Printer setup is the single most-cursed task in elder tech support. The driver download. The WiFi pairing. The "is it on?" loop. The "print test page" failure. The "now the laptop does not see it" follow-up.
Here is the order that actually works when your parent is on speakerphone and the printer is in their living room.
Before you start
Have these facts ready before the first ring:
- Printer brand and model number (read it off the front).
- Their WiFi network name (the one they connect their phone to).
- Their WiFi password.
- The device they will print from (iPhone, iPad, Windows laptop, Mac).
If they do not know any of these, that is step zero. Walk them through finding each one before touching the printer.
Step 1: Unbox and plug in
Have them remove all the tape and packing strips. There are more than they think. Plug it into the wall. Press the power button.
Wait for the printer to finish its self-test. This takes a full minute or two on many models. Tell them to expect it. Otherwise they will panic when it sits there.
Step 2: Install the ink and paper
Open the lid. The printer's screen will tell them where to put the cartridges. Make sure they remove the orange tape from each cartridge before installing.
Load paper. The paper tray usually slides out of the bottom or front. Slide the guides to fit the paper.
Step 3: Connect to WiFi (this is where it always breaks)
There are two ways. Pick one based on the printer:
Option A: WPS button
If the router has a WPS button (usually labeled WPS, on the back), this is the easiest path.
- On the printer, press and hold the WiFi button until the WiFi light blinks fast.
- Within 2 minutes, walk to the router and press the WPS button for 3 seconds.
- Wait. The WiFi light on the printer should go from blinking to solid.
Option B: Setup via screen
If the printer has a small touchscreen:
- Tap Settings or the gear icon.
- Network or Wireless > Wireless Setup Wizard.
- Pick their WiFi network from the list.
- Type the WiFi password. Slowly. Case-sensitive. They will get this wrong twice.
- Wait for the printer to say "connected."
Step 4: Connect the device to the printer
For an iPhone or iPad
You barely have to do anything. iOS auto-detects AirPrint-capable printers (almost all modern printers). To test:
- Open Photos or Mail.
- Tap the share icon (square with up arrow).
- Tap Print.
- Pick their new printer.
- Tap Print.
For a Mac
- System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
- Click the + button.
- Pick the printer from the list.
- Click Add.
For Windows
- Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click "Add device."
- Pick the printer from the list. Wait. Sometimes 2 minutes.
- Print a test page.
Step 5: Print a test page
From any app, print one page. If it works, you are done. If it does not, see below.
Common failures and fixes
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Printer offline" | Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, turn it on. Then restart the print job. |
| "Cannot find printer" | Both devices have to be on the same WiFi network. If they have a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz, sometimes the printer is on one and the phone is on the other. |
| Prints blank pages | Cartridge protective tape not fully removed. Open the lid and check. |
| Prints garbled text | Cancel the job in the print queue. Restart the printer. Try again. |
The recurring problem
Printers go offline every few weeks. WiFi changes, routers restart, IP addresses shift. Your parent will call you in two months and the printer will be "broken." Most of the time it just needs a power cycle.
That call is exactly what Kinline absorbs. Your parent dials the number, says "the printer is not printing," Kinline walks them through "turn it off, count to 30, turn it on, try again." 90% of the time that fixes it. You get a text saying it is sorted. No call to you.
For more recurring parent tech issues, see why your parent's WiFi keeps "breaking" and how to reset a Roku TV over the phone.