Having trouble connecting your Wifi Printer to all your devices, especially when you don’t have a stable internet connection? You might be surprised to learn that you can easily solve this problem and create a dedicated wifi print server using something you might already have lying around: an old wifi router. This simple trick allows you to print wirelessly from all your devices, even without an internet connection, as long as your printer and devices are wifi enabled.
Why Use an Old Router as a Wifi Print Server for Your Wifi Printer?
Repurposing an old wifi router as a print server offers several advantages:
- Cost-Effective: Instead of buying a new print server, you can reuse existing hardware, saving you money. Old routers are often discarded after upgrades, making this a great way to give them a new life.
- Wireless Convenience: Enjoy the freedom of wireless printing from all your devices without needing a complex network setup or a constant internet connection.
- Simplified Network: Creates a dedicated network solely for printing, potentially improving printing speed and reliability within that local network.
- Works Offline: Ideal for situations where internet access is unreliable or unavailable. You can still print as long as devices are connected to the router’s wifi network.
- Extends Printer Compatibility: While AirPrint simplifies printing from Apple devices, this method can extend wireless printing capabilities to devices that may not natively support your printer.
What You’ll Need to Set Up Your Wifi Print Server
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- An Old Wifi Router (B/G/N standard or newer): Most older wifi routers will work perfectly for this purpose. Look for routers that support creating a local wifi network.
- A Wifi Printer: Ensure your printer has wifi connectivity capabilities.
- Devices You Want to Print From (e.g., Laptops, Smartphones, Tablets): These devices need to be wifi enabled to connect to the router’s network.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Wifi Printer with an Old Router
Here’s how to transform your old router into a dedicated wifi print server:
1. Reset Your Old Wifi Router
Start by resetting your router to its factory default settings. This ensures a clean configuration. Locate the reset button (usually a small pinhole) on the back of your router. Use a paperclip or pin to press and hold the reset button for about 10-15 seconds until the router’s lights blink or behave as indicated in its manual. This process clears any previous configurations.
2. Configure the Router and Connect Your Wifi Printer
Once reset, you need to configure the router for your wifi printer.
- Access Router Settings: Connect to the router’s wifi network (the default SSID and password are usually found on a sticker on the router itself) using a computer or smartphone. Open a web browser and enter the router’s IP address (often
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1) in the address bar. - Set a New SSID and Password: In the router’s settings, find the wifi configuration section. Change the SSID (network name) to something easily identifiable, like “WifiPrinterNetwork” or “PrintHub”. Set a secure password for this network.
- Connect Printer to the Router’s Wifi: Use your printer’s control panel or software to connect it to the new wifi network you just created (using the SSID and password you set). Ensure the printer successfully connects to this network.
3. Connect Your Devices to the Wifi Printer Network
Now, connect the devices you want to print from to the wifi network created by your old router.
- Wifi Settings on Your Device: On your laptop, smartphone, or tablet, go to the wifi settings and select the SSID you created for your printer network (e.g., “WifiPrinterNetwork”). Enter the password when prompted.
- Automatic Connection (Optional): You can usually set your devices to automatically connect to this network whenever it’s in range, simplifying the printing process in the future.
Security Considerations for Your Wifi Print Server
While this setup is convenient, consider these security points:
- Router Security: Ensure your old router has basic security features enabled, such as WPA2 encryption for the wifi network. While it’s not connected to the internet, securing the local network is still a good practice.
- Physical Security: Keep the router physically secure to prevent unauthorized access to your printer network.
- No Internet Access on Printer Network: Remember that devices connected to this router’s wifi network will likely not have internet access unless you configure internet sharing (which is usually unnecessary for a dedicated print server). Switch back to your main wifi network for internet browsing.
Conclusion: Easy Wireless Printing with a Repurposed Router
By repurposing an old wifi router, you can create a simple and effective wifi print server for your wifi printer. This solution is perfect for homes or small offices looking for a cost-effective and offline-capable wireless printing setup. It leverages technology you might already own, turning outdated hardware into a useful tool for modern printing needs. So, before you discard that old router, consider giving it a second life as the heart of your wireless printing system!
Regarding printing from an iPad or similar devices without wifi: While this guide focuses on wifi printers, direct printing without any wireless technology (like wifi) is generally not possible with modern iDevices and most wireless printers without using some form of intermediary connection or adapter.
