Troubleshooting a wireless printer not found by Windows

Users of Windows 10 who have tried installing their printers on a wireless network have usually had problems connecting them. The steps outlined below, when carefully followed in the order they are described, will allow you to fix your problem. Wireless Printer not acknowledged by Windows 10.

The Wireless Printer may be connected to the network and your network connection may be working flawlessly, but it can still be difficult to connect to it. A common issue is that you might have overlooked the Wireless printer’s setting or Windows 10 lacks the feature “Find devices and content switch”. Troubleshooting can occur due to a lot of reasons. Check out validedge.com to know about the reasons.

Troubleshooting a wireless printer not found by Windows 

#1. Activate the ‘Find Devices and Contents’ option

1. Place your cursor in the lower right of the window.
2. Click or tap on the “Settings” option on the menu that appears.
3. Select “Change PC settings” in the Settings submenu by clicking or tapping on it.
4. Select “Network” from the “Change PC settings” menu by left clicking or tapping.
5. Select “Connections” from the menu.
6. Click or tap on the network connection you want to change.
7. Turn on the find content and devices feature.
8. Reboot your PC to change the network settings.
9. Recheck the wireless printer’s location after it starts.

#2. Examine the Homegroup

1. Locate the Homegroup icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
2. Select the “Search” feature by left clicking or tapping.
3. In the search box write “This PC” and hit Enter.
4. Once the search is complete, left click or tap the “This PC” icon.
5. Try to locate the Wireless Printer under the “Homegroup” section.
6. You can search for your Wireless Printer in the “Workgroup or domain” topic if it is not already listed under the “Homegroup” topic.

#3. Configure your network to accept the printer

1. Try to add the wireless printer to your network now.
2. Make sure it is turned on first.
3. Following the instructions in the instructions manual that came with the printer, add it to the network following the instructions.
4. After logging in to the same network, you will need to start your Windows 10.
5. Locate the upper right corner of the screen with the mouse.
6. The “Search” menu will appear when you left click or tap it.
7. Type “network” without the quotes into the search box.
8. Once the search is completed, left click or tap on the “Network” icon.
9. After turning on the printer, check if the Wireless Printer appears in the Network menu.

#4. Configure the printer using advanced settings

4. Navigate to the upper right side of the screen with the mouse.
5. Click or tap the “Search” option in the menu that appears.
6. If you are looking for advanced printer setup, enter the following without the quotes: “Advanced printer setup”.
7. Select the “Advanced printer setup” icon after the search has been completed.
8. Choosing the “Choose a printer on the list” allows you to search for a specific printer.
9. Go back to the Printers option and click or tap “The printer I want isn’t listed” if it’s not there.
10. Identify the printer by entering its name in the dialog box.
11. Choose the “Next” option.
12. Finish the process by following the prompts.

#5. Check your wireless connectivity

1. Make sure that your printer is equipped with a wireless connection.

Note: If the wireless connection is working, the printer usually displays a blue icon.

2. Test the printer’s wireless connectivity according to the instructions that came with it.

#6. Deactivate the network adapter

1. Drag your mouse to the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Select “Search” from the menu.
3. Click on “Network and Sharing” in the search box.
4. Click “Enter.”.
5. Select the “Network and Sharing Center” icon after the search has finished.
6. Select “Change Adapter Settings” by left clicking or tapping it.
7. Click the network adapter or hold it down while right clicking or tapping.
8. You can disable the network adapter by left clicking or tapping on the “Disable” option.

Note: The password for the administrator account may be required.

9. To enable the network adapter, hold tap or right click but this time select “Enable”.

#7. Resolve network issues

1. The mouse should be positioned on the upper right side of the screen.
2. Once the menu appears, you’ll need to click or tap on the Search button.
3. In the search box, tap on ” identify and repair’.
4. Click or tap on “Identify and repair network problems” once the search is complete.
5. To complete the troubleshooting process, follow the instructions on the screen.

#8. Update your printer drivers

Make sure that you have the latest drivers installed on the wireless printer manufacturer’s website. If your printer is not being recognized on the network, this is usually the most common problem.

#9. Update if necessary

1. Navigate to the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
2. The “Search” feature can be accessed by clicking or tapping the “Go” button.
3. In the search box, search for “Windows Update”.
4. Click on the “Windows Update settings” icon after the search is complete.
5. Click on the “Check Now” button from the window that appears. Check for updates.
6. After clicking “Select updates” you will get a page asking you to check for updates related to your printer.
7. If there are any drivers for your printer, select them and then click or tap on the “OK” button.
8. Click or tap on the “Install updates” button on the Windows Update page.

#10. Try running the printer troubleshooter

You can also run the built-in printer troubleshooter if your computer cannot detect your wireless printer. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooter, and then run the printer troubleshooter.