Adding Printers to a Computer - A Straightforward Guide for the End User

Summarizes how an end user can add printers themselves and set the default printer. Only works if an end user has local admin rights.

Overview

This document covers both of how an end user can add a printer to their computer and how to select the preferred default printer. 

Details

Adding Printers to a Computer

1. Navigate to file explorer.   It is often pinned to the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and is represented by this icon:
   
   
   Alternatively, you can open the search menu and type in File Explorer to find it.   File explorer will look something like the following image:
   
    
2. Once file explorer is opened, move your mouse to the address bar at the top of your file explorer window.  Left click anywhere within the address bar, and the text will become blue (signaling that the text can be edited).
   
     
3.  If you require printers in Fort St John, replace the text with //fsj-print
   
   
   If you require printers in Dawson Creek, replace the text with //dc-print
    
4. Press ENTER to confirm.  A dialogue box may appear asking for you to enter a username and password.  If this occurs, try your own user credentials you use to log into Windows.  I these credentials fail, please contact IT, and they will finish the rest of this process for you.
    
5. File explorer will now display all printers at the selected campus.  Simply double click the printer(s) you require.  If the same printer model has previously been installed on your PC, this will be almost instantaneous.  Otherwise, this will take up to a minute to complete.
   
    
6.   Close File Explorer

Setting Your Default Printer:

Once you have the necessary printers installed, you will be able to access them on any application.  For many users, it is easier to just be able to hit the print button and print to their preferred location without any additional steps. 
 
To set this up your default printer: 

1. Search for “Printers & Scanners” in the Start Menu.
   
   
2. Within “Printers & Scanners”, find the name of a printer you added to your PC that you wish to make your default printer.
    
3. Left click the printer.  
   
   

4. “Set as Default” may appear here, or you may have to click another option to find it.  If it appears immediately, left click “Set as Default “, and you’re done!   
    
   If something like “Manage” appears instead, left click this option, then “Set as Default” should be available as an option.  Click “Set as Default”, and you’re done!