How Do You Connect To A Wireless Printer Without Wi-Fi?

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Did you know that you can print on a wireless printer without Wi-Fi? Not all wireless printers rely on Wi-Fi to print out documents. There is a way to connect to your wireless printer when your Wi-Fi is down. 

You can use Bluetooth to connect to a wireless printer when Wi-Fi isn’t available. Alternatively, you can use other wireless alternatives to connect to a printer to a computer or mobile device. Overall, Bluetooth is the easiest way to connect a printer to a computer or mobile device without Wi-Fi. 

I will give you a step-by-step guide on connecting a wireless printer without Wi-Fi for a computer and mobile device. You will be able to print critical documents whenever you want without Wi-Fi.

How Do You Connect to a Printer Without Wi-Fi?

You can connect to a wireless printer without Wi-Fi through Bluetooth or NFC Touch. Both methods don’t require internet connections to work. However, you have to be 10 meters or less near the printer to connect. 

Understanding both methods equips you with the skills necessary to connect to a wireless printer without Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a reliable option for wireless printing when there is no Wi-Fi, or the internet is down wherever you are. Bluetooth is consistently improving, and Bluetooth-enabled printers are among the latest uses of Bluetooth Standard technology. 

You can use Bluetooth to connect to a wireless printer and print from a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Bluetooth printers can connect to other Bluetooth-enabled devices, so you don’t need to transfer the documents you need to print to your computer whenever you want to use a wireless printer. 

You should confirm that the wireless printer you want to use is Bluetooth-enabled before you proceed to connect it to a computer or mobile device. Bluetooth-enabled printers will have a button to turn on Bluetooth and put the device in pairing mode. 

READ MORE! How Does A Bluetooth Printer Work? (Explained For Beginners)

Windows 10 PC

• Turn your computer’s Bluetooth.
• Click on Start Menu > Settings > Device > Bluetooth & Other Device 
• Click Add Bluetooth or Other Device 
• Select your Bluetooth printer from the list of available devices 
• Enter the right PIN when prompted and click Connect 

After pairing your Windows PC with a Bluetooth printer, you need to install the print driver and adjust the settings to suit your needs. 

• Go to Control Panel >Hardware and Sound > Devices & Printers 
• Right-click the Bluetooth printer and select properties 
• Click on the COM port meant for a printer 
• Follow the printer driver installation instructions.
• Print a test page 

Mac PC

Pairing a wireless printer to a Mac via Bluetooth is straightforward. You will need to turn on the wireless printer and turn the Bluetooth option on to enable your computer to discover the printer. 

• Click on the Apple icon on your Mac computer 
• Go to Systems Preference > Bluetooth 
• Toggle on Bluetooth option
• Select your printer on the list of available devices.
• Enter the printer PIN where necessary 
• Wait for the devices to pair.

After the pairing process, you can install the drivers or change your print settings to make the new addition your default printer. 

• Click on the Apple icon on your Mac computer 
• Go to Systems Preference > Print and Scan 
• There are drop-down menus at the bottom of the page
• Select the wireless printer as the device printer 
• Click on Options & Supplies > Printer Drivers to install the drivers.
• Print a test page. 

Tablet or Smartphone 

You can connect a wireless printer to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth. You have to turn on the printer and the Bluetooth option before starting the pairing process. 

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on your mobile device Bluetooth
• Toggle on the Phone Visibility option
• Select the wireless printer from the list of available devices 
• Click on Pair/Connect
• Enter the printer PIN if necessary 
• Print a test page. 

NFC Touch 

NFC Touch wireless technology uses short waves to communicate between two devices without using the internet. It is known as Near Field Communication (NFC) in full, and it is excellent without Wi-Fi.

Some wireless printers come with an NFC touch option for wireless printing from mobile devices. You can use NFC to print from a smartphone or a tablet without installing any software. Overall, it takes a short time to print documents using NFC technology. 

• Turn on the NFC Touch option on your printer 
• Activate NFC on your mobile device
• Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences >NFC
• Toggle on the NFC option
• Pair the devices 
• Open the document you want to print
• Select print and choose the connected printer

NFC isn’t widely adopted because both the connecting mobile device and printer need to be NFC enabled. Also, you have to be next to the printer to use the NFC option. Overall, it is simple and works well for mobile devices. 

How Fast Can I Connect to A Wireless Printer Without Wi-Fi?

It only takes a couple of minutes to connect and print with a wireless printer without Wi-Fi. Bluetooth and NFC wireless connection options are usually in-built to devices. Therefore, all you need to do is pair the devices and set them up. 

It takes longer to connect PCs to a wireless printer without Wi-Fi than it takes to connect mobile devices. You will have to set up the wireless printer and adjust printing preferences after pairing it to your PC.

Is It Secure to Connect To A Wireless Printer Without Wi-Fi?

Yes. Bluetooth and NFC are encrypted and require someone to be close to hacking them. However, you can never be too careful when avoiding hackers. Set up a pairing PIN on your printer so that anyone who tries to pair with it has to enter a PIN.

A PIN is an excellent way to ensure that only authorized users can pair with your wireless printer. 

READ MORE! Do Bluetooth Printers Need WIFI? (Solved And Explained)

Final Thoughts

I recommend that you connect to a wireless printer without Wi-Fi by using Bluetooth. Bluetooth is secure and more reliable in the absence of the internet. I hope you can pair a wireless printer with your PC or mobile devices without Wi-Fi.