How To Install Printer Driver?
In the present age, where everything is digital, printers have become an indispensable tool for us. It is used daily in our professional as well as personal lives. Whether we want to print up a document for the office, photos for our personal use, or stuff for our creative projects, having a reliable printing device can help you out in such tasks.
To ensure the smooth functioning of the printers, we often forget to look over one of the most crucial elements of it all, and that is - the installation of the drivers. Now these crucial elements act as a bridge between the operating system of your PC and the hardware of the printer.
Without drivers, the communication of both of these devices would be improper which would eventually lead to errors in printing, malfunctioning, or even the printers being unusable. So, it is important to understand that this is fundamental for anyone who wants to maximize the capabilities of their printing devices.
In this article, we will be telling you the step-by-step process that will easily guide you about how to install the printer drivers on our Windows. Additionally, here we can also explore troubleshooting tips that can help you manage the common issues that arise when you install it. With the help of this article, you are going to have the knowledge and confidence to seamlessly set up these!
Understanding Printer Drivers: What They Are and Why You Need Them
As you must know already, in the tech world, some gadgets are pretty easy to use and you can just connect them in and use them. For example, when you buy a new mouse or keyboard, you just need to plug it in, and voila, they will work immediately. No hassle!
However, when you are dealing with printers, things can get a little complex. These machines need special software which is called a printer driver to help your computer to communicate effectively and make the most of all their respective features.
So, what exactly is a printer driver? Here, you need to think of it as if your PC speaks in one language while your printers are the one that speaks in an entirely different language. Now, you need a translator that helps them both understand each other and communicate in a better manner. So, the driver is the translator that will make the communication seamless between the two.
Now this is made by the company that is making your printers and that is how your computer can rely on it to ensure that everything runs smoothly when you hit that “Print” icon.
Also, here is a piece of good news, most of the popular printers come with basic printer drivers that are already built into Windows. Due to this, you do not need to postpone this matter and you can start printing almost right away without needing to install any of the extra software.
However, there is a catch present here, the basic ones will not give you access to all the fancy features that the printers have to offer.
So, if you are in the mood to unlock all the features that your gadget has, like high-quality photo printing or the advanced settings for professional documents, you will have to install the full printer driver that is present on your device.
With the help of the complete set of software, you will be able to ensure that the computer and the printing machine can communicate in an effective manner so that you can unleash the full potential of the machine. Also, you will be able to get all the value for the money that you put into purchasing it.
So, whether you are printing out homework assignments, or important documents for work, you need to understand that these drivers are the key to getting the best results every time that you hit the Print button.
How To Install a Printer Driver?
Here, we are going to go into the step-by-step procedure to install this driver on your Windows operating system.
1. Reviewing The Instructions of Installation:
Before you start this procedure of installation, it is quite essential to review the specific instructions that are given for the process by the manufacturer of the gadget.
If your gadget is brand new, you will be able to find a quick start guide which is included in the packaging. For the older ones, you can visit the website of the manufacturer and go through the support pages to locate the manual of the gadget. This will have detailed instructions about the process of installation.
2. Accessing The Settings in Windows 10:
- You can initiate this by tapping on the Start menu which is normally found at the left side, and at the very bottom of the screen.
- After tapping there, you will be able to see an icon named Settings. Click on it so that you can get access to the settings.
- Now, you have to type Device Installation in the search box that is located in the Windows settings. After that, you have to click on “Change Installation Settings” which will pop up in the search results.
- Finally, you have to make sure that you select YES in the device installation settings window. This will indicate that Windows is going to automatically install the drivers for the devices that are detected.
- You can make the choice to save the changes after that is done.
3. Adding a Printer:
For the last stage, you need to head back to the search bar of the Windows settings and then type in “Printer” there.
In the search results, you will be able to see an icon named “Add a printer or a scanner”, tap on it.
When you do that, Windows will initiate a process where it starts to search for all the available printers. When you find your device in it, you can tap on it.
If you are getting any additional prompts that are provided by Windows to finish off the installations, follow them up.
By doing so, you will easily and successfully be able to complete this installation process of the driver on your Windows operating system. Due to this, you can get access to seamless communication between your printers and computer and this will take care of all your printing needs. Also, in case you run into any additional discrepancies or require any additional assistance during the process of installation, you can always refer to the specific setup guide that is resent for your model.