Network printers have their dedicated IP addresses when connected to a network. Here is how to find your printer IP address in Windows.
Unlike a printer connected directly to a single computer, network printers are connected to a network. Every network printer gets a unique IP address. This allows other computers and devices connected to the same network to use the printer as if it is directly connected to it. i.e., to print something, you can make the print request over the network, and the printer will print it for you. Of course, you need to have proper permissions to access a network printer.
As you can guess, thanks to its versatility, network printing is hugely practical and popular. After all, it saves a lot of money and time because you don’t have to use multiple printers for multiple computers. You can create a network connection between the computers and the printer.
To use a network printer properly or troubleshoot problems, the first and foremost thing you should do is find the printer IP address. Unlike the regular IP address, which you can get from the Network Status page in the Windows Settings app, checking the printer IP address is a bit different. However, it is still pretty easy to find the printer IP address.
This quick and easy Windows guide will show you three methods to find the printer IP address in the Windows operating system.
What is the IP address on my printer?
Use one of the methods given below to know your Printer IP address.
- Open printer properties to find the IP address
- Use netstat -r command
- Open printer settings to find the IP address
- Find printer IP address in Router
1. Open printer properties to find the IP address
You can take a look at the printer properties to figure out the IP address of the printer. Here is how.
- Open Settings.
- Go to the “Devices > Printer and Scanner” page.
- Find your printer and click on it on the right page.
- Click the “Manage” button.
- Press the “Printer Properties” link.
- Go to the “General” tab.
- The printer IP Address is listed in the “Location” field.
The printer properties can be found in the Settings app. So, press the “Windows key + I” shortcut to open the Settings app. Next, go to the “Devices > Printer and Scanner” page, find your printer, click on it, and then click the “Manage” button. After that, click the “Printer Properties” button. Now, go to the “General” tab, and you will find the printer IP address in the Location field.
2. Use netstat -r command
Another trick to knowing the printer IP address is to use the netstat command. It will show all the IPs in the routing table. From here, you can identify the IP address of the printer.
First, open the Command Prompt window by searching for it in the Start menu. After that, execute the “netstat -r” command. As soon as you do that, Windows will list the connected IP addresses. If the printer is connected to the network, you should be able to see it.
Unlike the “printer properties” method, this method is not that precise and doesn’t explicitly say which IP belongs to the printer. However, this method is valuable and helpful in troubleshooting scenarios.
3. Open printer settings to find the IP address
Most modern printers have a display to make it easy to find and configure printer settings directly on the printer itself. When connected to a network, the printer menu will automatically display the current IP address. So, open the Printer menu, go to the Networking section, and look at the wired or wireless connection details page. The IP address will be listed here. If you cannot see the IP address, you are not connected to a network.
Important note: Like any software, each printer manufacturer has its own way of showing the GUI (graphical user interface) on the printer screen. So, you might have to consult the printer manual to get around the menu and find the option you are looking for.
4. Find the printer IP address in Router
If the printer is directly connected to your Router, you can look at the connected devices page in your Router’s admin page to get the printer IP address.
Like with the printer menu, the design and placement of options in the router admin page will be different from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, I can see the IP addresses of all the connected devices on the “Clients List” page on my Router. For you, it will be different. So, consult the manual to find the IP addresses of the connected devices and find the printer IP address on that page.
That is all. It is that simple to know the printer IP address in Windows.
I hope that helps.
If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
