1. Open the Control Panel on your computer. To open the Control Panel, click the Start button, then select Control Panel from the list of options.
2. Once the Control Panel window is open, make sure you are in the category view. To do this, look at the top-right corner of the window and make sure the dropdown box reads “Category”.
3. Click on the “Hardware and Sound” option. If you don’t see this option immediately, click the “View by” dropdown box to switch to “Category” view.
4. From the “Hardware and Sound” options, click on the “Device Manager” link.
5. In the Device Manager window, click the arrow next to “Printers” to expand the list.
6. Now you should see any printers already connected to your computer listed here. To add a printer, click the “Add a Printer” link at the top of the window.
7. The “Add Printer” wizard will now launch. This will walk you through the steps necessary to add a printer to your computer.
8. The first step is to select the type of printer you want to add. You can choose between the two main types: “Local Printer” and “Network Printer”. Depending on the type of printer you have, choose the appropriate option.
9. Next, you’ll need to select the port that the printer is connected to. If the printer is directly connected to your computer, choose the “USB” port. If the printer is connected to a wireless network or another computer, you may need to select a different port such as “LPT” or “Bluetooth”.
10. Now you’ll need to install the appropriate drivers for the printer. Depending on the type of printer you have, there will be different sets of drivers available from the printer’s manufacturer. Follow the instructions on the screen to download and install the most recent version of these drivers.
11. Once the drivers have been installed, you’ll be prompted to select the printer model and name. Choose the correct model and name for your printer, then click Finish.
12. Your printer should now be ready to use. If needed, refer to the printer’s user manual to learn how to configure the printer properly.
13. Finally, go back to the Printer section of the Device Manager window and make sure your printer is now listed there.