How to check your printer's IP address and connection
Before you assume a network printer is broken, check whether it responds on the network at all. It takes two minutes and immediately shows whether the problem is network-related or something else.
What to check, step by step
Find the IP address on the printer's screen
In the printer's menu, look for a "Network" or "WiFi" section — there's usually an option showing the current IP address. On some models, you need to print a "Network Configuration Page" from the settings menu.
Check the connection with ping
Open Command Prompt and type ping [printer's IP address], e.g. ping 192.168.1.50. A reply means the printer is reachable on the network — the problem lies in the Windows configuration or driver, not the printer itself.
Open the printer's web panel in a browser
Most network printers have a built-in configuration page — type its IP address directly into a browser (e.g. http://192.168.1.50). If the page loads, that confirms the printer is working and reachable on the network — and it also shows ink levels, paper status, and any errors.
No reply to ping — check the printer's network
If ping fails, check the printer's screen to see if it's still connected to WiFi — office devices' wireless connections can sometimes drop after a router restart and need reconnecting.
When it's a job for IT
- The printer's IP address changes periodically, causing computers to regularly "lose" it — worth setting a fixed address (a DHCP reservation) for it on the router.
- Ping works and the web panel loads, but printing still doesn't go through — see the article on driver installation.
- The printer is part of a larger, segmented company network (VLAN) — configuration changes are best left to IT.
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