Setting up a printer in Windows 10 is one of the easiest tasks you can do yourself if you have the proper guide. Let us take a look at how to add a printer on Windows 10. Here, we shall discuss how to add printers over USB and wireless printers.
How To Add A Printer On Windows 10?
The steps that you need to follow to install a printer may usually vary among different manufacturers. However, they all usually follow the same basic steps. Let us see some of the basic steps that you might need to follow:
- Connect your printer to your Windows 10 PC using the USB cable.
- In Windows 10, usually, the drivers are automatically installed. The drivers are necessary for the device to receive instructions from the operating system. However, if the drivers fail to install correctly, or the printer does not show up, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app. You can use the keyboard shortcut Win + I.
- Go to the Devices section.
- From the left menu, click on Printers & Scanners.
- Click on Add a printer or scanner from the right column.
Windows will find the printers connected to your computer - If Windows fails to list the printer, click on ‘The printer that I want isn’t listed’ option.
- In the next window, make sure the radio button next to ‘My printer is a little older. Help me find it’ option is selected, and click on Next.
- Windows will now look for any devices connected and show you your printer in the list below.
How To Add A Wireless Printer?
Wireless printers are very popular among users these days. Setting these up is also very easy, as the printer usually connects to your network using the same SSID and password. Follow these steps for the same:
- Most wireless printers have an LCD display. Use the LCD display to enter the Wireless LAN settings.
- Here, you will need to select your Wi-Fi network. This will be the same SSID that your Windows 10 device is connected to.
- Enter your network credentials, and you should be able to use the printer without any issues.
For some manufacturers, you will require to connect the printer via a USB cable to install the necessary drivers. Windows 10 usually pulls and installs the drivers automatically, so you do not have to worry about searching for the drivers manually.
However, if your printer fails to install, you can always find the latest drivers on the manufacturer’s website.
How To Allow Non-Administrators To Install Printer Drivers Windows 10?
By default, if you do not have the admin rights to your computer, you will not be able to install software and printers on your computer. This is a very crucial step for securing your device, as people without the appropriate permissions cannot make system-level changes to your computer.
However, if you do require to make system-level changes, and install printer drivers without admin rights, let us now discuss how you can do so easily. The method involves making changes to the Local Group Policy editor.
Note: Before making any changes, if you manually downloaded the device drivers, first try to install the driver with admin rights using explorer options. Right-click on the driver and select Run as admin from the context menu.
- Open a Run dialog by pressing Win + R.
- Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Expand the following path by clicking on the appropriate options:
Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options - In the right pane, locate the following option:
Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers - Double click to edit the policy value, and set it to Disabled.
This policy is responsible for allowing or rejecting non-administrators to install printer drivers when connected to a shared network printer. Disabling it should allow you to install the drivers as a part of the shared printer connection.
- Next, navigate to the following option similar to the previous one:
Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > System > Driver Installation - Here, locate and double click on the following policy:
Allow non-administrators to install drivers for these device setup classes. - Enable this policy.
- Next, specify the device class GUIDs corresponding to printers. Here is the full list of Windows device class GUIDs.
- Click the show button and enter the following lines corresponding to Windows printers:
Class = Printer {4658ee7e-f050-11d1-b6bd-00c04fa372a7}
Class = PNPPrinters {4d36e979-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} - Save this configuration and restart your computer.
Following this, you should be able to succeed in installing printer drivers even if you do not have the required administrative privileges.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. Now you know how you can allow non-administrators to install printer drivers Windows 10 easily using this simple guide. If you still have some queries, comment below to discuss further the same.
Wilfred Munroe says
I am trying to install a new printer scaner
a says
Congrats