Select Finish when you’re done.
How to Print to a Wireless Printer Over Wi-Fi ?
Printing from your laptop to a wireless printer is the same as printing from any device to any printer.
1. Make sure the printer is powered on, is connected to the Wi-Fi, and has paper in the paper tray.
2. Open the app or web browser for the document you want to print.
3. Open the document you want to print.
4. Select the Printer icon.
5. Select the wireless printer.
6. Change the print settings as needed.
7. Select Print.
8. The printed pages will be waiting for you in the printer output tray.
How to Print Wirelessly When Away From Wi-Fi ?
Some printer manufacturers offer an email print service. When you sign up at their website, the printer is assigned an email address. You’ll use this email address to send the document to your printer. When you’re away from home or out of the office, it’s possible to print a document on your wireless printer.
To print a document when your laptop isn’t on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer:
1. Make sure the Wi-Fi router is powered on, the printer is powered on and connected to the Wi-Fi, and there is paper in the printer tray.
2. Open your favorite email app.
3. Create a new email message.
4. In the To text box, enter the email address the manufacturer assigned to the wireless printer.
5. For the subject, enter a description of the print job.
6. Attach the document you want to print.
7. Type a message if you want to print a separate sheet with information about the document, or other instructions.
8. Select Send.
9. The file is sent to the wireless printer and printed.
How to Clean Epson Printer Nozzles ?
If your Epson printer is producing blurry, choppy, or faded printouts, you may need to clean the nozzles. Fortunately, Epson printers have a useful utility you can use to clean them. Start by printing a test pattern from the utility menu so you can make sure the problem is the nozzles. If they need to be cleaned, run a cleaning cycle and print out another test pattern to make sure they’re good to go. If the cleaning cycle isn’t enough to fix the problem, you can manually flush the nozzles to remove any clogs or buildup.
METHODS -
(A) Printing a Test Pattern -
1- Make sure the printer is turned on and the ink light is off. Check to make sure the printer is plugged in and the screen and lights on it are on. Look at the display screen for any error messages and to make sure the ink light that is displayed when the printer is low on ink is off.[1]
• If the ink light is flashing or displayed, you need to replace the ink cartridge that’s low before you clean the printer nozzles.
• Any error messages displayed on the screen need to be resolved before you can clean the printer nozzles.
2 - Load at least 10 sheets of plain paper into the printer. Add enough paper into the printer’s paper tray so you can use them for the test and cleaning cycles. Make sure the paper is plain and clean and properly fitted into the tray.[2]
• Waxy or parchment paper will affect the quality of the test pattern.
3 - Open the printer properties menu from the control panel. Select the Start menu or search for the control panel on your computer. Open up the menu and choose the printer icon to bring up the printer menu. Click on the properties option to bring up the printer properties dialog box.[3]
• Depending on your version of Windows or Macintosh, the printer properties menu could be called something like “Printer” or “Setup” or “Options.”
• You may need to select a tab that says “Maintenance,” “Utility,” or “Options” in order to find the printer properties.
4 - Print a nozzle check test pattern and review it for gaps or blurriness. Click on the option to print a test pattern. When the pattern is printed, compare it to the pattern displayed on the screen. Look for gaps in the pattern, blurriness, choppiness, or if the lines are faded. Use the test pattern to determine if the printer nozzles need to be cleaned.[4]
• On a Macintosh, click the “Confirmation” button to print out a check pattern.
• Print a test pattern before you run a cleaning cycle to make sure the problem is the nozzles.
(B) Running a Cleaning Cycle
1 - Open the printer properties menu and select the utility tab. Find and click on the printer icon in the control panel to open up the printer menu. Click on the tab that says “Utility” or “Maintenance” to bring up the printer’s maintenance menu.[5]
• Depending on your version of Windows or Macintosh, the utility tab could be called “Printer Preferences,” “Maintenance,” or “Utility.”
2 - Click the Head Cleaning option to run a cleaning cycle. Find the option labeled “Head Cleaning” or “Print Head Cleaning” and click on it. A dialog box asking you to confirm your option will appear. Click on “OK” or “Start” to start the printer’s cleaning cycle.[6]
• The printer’s power button will start to flash to signal the beginning of the cleaning cycle.
3 - Print a nozzle check test pattern when the power light stops flashing. When the power light stops flashing, the printer has finished it’s cleaning cycle. Find the option to print a nozzle check pattern and click on it to print out another test.[7]
• A dialog box may appear when the printer has finished its cleaning cycle that includes the option for you to print out a test pattern. If it doesn’t, click on the option to print one out from the utility menu.
4 - Review the test pattern and run another cleaning cycle if necessary. Compare the test pattern that’s printed to the display on the screen. Look for gaps, blurriness, or any other errors on the test sheet. If the pattern doesn’t match the display on the screen, run another cleaning cycle and then check it again.[8]
• You can clean the nozzles up to 6 times.
(C) Flushing the Nozzles
1 - Unplug the power cable while a piece of paper is being printed. Print out any sheet of paper from the printer to get the print head to start moving. While the sheet is being printed, unplug the printer so the print head remains free. Remove the sheet of paper from the printer so you can clean the nozzles.[9]
• Unplug the cable from the back of the printer so you can replace it easily later on.
2 - Open the top of the printer and slide the print head to the center. Lift the top of the printer to expose the print head containing the ink cartridges. Slide the print head towards the center of the printer so you can easily clean the nozzles.[10]
• Because you cut off power while the printer was working, the print head will move freely on its rails.
• If you can’t move the print head, don’t force it. Plug in the printer, print out another sheet of paper, and cut off the power again to free it.
3 - Remove the ink cartridges and place blotting paper beneath the print head. Grab the ink cartridges on from the top of the print head and pull them out to remove them. Set them aside so you can install them later. Cut 2 1 inch (2.5 cm) strips of blotting paper and place them beneath the printhead so they’re stacked on top of each other and can absorb any moisture during the cleaning process.[11]
• Use a pair of scissors to cut the strips of blotting paper.
• You can find blotting paper at department stores, craft stores, office supply stores, and online.
• Change your ink cartridges as soon as you get a low ink warning to keep clogs from forming.
4 - Fit a 1 inch (2.5 cm) silicone tube onto a 10 cc syringe. Get a clean 10 cc injection syringe without a needle. Cut a 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) length of a small silicone hose designed for model airplanes and slide it onto the end of the syringe. Make sure the hose fits snugly and won’t fall off.[12]
• Look for 1 inch (2.5 cm) silicone tubes at hobby shops, remote-controlled airplane shops, and online.
• You can find clean syringes at pharmacies, department stores, and online.
5 - Fill the syringe with isopropylic alcohol and connect it to the print head. Insert the end of the silicone tube into the container of isopropylic alcohol. Slowly pull back on the plunger of the syringe to pull the alcohol out of the container until the syringe is full. Then, attach the end of the silicone hose onto the tube that goes inside of the ink cartridge on the top of the print head.[13]
• There are tubes for each of the ink cartridges, so you’ll need to flush each of them one by one.
• The silicone hose will fit snugly over the tube on the print head.
• Do not use rubbing alcohol or another cleaning solution which may contain water that will damage the print head.
6 - Push the plunger on the syringe to flush the printer nozzle. With the silicone tube attached to the print head, slowly and gently push the plunger on the syringe to force the alcohol through the printer nozzle. If you feel resistance, wait a few moments to allow the alcohol to loosen any clogs, then continue to push. Flush all of the alcohol in the syringe through the nozzle.[14]
• Don’t try to force the alcohol through a clog or you could damage the nozzle.
7 - Remove and refill the syringe and connect it to another nozzle to flush it. When the syringe is empty, carefully remove it from the print head. Refill it completely with isopropylic alcohol and connect the silicone hose to another one of the ink cartridges tubes on top of the print head. Slowly and gently flush the alcohol through the nozzle. Continue flushing all of the nozzles on the print head so they’re clean.[15]
• You don’t need to flush the nozzles more than once to remove any buildup.
8 - Slide the print head to the right and remove the blotting paper. Once the nozzles have been flushed, move the print head back into position on the far right. Remove the damp blotting paper and throw it away. Wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel to remove any moisture.[16]X
9 - Replace the ink cartridges and turn the printer back on to test it. Insert each of the ink cartridges into their appropriate slots on the top of the print head. Make sure they each click into place so they’re attached securely and close the top of the printer. Plug the printer back in and turn it on. Print out a test pattern or a sheet of paper with an image and check it out to see if the cleaning has improved the print quality.[17]
• If there are still gaps or blurriness, the nozzles may be damaged and you may need to replace the entire print head.
How to Print in Black and White on Epson Printers ?
How to print your documents using black-and-white ink on an Epson printer. You can make black-and-white printing your computer's default on both Windows and Mac computers, or you can set up black-and-white printing on a document-by-document basis. Keep in mind that not all Epson printers support black-and-white printing.
METHODS
(A) Changing Default Settings on Windows
1. Open Start Image titled Windowsstart.png. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
2. Type in control panel. This will search your computer for the Control Panel program.
3. Click Control Panel. It's a blue box at the top of the Start menu. This will open Control Panel.
4. Click Devices and Printers. This icon is usually on the far-right side of the Control Panel page.
• If your Control Panel window displays information in "Category" view, you'll click View devices and printers below the "Hardware and Sound" heading.
5. Find your printer. It will usually have the word "Epson" along with the printer's model number. You'll typically find the printers at the bottom of the page, so you may have to scroll down.
6. Right-click your printer's name. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
• If your mouse doesn't have a right-click button, click the right side of the mouse, or use two fingers to click the mouse.
• If your computer uses a trackpad instead of a mouse, use two fingers to tap the trackpad or press the bottom-right side of the trackpad.
7. Click Printing preferences. This option is in the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Printing Preferences window.
8. Click the Color tab. It's at the top of the window.
9. Check the "Black & White" or "Grayscale" option. You'll usually find this box or drop-down menu in the middle of the page.
• If you can't find either options on the Color tab, click the Paper/Quality tab and look for a "Black & White" or "Grayscale" option there.
• If you can't find a black-and-white printing option at all, your Epson printer most likely doesn't support black-and-white printing.
10. Click Apply. It's at the bottom of the window.
11. Click OK. This option is at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your settings and close the Printing Preferences window.
12. Print your document. Open the document or page that you want to print, then press Ctrl+P, select your printer's name if it isn't already selected, review the rest of the print settings if needed, and click Print.
• You can also find the Print option in the File menu of most programs.
(B) Changing Default Settings on Mac
6. Right-click your printer's name. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
• If your mouse doesn't have a right-click button, click the right side of the mouse, or use two fingers to click the mouse.
• If your computer uses a trackpad instead of a mouse, use two fingers to tap the trackpad or press the bottom-right side of the trackpad.
9. Check the "Black & White" or "Grayscale" option. You'll usually find this box or drop-down menu in the middle of the page.
• If you can't find either options on the Color tab, click the Paper/Quality tab and look for a "Black & White" or "Grayscale" option there.
• If you can't find a black-and-white printing option at all, your Epson printer most likely doesn't support black-and-white printing.
1. Open Spotlight Image titled Macspotlight.png. Click the magnifying glass-shaped icon in the top-right corner of your Mac's screen. A search bar will appear.
2. Type in terminal. This will search your Mac for the Terminal program.
3. Double-click Image titled Macterminal.png Terminal. It should be at the top of the Spotlight search results. Doing so opens Terminal.
4. Run the printer options command. Type in cupsctl WebInterface=yes and press ⏎ Return, then wait for the command to finish running.
5. Go to the Local Host 631 page. Open a web browser, type http://localhost:631/ into the browser's address bar, and press ⏎ Return.
6. Click Printers. This tab is in the top-right side of the page.
7. Select the "Set Default Options" option. Click the right-most drop-down menu below your printer's name, then click Set Default Options in the drop-down menu.
8. Click Administration. It's a tab at the top of the page.
• You may be taken to this tab automatically after selecting Set Default Options.
9. Scroll down to the "Basic" section for your printer. It should be directly below your printer's name.
10. Change the "Output Color" option. Click the "Output Color," "Color," or "Color Mode" drop-down box, then click Black, Black & White, or Grayscale in the drop-down menu.
• This option may be labeled differently for your printer.
• If you can't find a "Black" or "Black & White" option, your printer does not support black-and-white printing.
11. Click Set Default Options. It's at the bottom of the "Basic" section. Doing so will save your settings and apply them to your Epson printer.
• You may be prompted to enter your Mac's administrator username and password. This is usually the user and password you log into when you first start your Mac.
12. Print your document. Open the document or page that you want to print, then press ⌘ Command+P, select your printer's name if it isn't already selected, review the rest of the print settings if needed, and click Print.
• You can also find the Print option in the File menu of most programs.
(C) Printing in Black and White Manually
1. Open the document or page that you want to print. You can print from within most programs on both Windows and Mac computers.
2. Open the "Print" menu. Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or ⌘ Command+P (Mac) to do so.
• You can also click File and then click Print in the resulting menu for most programs.
3. Select your Epson printer. Click the "Printer" drop-down box at the top of the menu, then click your Epson printer's name in the resulting drop-down menu.
4. Click the Properties or Preferences option. You'll usually find this option near the top of the "Print" menu.[1]
• On a Mac, you'll usually click the "Copies & Pages" drop-down box and then select the Paper Type / Quality option in the resulting drop-down menu. You may first have to click Show Details to see this menu.[2]
5. Select the "Black & White" or "Grayscale" option. Look for a "Black & White" or "Grayscale" box, then check it.
• On a Windows computer, you may first have to click an Advanced or Color tab.
6. Click Print. It's at the bottom of the window. Your document will be printed using black-and-white (or "grayscale") color options.
