Have you been finding it challenging to discover your printer's secret code for communication? This article helps you uncover your printer's unique digital identity effortlessly and creatively.
With billions of devices relying on IP addresses to identify each other on the Internet, knowing your printer's IP address can be a game-changer. Whether you need to set up a network printer, share it with another user, or troubleshoot printing issues, having access to your printer's IP address is a crucial piece of information.
IP addresses, short for Internet Protocols, enable different devices, like computers and printers, to communicate over the Internet. They follow rules governing how information is transmitted between devices on the web. Moreover, IP addresses have the added functionality of pinpointing the physical location of devices on the Internet, making them invaluable for various purposes, including troubleshooting, website hosting, and connecting devices like printers and scanners to your computer.
Whether you're configuring your printer, resolving a printing problem, or trying to connect it to your network, knowing how to find your printer's IP address is a skill that can make your life easier. Fortunately, the process is straightforward and can be accomplished on PCs and Macs. This article will walk you through multiple methods to discover your printer's IP address.
Before diving into the technical details of your computer, it is a good idea to check your printer first. If your printer sports an LCD, you can navigate to its settings menu and find an option to display the printer's IP address.
How to Find Your Printer IP Address on Windows 10
To find the IP address of your printer on Windows 10, you can follow these steps:
Using Control Panel
Step 1: Click the Windows Start menu.
Step 2: Type Control Panel and select it.
Step 3: In the Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound (or Devices and Printers if Hardware and Sound is unavailable).
Step 4: Right-click the printer you want to find the IP address for.
Step 5: Click Properties.
Step 6: Click the Web Services tab (or Ports if there are five tabs). Note the IP address displayed in the Troubleshooting Information panel.
Using Windows Settings
Step 1: Tap the Start menu and search for Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Devices in the Settings window.
Step 3: Click Printers and Scanners and select your printer's name.
Step 4: Go to the printer's details and find the Manage option.
Step 5: Select Printer Properties.
Step 6: Click on the Ports tab and locate the port with a checkmark; the IP address of that port is the one your printer is using.
How to Find Your Printer IP Address on Windows 11
To find the IP address of a printer on Windows 11, follow these steps:
Using Windows 11 Settings
Step 1: Click the Windows Start menu.
Step 2: Click Settings (the gear icon).
Step 3: In the Settings window, click Bluetooth & devices.
Step 4: Then, click Printers & Scanners.
Step 5: Select the printer you want to check the IP address of from the list.
Step 6: Click Printer Properties.
Step 7: Go to the General tab.
Step 8: The IP address can be found next to a location, the first field below the printer name.
Alternatively
Step 1: Press the Win key and search for Settings.
Step 2: Click on Devices in the Settings.
Step 3: Select Printer and Scanners and locate the printer you want to find the IP address.
Step 4: Click on it and choose Manage.
Step 5: Select Printer Properties and navigate to the Ports tab.
Step 6: The port with a checkmark is the one your printer is using, and you can find the printer's IP address under the label Port Name or Hostname.
How to Find Your Printer IP Address on Mac
To locate your printer's IP address on a Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Apple menu situated in the upper-left corner of your screen and choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
Step 2: In the System Settings window, click on Printers & Scanners (or Print and Scan on older macOS versions).
Step 3: Select the printer for which you want to find the IP address from the list of installed printers.
Step 4: Click on the Options & Supplies button to open a new window.
Step 5: Within the Options & Supplies window, select the General tab.
Step 6: On the right-hand side of the information panel, you will find the printer's IP address displayed next to the Location field.
How to Find Your Printer IP Address on the Network Configuration Page
To find your printer's IP address directly from the printer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Ensure your printer is powered on and connected to your network.
Step 2: Press the Menu button on your printer's control panel.
Step 3: Employ the arrow keys to select the Network or Network setup option, and confirm your selection with OK or Select.
Step 4: Within the network settings, locate the option for printing the network configuration page and select it by pressing OK or Select.
Step 5: Your printer will produce a page about its network settings, including the valuable IP address. Typically, you can find the IP address in the printed page's TCP/IP or IP Address section
It is crucial to note that these steps may vary depending on your printer model and brand, so refer to your printer's user manual for precise instructions.
How to Find your Printer IP Address from your Router
To obtain your printer's IP address from the router, you can follow these steps using the DHCP Client Table method:
Step 1: Enter your router's IP address in a web browser and log in using your router's credentials. The router's IP address is commonly found at addresses like 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.2.1, or 10.0.0.1. If you are unsure of your router's default gateway address, you can find it using the ipconfig command in Command Prompt on Windows or by checking the network settings in System Preferences on a Mac.
Step 2: Access your router's settings by logging in with your username and password, which may still be the default if you have not changed them. Standard default credentials are admin or may be left blank.
Step 3: Navigate to the DHCP Client Table or client list. This section is usually found within the Local Network tab of your router's user interface.
Step 4: Access the client list, and you will see a list of connected devices.
Step 5: Locate your printer in the list, and you should find your printer's IP address next to labels like Location, IPv4 Address, or something similar.
How to Find your Printer IP Address using the CUPS Webpage on a Mac
To find your printer's IP address on a Mac using the Terminal and Safari, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Terminal application, which can be found in the Utilities folder in Applications using Finder or by searching for Terminal in Spotlight. It has a black screen icon.
Step 2: Type the ‘cupsctl WebInterface=yes’ command in the Terminal window and press Return. This command enables the Common Unix Printer System (CUPS) web interface to check the printer's IP address.
Step 3: Open Safari has a blue compass icon, usually located in your Dock.
Step 4: In Safari's address bar at the top, type: ‘localhost:631/printers’ and press Return. This will open the CUPS web interface in Safari.
Step 5: Note your printer's IP address. You can find it under the Location section on the CUPS web interface.
FAQs
Q. Why do I need my printer's IP address?
Your printer's IP address is essential for setting up and configuring the printer on your network. It is also helpful in troubleshooting connectivity problems or adding the printer to multiple devices.
Q. What if my printer is not connected to a network or has no IP address?
If your printer is not connected to a network, it won't have an IP address. You may need to connect it to a network to obtain an IP address. Some older printers only support USB connections and may not have IP addresses.
Q. I have multiple printers. How do I distinguish between their IP addresses?
Each printer's IP address should be unique. You can identify them based on their names, descriptions, or physical locations in your network settings.
Q. What if I can't find my printer's IP address?
If you cannot find your printer's IP address using the methods mentioned, consult your printer's user manual or contact the printer's manufacturer's support for assistance.
Conclusion
To find your printer's IP address, you can use various methods. You can either examine your printer's LCD screen or print a network configuration page directly from the printer. Another approach involves accessing your router's settings to view a list of connected devices, which includes your printer's IP address. Some printer brands like HP and Canon offer dedicated apps and menus to find the IP address. If you are tech-savvy, you can enable the CUPS web interface using the Terminal on a Mac and access the IP address using a web browser. These methods provide flexibility for users with different preferences and familiarity with their devices.
