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How to Find Network Printer Name by IP Address

Get the name of a printer if you know its network address

By Aaron Peters Aaron Peters Writer Villanova University Aaron Peters is a writer with Lifewire who has 20+ years experience troubleshooting and writing about consumer and business technology. His work appears in Linux Journal, MakeUseOf, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 18, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless

What to Know

Start Menu > Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click each printer one at a time, and select Properties at the bottom of the pop-up.Look for your desired address in the IP Address field under the Web Services tab.
When working with printers under Windows, you'll often know the printer you want by name. But if you've connected to several printers, you might not know which one to use. If you can find the printer's IP address, the below steps will help you identify its name, as it'll be in the Print dialog.

How Do You Find a Network Printer Name by IP Address

The process is a little cumbersome since most cases will have you trying to find the IP address for a particular printer given its name. But it's straightforward enough.
A first step worth trying is visiting the IP address in a browser. Some printers have web-based admin tools, and you may find it helps identify at least the model of the printer.
If this doesn't help, open the Control Panel by opening the Start Menu and typing control, then clicking the app when it's displayed. Alternately press Win+r, enter control panel in the Run Dialog, and press Enter.
Select Devices and Printers from the Control Panel's main screen.
You'll be checking your printers one at a time to see which one has the correct IP address. First, right-click on a printer to get its context menu.
Select the Properties entry at the bottom. This option is different from the Printer Properties item further up in the menu.
In the Properties dialog, select the Web Services tab.
Check in the IP Address field at the bottom to see if this is the printer you want.
If so, make a note of the printer's name from the top of the tab. Otherwise, move on to the next printer registered with your machine until you find the correct IP address.

What if I Don t Find the IP Address

If you can't find the IP address, it means the printer with the IP address you're seeking isn't installed on your PC yet. Check out our guide to adding a printer in Windows 11 to get your network printer up and running.

Why Does My Printer Have an IP Address

There was a time when most consumer printers were connected directly to a PC using a USB cable. If you wanted to print to it from another computer, you'd need to set up printer sharing on the PC where it was connected. It was a complex process that required the "host" PC to be on whenever you wanted to print. More recent printer models include built-in networking such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (well, recent consumer models, as business-focused ones have had this for some time). This feature allows any device, PC or otherwise, to print to it directly over the Local Area Network (LAN), removing the need for a middleman "host" PC. And these newer printers make set-up a snap; if this interests you, check out our list of the best home printers for some great options.
FAQ How do I find the network name for a wireless printer? If you're trying to use a printer on a wireless network, find the Wi-Fi network name by selecting the Wi-Fi network icon on the bottom of the Windows Taskbar. Your network's name will be at the top of the list. It should say Connected under the network name. How do I change the printer name on a network? To rename your printer in Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners. Click Manage > Printer Properties > General, and specify a new printer name. To change a printer name in Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > select printer > Printer properties > General, and then specify the new name. How do I add a network printer to Windows 10? To add a printer to Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners > Add Printer or Scanner. Select the printer name after the network discovers it, and then follow the prompts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is an IP Address? How to Find the Default IP Address of a Belkin Router How to Find the Printer on Your Network in Windows 10 How to Create a Printer Shortcut in Windows 10 How to Find a Printer's IP Address How to Cancel a Print Job How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address How to Change DNS Servers in Windows How to Add a Printer to Windows 10 How to Print to PDF How to Use an IP Address to Find a MAC Address Private IP Addresses: Everything You Need to Know 4 Ways to Find Your Roku IP Address (With or Without the Remote) How to Look up an IP Address Owner How to Find the Printer on Your Network in Windows 11 How to Print From an iPad Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies