Laserjet 4050TN

Your printer should have been packaged with a USB cable regardless of whether it is a wireless or wired printer. Plug the cable into your printer and your computer`s USB port. The direct linking should trigger your computer to recognize the printer and start up the software needed to complete the installation.

A good rule of thumb: if your printer is more than seven years old, you may want to start pricing new units. In this case, even a relatively inexpensive component is not worth the investment.

What`s the average lifespan of a printer? The average lifespan of a printer is around 3-5 years. With proper upkeep and maintenance, some printers can last longer, but eventually your machine will need an upgrade.

Most printers with a touchscreen display or menu: Open the Wireless Summary or Network Settings menu to find the IP address. Printers without a touchscreen display or menu: Print an Information page or Wireless Network report using the button press combination for your printer. The IP address is on the printout.

To set up a printer for the first time, remove the printer from the box, connect the power cord, add printer to HP Smart, load paper, install the ink cartridges, and then align the printer. Note: If you are looking for the printer software, go to 123.hp.com.

To aid in your search, a list of the username and passwords for HP printers has been provided below. When in doubt, just use “admin” as both your username and your password.

Check the USB cable for damage and recommended length, and then restart your printer and computer. Turn off the printer and the computer. Disconnect the USB cable from the computer and printer, and then inspect the cable. If the cable is damaged or longer than 3 m (9 ft 10 in), replace it.

The printer is either low in toner, the density is set too low, or the Economode may be turned on. Remove the toner cartridge and shake it. This will redistribute the toner and often will temporarily solve the problem. However, this usually indicates it is time to install a new cartridge.

Color Laser Printer or Black & White Laser Printer

As print quality goes down over time, this will be a reason to replace the color printer. We find a black and white printer can sometimes last 10 years or more and most color laser printers are replaced every 3 to 5 years.

For inkjet printer owners, a dormant printer can quickly be a problem if you forgo printing for even a short period of time. Printer cartridges can dry out, the printhead can clog, and inevitably, you have to invest in a new set of pricey replacement cartridges.

If it suddenly won`t print or has glitches in the print quality, those are pretty clear signs that the wear and tear of printing life may have gotten the best of it. If it now can`t hold the paper capacity that you want, or it can`t print as many pages as you`d like, those are also signs you might want a new one.

To keep your printer lasting longer, we recommend leaving your printer on. If it is off for a long period of time or if you turn it on and off again regularly, the printhead inside the printer will dry out faster. When you leave it on, you may hear the printer start up every once in a while and begin to calibrate.

Every printer contains an IP address that allows it to seamlessly connect to your computer (or other devices) through your Wi-Fi network. Here`s everything you need to know about finding your printer IP address—as well as some information about how printer IP addresses work.

Add a printer using Wi-Fi Direct: On your printer, make sure Wi-Fi Direct is turned on. On your mobile device, tap All printers > Add printer, and then tap HP Print Service or HP Inc. Tap Directly to the Printer, select the name of your printer with DIRECT in the name, and then tap OK.

Click on “Wi-Fi network” in the taskbar. Select the network you`re connected to. Click on “Properties.” Scroll down to the bottom of the window — your IP will be shown next to “IPv4 address.”

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier for every device or network that connects to the internet. Typically assigned by an internet service provider (ISP), an IP address is an online device address used for communicating across the internet.

In Windows, search for and open Add a printer or scanner . Click Add a printer or scanner, and then wait for Windows to locate available printers. If your printer is found, click it, and then click Add device to complete the driver installation.

You need to create a new HP account to reach all printer services if using it first time on your device. Otherwise, you can sign in with your HP login details. Make sure your Mac or Windows 10 based computer or laptop and Android, iOS, iPadOS based smartphone, or tablet connect to your local wifi network.

Connecting using a network key or PIN

If your printer doesn`t have WPS, you`ll probably have to enter a `network key` – a series of numbers and letters – into the printer using the function buttons and screen on the printer in order to establish the connection between your printer and router.

Perhaps you ask: why is my HP printer asking for a password? A possible reason is the printer is attached to a Wi-Fi network that may be secured using WPA or other encryption types. Besides, if you are asked for a password when using a standard network printer in Windows, a username and password are required.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners . Make sure your printer is turned on and connected. Then select the Add device (or Refresh) button. Please wait a moment while Windows searches for the printers that are connected to the device (locally or wirelessly).

Check Cables and Printer USB Ports

Check all cable connections (including the power cord) on the printer side. If the printer does have power and you`ve properly connected the communication cable, but the printer is still not recognized, try switching to a different USB port on the PC.

Your ”Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer” error may result from outdated printer drivers. In this case, you can fix the issue by updating the installed drivers. Windows` Device Manager automates the process, so you don`t have to find and install the latest drivers manually.

To connect your phone via the Default Print Service, go into the phone`s settings, search for “printing”, then select it from the results. Next, tap Printing in the list of Connection preferences, select Default Print Service and turn it on. A list of compatible printers on the network should appear.