Add printer by IP address — the reliable setup method
Add printer by IP address — the reliable setup method
add printer by IP address is the cleanest way to stop “Offline” loops and flaky auto-discovery. Use our add printer by IP address walkthrough to lock your device to a stable port, avoid driver mismatches, and keep printing reliably on Windows and macOS.
Add printer by IP address — why this method works
Dynamic discovery (Bonjour, WSD, mDNS) is convenient, but it breaks when routers, channels, or names change. A fixed TCP/IP path:
Points the computer straight to the printer’s address
Survives router reboots and SSID changes
Prevents duplicate “Copy 1/2/3” queues
Makes troubleshooting simple (ping/web-test the IP)
Prepare the network (2-minute pre-flight)
Get the printer’s IP: Print a Network...