How Do I Find My Printer on This Computer? Easy Guide

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Find connected printers or set up a new one on Windows or Mac

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Last Updated: September 2, 2026

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• Find Connected Printers (Windows)
|
• Finding Connected Printers (Mac)
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• Adding a Printer (Windows)
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• Adding a Printer (Mac)
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• Troubleshooting
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• Video

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Are you having trouble finding the name of a printer you've added to your computer or network? You can typically find printers that are on your network or connected to your computer with a USB cable by going into your computer’s printer settings menu. We’ll also teach you how to find and add a printer if it doesn’t show up in the list. Still can’t find your printer? Check out our troubleshooting tips.

How do I find my printer on this computer?

• On a Windows computer, you can find connected printers by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• If you don’t see your printer in Windows’ printer settings menu, click Add Device to detect and add wireless or wired printers.
• On a Mac, see your printers by going to Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Finding Connected Printers (Windows)

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1. 
   1
   Open Settings on your Windows PC. To get to Settings, click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon). If you don’t see it, search for settings and click it in the results.

   • You can also press Windows key + i to instantly launch your Settings menu.
2. 2
   Click Bluetooth & devices. It’s in the left menu bar. If you’re using Windows 10, click Devices in the right-hand menu pane.
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3. 3
   Select Printers & scanners. It’s in the right menu panel in Windows 11, and in the left menu bar in Windows 10.
4. 4
   View a list of your connected printers. If you’re in Windows 11, the list of available printers will be right under the Add a printer or scanner option. In Windows 10, check under the Printers & scanners header.

   • Don’t see your printer? You may need to add it. Jump down to Adding a Printer (Windows).
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Section 2 of 5:

Finding Connected Printers (Mac)

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1. 1
   Click the

   

   Apple menu. It’s in the top left corner of your screen.
2. 2
   Select System Settings. A window will open.
3. 3
   Click Printers & Scanners. It’s in the left menu bar. You might need to scroll down to find it.
4. 4
   View a list of your connected printers. You’ll see them under the Printers header.

   • If you don’t see your printer, you might need to add it. Jump ahead to Adding a Printer (Mac) to learn how.
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Section 3 of 5:

Adding a Printer (Windows)

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1. 
   1
   Open the Printers & scanners menu. To find a printer that isn’t already connected to your PC, you will need to add it. If the printer is already connected to your Wi-Fi network (or attached to your computer with a cable), Windows should be able to install the printer automatically. These steps work for wired (USB), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth printers. To get started:

   • Press Windows key + i or open the Start menu and select Settings.
   • Go to Bluetooth & devices (or just Devices in Windows 10) > Printers & scanners.
2. 2
   Click Add Device. In Windows 11, you’ll see this at the top of the menu next to “Add a printer or scanner.” If you’re using Windows 10, click the + icon next to “Add a printer or scanner” at the top of the menu.
3. 3
   Wait for Windows to detect your printer, then add it. After a few seconds, a list of printers on your network should appear. Click Add Device next to your printer to connect to it. You should now see the printer in your list of connected printers and scanners.
4. 4
   Add your printer manually if Windows can’t detect it. In some cases, Windows will need a bit of extra help finding your printer. That can be a problem with certain ARM-based PCs or with printers that are shared via another PC rather than connected directly to your network. If you don’t see your printer after selecting the Add Device option:

   • Click Add a new device manually or The printer that I want isn’t listed. It may take a moment for this option to appear after you click Add Device (or + in Windows 10).
   • Select the best option for adding your printer.
     • For example, if you have an old model of printer, click the radio button next to “My printer is a little older. Help me find it.”
     • If it’s a shared network printer, select the “Select a shared printer by name” option. You’ll need to enter the name of the other computer and printer in the text field (e.g., using the format \\computer_name\printer_name. Check out our guide to sharing printers for more detailed instructions.
     • You can also connect to printers on your Wi-Fi network using the printer’s IP address. You may be able to find the IP address on your printer’s display panel. This is often necessary with ARM PCs.
   • Once you’ve made your selection, click Next. Follow the prompts to find and connect to your printer.
   • If you still can’t locate your printer, try our troubleshooting steps.
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Section 4 of 5:

Adding a Printer (Mac)

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1. 1
   Open the printer settings menu. If a printer isn’t already connected to your Mac, you might need to add it. To get started, go to

   

   Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. 2
   Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. It’s below the list of connected printers. A window will pop up that should show a list of available printers.
3. 3
   Choose the best option for your printer. The right way to find and connect your printer will vary a bit depending on what kind of printer it is and how it’s connected to your Mac.

   • For Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or network printers, find the printer in the list. Select it and click Add.
   • If you have a USB printer, make sure it’s connected to your Mac with the appropriate cable. Select it from the list and click Add.
   • If you can’t see your printer in the list, you might need to add it using its IP address. Click the tab with the globe icon at the top of the Add Printer window, then enter the IP address in the Address field. You can typically find your printer’s IP address using the display panel on the printer. Click Add to connect your printer.
     • You might need some additional info to do this, like your printer’s queue name (if it has one), printing protocol, and model number. See this guide from Apple Support for more information.
   • Still can’t find your printer? Check out our troubleshooting tips.
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Section 5 of 5:

Troubleshooting

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1. 
   1
   Make sure your wireless printer is on the same network as your computer. Wi-Fi printers have to be on the same network as your computer to connect. You can typically check your printer’s Wi-Fi connection status using the display panel on the printer itself.

   • On Windows PCs, click the
     
     Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar at the bottom right side of your screen to check your current network connection.
   • On a Mac, click the
     
     Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen to check what network you’re currently connected to.
2. 2
   Try connecting wireless printers with a USB cable first. In some cases, Wi-Fi printers need to be connected with a cable the first time before they can connect wirelessly. Try plugging the printer into one of the USB ports on your computer. If you’re able to connect that way, you might be able to disconnect the cable after you’re finished adding the printer and setting it up.
3. 3
   Check that Bluetooth is enabled if it’s a Bluetooth printer. In order to detect a Bluetooth printer, you’ll need to have Bluetooth enabled on your computer. You might also need to put the printer itself in pairing mode. Check the user’s manual to find out if you need to take extra steps to prepare your printer to connect. To enable Bluetooth on your computer:

   • Windows: Press Windows key + A to open the Quick Settings panel. If the Bluetooth tile isn’t highlighted, click it to turn Bluetooth on.
   • Mac: Click the
     
     Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen and make sure Bluetooth is toggled on. If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon, click the
     
     Control Center icon in the menu bar and click the icon on the Bluetooth tile to toggle Bluetooth on or off.
4. 4
   Try a different USB cable. If your printer is connected with a USB cable, make sure the cable is securely connected and in good condition. Try a different cable if you suspect the current one might be damaged.

   • If your Mac only has one USB-C port, Apple recommends connecting the printer using a multiport adapter. Connect the adapter to a power supply to prevent your Mac’s battery from draining too quickly.
5. 5
   Find out if your printer requires special software or a configuration profile. Some printers must be installed using the manufacturer’s software instead of through your computer’s settings menu. Check the manual for your printer to find out if there are any special requirements.

   • Some network printers also require you to install a configuration profile, which you might need to get from your organization’s IT administrator.
6. 
   6
   Make sure your computer is up to date. An outdated operating system or drivers can cause connection issues between your computer and printer. Make sure your Windows PC or Mac is up to date, then try again to find and connect to your printer.

   • Still having trouble? Check out our guide to troubleshooting offline printers.
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