As we mentioned above, you have three options here. Step One: Connect Your Printer to the Networkįirst, let’s talk about getting that printer connected to your network. You can still use HomeGroups if you’re using Windows 7 or 8, but they won’t be accessible by computers running Windows 10 (at least with the latest updates) unless you also set up traditional file sharing. Update: Microsoft removed the HomeGroup feature from Windows 10 in the April 2018 update. The second step, once you’ve hooked up your printer, will be connecting other PCs to the network printer…which depends a lot on how you hooked it up. Like the Homegroup method, this requires that the computer its connected to be up and running in order for you to use the printer. This is ideal if your network has other computers running different operating systems, if you want more control over file and printer sharing, or if Homegroup just isn’t working very well.

Connect the printer to one of your PCs and share it without Homegroup.

This method, however, requires that the computer its connected to be up and running in order for you to use the printer. It’s easy to set up, and is optimal for networks that are made up of mostly Windows computers. If connecting a printer directly to the network isn’t an option, you can connect it to a PC on the network and share it with Windows Homegroup.

Connect the printer to one of your PCs and share it with the network over Homegroup.

And, since most printers made within the last few years have networking built in, there’s a good chance your printer supports this option. It doesn’t require that another PC be turned on to print (like the below methods do), and you don’t have to go through the hassle of setting up sharing. This is the easiest way to set up a network printer.

Connect the printer to the network directly.

The first step is getting the printer connected to the network, and there are three ways you can do that: Setting up a printer on your network involves two steps.

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