The basic steps to connect a printer to your Chromebook
Most printers connect to a Chromebook through your Wi-Fi network, and the setup usually takes under five minutes. Your Chromebook finds the printer automatically if it is on the same network, or you can add it manually by its IP address. Once added, any app that can print — Google Docs, Gmail, web pages, photos — will see that printer in the print menu.
The exact steps depend on whether your printer is a network printer (connects to Wi-Fi) or a USB printer (plugs directly into your Chromebook). Most home and office printers are network printers. USB printers are less common but work too, and Chromebooks handle them without drivers in most cases.
Key Takeaways
- Network printers must be on the same Wi-Fi as your Chromebook; check your printer's screen or manual to confirm it is connected.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers to add a printer, and Chromebook will usually find it automatically.
- If automatic detection does not work, you can add the printer manually using its IP address, which you find in the printer's network settings menu.
- USB printers plug directly into your Chromebook's USB port and usually work without any setup beyond selecting them in the print menu.
- If printing fails, restart both the printer and Chromebook, then check that they are on the same network.
How to add a network printer automatically
Open the Settings app on your Chromebook by clicking the time in the bottom right corner, then clicking the gear icon. Select Advanced from the left menu, then scroll down and click Printing. Click Printers.
Click the Add printer button. Your Chromebook will search for printers on your network. If your printer appears in the list, click it and then click Add. The printer is now ready to use — you do not need to install drivers or restart anything.
If your printer does not appear after 30 seconds, make sure it is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromebook. Check your printer's screen or settings menu to confirm the network name matches. Then go back and click Add printer again.
How to add a printer manually by IP address
If your printer does not show up in the automatic search, you can add it manually. First, find your printer's IP address. On most printers, press the menu button on the printer itself, navigate to Network Settings or Wi-Fi Settings, and look for an option like IP Address or TCP/IP. Write down the four-part number you see (it looks like 192.168.1.100).
Go back to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers on your Chromebook. Click Add printer. If the automatic search does not find it, look for a link that says Add printer manually or Add by IP address. Paste or type the IP address you wrote down, then click Add.
If you cannot find the IP address on your printer's screen, check the printer's manual or the manufacturer's website for your specific model. Some printers print a network information page if you hold down a button on the device — that page will show the IP address.
How to connect a USB printer
Plug the USB cable from your printer into any USB port on your Chromebook. Most USB printers work when ready without any setup. Open any app that can print — Google Docs, Gmail, or a web page — and click the print button. Your printer should appear in the list of available printers.
If the printer does not appear, unplug the USB cable, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Then try printing again. If it still does not work, restart your Chromebook and try once more.
USB printers only work when plugged into your Chromebook. If you unplug the printer, you will need to plug it back in and select it again the next time you want to print.
What to do if your printer is not showing up
The most common reason a printer does not appear is that it is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromebook. Check your printer's screen or settings menu to see which network it is connected to. If it is on a different network, disconnect it from that network and connect it to the same one your Chromebook uses. Then try adding the printer again.
If both devices are on the same network but the printer still does not show up, restart the printer by turning it off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart your Chromebook. After both devices have restarted, go back to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers and click Add printer again.
If you are using a work or school network, your printer may be blocked by network rules. Ask your IT department or network administrator whether printers are allowed on your network, and whether you need to register your printer before it can connect.
How to print from your Chromebook once the printer is added
Open the document, email, or web page you want to print. Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard, or click the menu button (three dots) in the app and select Print. A print dialog will open showing your available printers. Click the printer you want to use, adjust any settings like number of copies or page range, then click Print.
Your Chromebook sends the print job to the printer over your network. The printer will start printing within a few seconds. If nothing prints after a minute, check that the printer is powered on and has paper and ink or toner.
Removing a printer you no longer need
Go to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers. Find the printer you want to remove in the list. Click the three dots next to its name and select Remove. The printer is now deleted from your Chromebook and will not appear in print menus anymore.
Removing a printer from your Chromebook does not affect the printer itself — it will still work on your network and can be added to other devices. You are only removing it from this Chromebook's list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print to a printer that is not on my home network?
No. Your Chromebook must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer to print to it. If you want to print from a different location, you would need to connect your Chromebook to that location's Wi-Fi network first, then add the printer there.
Do I need to install printer drivers on my Chromebook?
No. Chromebooks do not use drivers the way Windows or Mac computers do. Your Chromebook communicates with the printer directly over the network. This is one reason Chromebooks are simpler to set up — you just add the printer and print.
What if my printer is very old?
Older printers that do not have Wi-Fi can still work if you plug them in with a USB cable. If your printer is so old it does not have a USB port either, it cannot connect to a Chromebook. In that case, you would need a newer printer or a different computer.
Can multiple people print to the same printer from their Chromebooks?
Yes. As long as everyone's Chromebook is on the same Wi-Fi network and the printer is added to each Chromebook, multiple people can print to it. The printer will handle the jobs in the order it receives them.
Why does my printer keep disconnecting?
This usually means your printer is losing its Wi-Fi connection. Move the printer closer to your router, or check that your router is not too far away. If the problem continues, restart both the printer and your router, then reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi.