How To Install Almost Any Printer On Ubuntu
And one thing to keep in mind
Are you trying to install a printer on your Ubuntu system? Luckily, Ubuntu now recognizes most printer brands and will automatically install the related drivers when connected.
Many printer manufacturers such as Brother and HP support Linux distributions and release their own printer drivers. But before installing a printer from another brand, you should look at their website to see if they support Linux.
Keep in mind that your desktop environment is what dictates the configuration tool you need to use to set up your printer, not the Linux distribution.
Is It Already There?
Many modern printers have powerful network capabilities. What this means is that when you go theadd printerarea, your printer will already be listed.
How can you find out if it is? Note that you will need administrative privileges on the system to set the default printer.
Your Printer Is Listed
If you see your printer listed underdevices, the following steps will help you finish the printer installation.
As you can see in the image above, you can:
You should also check thePrinter Optionsto make sure the default settings are consistent with the capabilities and features of your printer.
Keep in mind that every printer is going to be slightly different. However, the main principles are the same across all printers.
Pay attention to theOutput Modein the image above. If you are looking to save money because print cartridges can be expensive, you might want to only useColorwhen necessary.
When you don’t need a color copy, you can change that option toBlack and WhiteorGrayscale.
What If Your Printer Is Not Listed?
There will be times when your Ubuntu OS won’t find a connected printer. There are various reasons for this that range from simple to complex.
You can either look at the printer manufacturer documentation or follow the steps below.
One of the simplest things to check is the connection. Did you properly connect the power cables and USB (if the printer is not using wireless)?
If you have an older printer or have moved it from one location to another, you could have a loose connection. Check both ends of the USB cable to make sure the connection is secure.
Some older printers were not designed to work with the open-source operating system or the latest version of Ubuntu.
Alternatively, if your printer is very new, it might not have been added yet to Ubuntu’s database. So, what can you do?
You can go to the printer manufacturer’s official website to find and download the appropriate driver based on the model number.
Each printer’s brand installation will vary so be sure to follow the directions carefully.
Some printer manufacturers have their own proprietary and closed-source drivers. This means that that Linux distributions won’t be able to automatically enable them for you.
Developed by Apple,CUPSenables your system to detect your printer if it isn’t automatically found. You can use it with a single computer or a group of networked computers.
Keep in mind that CUPS is specifically for printing and not scanning or other functions some printers might perform.
To learn more about CUPS, visit theofficial page.
Unless your printer is very new or old, most of the time, setting up a printer on Ubuntu is not that difficult.
David has a background in small business and lives in Australia. He is a WordPress and Ubuntu Developer who enjoys design, CSS and tech tool integration.Read David’s Full Bio
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