windows 11 can’t find printer — permanent TCP/IP fix
windows 11 can't find printer — permanent TCP/IP fix
windows 11 can't find printer is the headache that shows up after router changes, driver updates, or flaky Wi-Fi discovery. Use our windows 11 can't find printer walkthrough to add your device by a stable TCP/IP address, bypass unreliable auto-discovery, and keep printing reliably.
windows 11 can't find printer — why this happens
Windows relies on discovery protocols (WSD, mDNS/Bonjour) that break when:
The printer’s IP changes after a reboot or router swap
AP isolation or guest Wi-Fi hides devices from each other
Drivers were auto-replaced or queues duplicated
Sleep/energy settings make the printer ignore discovery probes
The permanent cure is to stop discovering and start addressing: create a fix...