How to add a printer in Windows 11

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Key Takeaways

• You need the printer powered on, a Windows 11 PC, and either a USB cable or the printer’s network details.
• Windows 11 adds most printers from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• If Windows 11 does not find the printer, use manual add instead of repeating the same search.
• If the printer is on the network and you know its address, IP entry is usually the simplest manual method.

Adding a printer in Windows 11 usually takes 2 to 10 minutes if the printer is already on your network or plugged in by USB. How to add a printer in Windows 11 depends on whether Windows 11 finds the printer on its own or you add it manually by name or IP address.

What you need before you start

You need the printer powered on, a Windows 11 PC, and either a USB cable or the printer’s network details. If the printer is on Wi‑Fi or Ethernet, have the printer’s IP address handy; on many office printers it appears on the printer screen, a configuration page, or the router’s device list. If you are adding a shared printer in a small office, know the exact share name or host computer name too.

The main thing to check first is whether Windows 11 can see the printer at all. If it can, the add flow is quick. If it cannot, manual add is still possible, but it depends on the right address or queue name. A printer that is powered off, asleep, or on the wrong network often will not appear in the first list.

This page covers the Windows 11 printer add flow, not driver installation, Wi‑Fi setup, or removal. If the printer is not connected to the same network as the PC, the add step may fail no matter how many times it is retried.

Add the printer from Settings in Windows 11

Windows 11 adds most printers from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

1. Open Start, then open Settings.
   You should see the Settings app window with a left sidebar.

2. Select Bluetooth & devices.
   The right pane should change to device-related options, including printers.

3. Select Printers & scanners.
   You should see any printers Windows already knows about, plus an Add device button.

4. Click Add device next to Add a printer or scanner.
   Windows 11 begins searching for nearby and network printers. A spinning search indicator or a short list of printer names usually appears.

5. Select your printer when it appears.
   Windows should show a brief setup message and then add the printer to the list on the page.

6. Print a test page from the printer’s queue or from an app.
   A successful add usually ends with the printer listed under Printers & scanners, ready to pick in Word, Edge, or another app.

This is the right method for a simple home printer or a printer already on the same local network as the PC. If the printer appears with a generic name like “HP LaserJet” or “Canon Inkjet,” that is still normal. The important part is that Windows 11 can identify it as a usable device.

The trade-off is that discovery is convenient but not reliable in every network. If the printer does not show up after about a minute, manual add is the next step.

What to do if Windows 11 does not find the printer

If Windows 11 does not find the printer, manual add is the next move, not repeated clicking on the same search screen.

1. Stay on Printers & scanners and select Add manually if you see it.
   The manual printer wizard opens instead of the automatic search box.

2. Pick the option that matches your setup.
   Typical choices include adding by name, TCP/IP address, or a shared printer path. Windows 11 then shows the fields for that method.

3. Enter the printer details exactly as shown on the device or network list.
   A correct entry takes you to the next screen, which usually means Windows accepted the name or address.

4. Finish the wizard and wait for the printer to appear in the list.
   The printer should now show in Printers & scanners, even if it never appeared in the automatic search.

This route helps when the printer is on a business network, connected through a print server, or hidden by a firewall or discovery setting. It is also the safer choice when the printer name is known but Windows’ search is not finding it.

A common mistake is guessing at the printer name. That usually costs time because Windows may create a useless entry or fail the add step altogether. Use the exact host name, queue name, or IP address if you have it.

If you do not know the network details, the printer itself can be a good place to check. Many office models print the IP address on a network status page, often from the control panel. If the printer has a small screen, its network menu may show the address directly.

How to add a network printer by IP address in Windows 11

Adding by IP address is the most direct manual method when the printer is on the network and you know its address.

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   You should see the printer management page again.

2. Select Add device, then choose Add manually if the automatic search misses the printer.
   The manual add screen opens.

3. Choose the option to add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
   Windows 11 will show fields for a device address and a device type or port.

4. Enter the printer’s IP address exactly.
   A valid address moves the wizard forward and creates a port based on that address.

5. Keep the default port settings unless you know the network requires something different.
   Windows usually creates a standard TCP/IP port, which is the normal setup for a network printer.

6. Finish the wizard and wait for the printer to appear in the printer list.
   If the address is accepted, the printer should show up as an installed device rather than a discovered one.

This method is useful for office printers, shared workgroup devices, and printers that disappear from discovery after sleep or network changes. It is also the best option when the printer’s display gives you an IP address but Windows 11 still refuses to find it automatically.

The drawback is that an IP address can change on some networks. If the address changes later, the printer can stop working until the new address is added or the network is configured to keep the address stable. That is a network issue, not a Windows 11 bug, and it is one reason many offices prefer reserved addresses.

Microsoft’s Windows support pages on adding printers and configuring printer ports are worth checking before you change anything on a shared office device.

How to set the default printer in Windows 11

Windows 11 can make one printer the default from the same Printers & scanners page.

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   Your installed printers should appear in a list.

2. Select the printer you want to use most often.
   A printer details page opens.

3. Click Set as default if the button is available.
   Windows confirms the change and that printer becomes the first choice in most apps.

4. If Windows keeps switching printers, turn off the option that lets Windows manage the default printer automatically.
   Once that setting is off, Windows keeps your chosen default instead of changing it based on location or last use.

The practical result is simple: print dialogs in apps will usually preselect that printer. This matters most in homes or small offices with two or three printers, because the wrong default can send a document to the wrong room or waste time at the print queue.

A bad setup is obvious. If another printer keeps taking over, you will see the wrong device selected in the print dialog even after you change it. The fix is not to reinstall the printer; it is to stop automatic default management and set the default manually.

What a good printer add looks like, and what usually goes wrong

A good add leaves the printer visible in Printers & scanners, selectable in apps, and able to print a test page without extra prompts. It should take 2 to 10 minutes, not a half hour.

The most common failure is a printer that never appears in the search list. That usually means one of four things: the printer is off, the PC and printer are on different networks, discovery is blocked, or the printer needs manual entry by IP address. Another common problem is adding the wrong device when several printers share similar model names.

A bad job looks like this: the printer is added but nothing prints, the queue fills with stuck jobs, or Windows keeps asking for the same device again after restart. That often points to a bad network address, a duplicate entry, or a printer that was added by the wrong method. The fix is to remove the bad entry and add the correct one, not to keep stacking new copies of the same printer.

For a printer on a home network, the job is usually straightforward. For a shared office printer, the person managing the network may need to provide the IP address, queue name, or host name. That is the point where calling the right person matters more than clicking through Settings again.

Microsoft’s Windows printer setup guidance and the printer manufacturer’s support pages are the two sources that usually settle the details. The manufacturer is often the better source when the printer has a custom queue name or a special network port.

If you are building a full setup flow for a home or office machine, the printer setup hub can help organize the rest of the steps around this one task. For related Windows 11 setup help, see the Windows 11 settings guide, the Windows 11 network troubleshooting page, and the printer driver update guide.

Why does my printer not appear in the add printer list?

Windows 11 may not find the printer if it is offline, asleep, on a different network, or hidden from discovery. The first thing to try is waking the printer and confirming both devices are on the same local network. If that still fails, use Add manually and enter the printer by IP address or hostname.

How do I add a network printer by IP address?

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, choose Add device, then Add manually, and select the TCP/IP address option. Enter the printer’s IP address exactly as shown on the printer or network page. If the address is correct, Windows 11 creates a printer port and adds the device to the list.

How do I set a default printer in Windows 11?

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and choose Set as default. If Windows keeps changing it back, turn off automatic default printer management first. That keeps the chosen printer as the primary one in most apps.

Drafted with AI; not yet reviewed by a person.