Printer setup in Exeter
Professional printer setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Printer properly set up and working. WiFi connected, drivers installed on all devices, test pages printed. No more "printer offline" frustration.
Your New Printer Refuses To Print
Bought a new WiFi printer? Great purchase. Except it's been sitting on the desk for a week because you can't get it connected, drivers won't install, your laptop can't find it, and you've given up and gone to the print shop three times.
Modern printers should be simple - connect to WiFi, print from anything. But the reality involves driver downloads, network discovery, WPS buttons, mobile app setup, and error messages that give no helpful information whatsoever.
💡 Pro tip: USB cable setup first, then WiFi. Many printers install more reliably if you connect via USB for initial setup, THEN switch to WiFi. Counterintuitive but works better.
Common Printer Problems
| ✅ Set Up Properly | ❌ What Usually Happens |
|---|---|
| All devices can print reliably | Works from laptop, not from phone |
| Stays connected to WiFi | "Printer offline" every other day |
| Drivers installed correctly | Can't find the right driver download |
| Scanning works if multifunction | No idea how to scan, or scans to wrong place |
| Test page prints first time | Error messages with no explanation |
What I sort out:
- WiFi connection (2.4GHz vs 5GHz issues)
- Driver installation (Windows, Mac, whatever you have)
- Network printer discovery
- Mobile printing (AirPrint for iPhone, Google Print for Android)
- Scanning software setup
- Static IP assignment (stops offline problems)
- Default printer settings
- Ink cartridge installation if needed
- Basic maintenance explained
What's Included
🖨️ Complete Printer Setup
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Connect | WiFi setup, test connection strength |
| Drivers | Install on all computers/laptops |
| Mobile | Set up phone/tablet printing |
| Test | Print test page from each device |
| Scanning | Install scan software, show how to use |
| Training | Explain maintenance, cartridge changes, troubleshooting |
📦 You're Left With
- Printer connected and reliably working
- All household devices able to print
- Scanning working if applicable
- Understanding of basic maintenance
Pricing
| Setup Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple WiFi printer, 1-2 devices | 1 hr | £60 |
| Multiple devices (laptops, phones, tablets) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Network printer for office (multiple computers) | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Time depends on number of devices and network complexity.
Perfect For...
✅ New printer - Want it working from all devices first time
✅ Printer offline constantly - Works sometimes, frustrating to use
✅ Can't find drivers - Downloaded three things, none work
✅ Multiple devices - Household of laptops, phones, tablets all need access
Why Choose Us for Printer setup in Exeter?
Connected to WiFi properly
Drivers installed on all computers
Printing from phone/tablet working
Scanning explained if it's a multifunction printer
What to Expect
Step 1: WiFi Connection
I connect printer to your WiFi network. This involves finding the WiFi setup option on printer (varies by model), entering password, testing connection. For older printers might use WPS button instead.
Step 2: Driver Installation
Install printer drivers on all computers/laptops. This is different process for Windows (driver download from manufacturer) vs Mac (often automatic but sometimes manual). I handle all of it.
Step 3: Mobile & Testing
Set up mobile printing (AirPrint for iPhones, printer app for Android). Print test page from every device to confirm it works. For multifunction printers, set up scanning and show you how to use it. Explain cartridge changes and basic maintenance.
🔧 DIY Tips
Determined to set it up yourself? Here's how:
📡 WiFi connection
- Turn printer on
- Find WiFi setup in printer menu (Settings → Network → WiFi Setup)
- Select your WiFi network
- Enter password carefully (use arrow keys or touchscreen)
- Wait for connection confirmation
- Print network config page to confirm IP address
💻 Driver installation (Windows)
- Go to printer manufacturer's website
- Search for your exact model number
- Download "Full Driver Package" (not basic driver)
- Run installer, follow wizard
- Select "Network" when asked how printer connects
- Wait for computer to find printer on network
- Print test page
🍎 Driver installation (Mac)
- Go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners
- Click "+" to add printer
- Mac should auto-detect network printers
- Select yours from list, click Add
- Mac downloads drivers automatically (usually)
- If it doesn't find it, get drivers from manufacturer website
📱 Mobile printing
- iPhone/iPad: Should find AirPrint printers automatically. Open document, tap Share → Print
- Android: Install printer manufacturer's app (HP Smart, Epson iPrint, etc) from Play Store
- Or use Google Cloud Print if printer supports it
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Entering WiFi password wrong (it's case sensitive)
- Printer connecting to 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz (causes problems)
- Downloading basic driver instead of full package
- Using WPS when router doesn't support it
- Multiple computers fighting for default printer
- Not setting static IP (printer address keeps changing)
💡 Pro trick: After WiFi setup, print a Network Configuration page (usually in printer's Network menu). This shows the IP address. On computers, add printer by IP address instead of auto-discovery - much more reliable and stops "printer offline" problems.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔌 WiFi vs USB: WiFi printing is convenient but can be unreliable. If printer is near a computer, USB connection is faster and never goes offline. You can do both - USB to main computer, WiFi for everyone else.
2.4GHz vs 5GHz: Most printers only support 2.4GHz WiFi. If your router broadcasts both, make sure printer connects to 2.4GHz network. Some routers have separate network names for each - makes life easier.
Ink subscriptions: HP Instant Ink, Epson ReadyPrint - these are optional subscriptions where ink is delivered automatically. Usually cheaper than buying cartridges but you're locked into monthly fee. I'll explain if your printer supports it but choice is yours.
Double-sided printing: Most modern printers do duplex (double-sided) automatically. I'll enable this as default if you want - saves paper. Can always override for single-sided when needed.
Older computers: Windows 7 and older Macs sometimes struggle with new printers (driver compatibility). I'll tell you honestly if this is going to be a problem before starting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is printer setup so complicated?
Because it involves WiFi connection (printers are fussy about this), driver installation (different for Windows/Mac), making sure all devices in house can find it, and about fifteen different ways the manufacturer could have designed their setup process. I've done thousands - I know the tricks.
Can you set it up to print from everyone's devices?
Yes - that's the point. Laptop, desktop, tablets, phones - I'll connect them all to the printer. Takes longer if there's loads of devices but much easier doing it all in one visit than troubleshooting separately.
Will you set up scanning as well?
If it's a multifunction printer (print/scan/copy), yes. I'll install scanning software, show you how to scan to computer or email, and explain the various scan buttons if it has them.
What if the printer keeps going offline?
That's usually WiFi problems - either weak signal where printer is, or router assigning different IP address. I fix this by setting static IP or moving printer closer to router. Much more reliable after proper setup.
Do I need to buy ink before you come?
No - printers usually come with starter cartridges for testing. I'll print test pages to confirm everything works. You can buy more ink after, when the starter cartridges run out. I'll show you how to change cartridges.
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