WPS what? For those who don’t know what it is, a WPS PIN is something you need when you want to connect devices you use wirelessly, and that goes for printers as well. So, you need to know where to find the WPS PIN on a printer, regardless of your printer model or type.
Yeah, I know, sometimes it feels like a treasure hunt, and too many people have issues finding the button or setting it up. That’s why I’ve decided to write an article that would encompass all the most-popular printer manufacturers and ensure you don’t get lost in the process.
And if you are one of the lucky ones with a WPS push button on their printers and routers, woohoo! That’s even easier to use.
Where to Find WPS PIN on Printer?
Trouble connecting your printer to another device? No worries! If you were wondering where to find WPS PIN on a printer, the first place you need to look for it is on the LED screen of the printer/printers. Can’t find it there? Don’t panic! Methods for connecting the printer will vary depending on the model.
What is WPS?
Okay, let’s start from the beginning. What’s WPS? It’s an acronym for WiFi Protected Setup. And you’re probably wondering what that has to do with your printer.
Well, let’s say some printers have a WPS push button to connect it to the WiFi. And when you connect it to the router, you’ll be able to use it through a wireless connection and print from any device you need (yes, even your phone).
But yeah, there’s a catch. Even if your printer has that WPS button but your router doesn’t, you won’t be able to use this method. That means both the router and printer need to be WPS enabled for this method to work.
Luckily, most new routers and printers support WPS, as well as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Where to find the WPS button on a router
As you might guess, in most cases, the WPS button is located at the back of your router and is probably marked as “WPS” or “WiFi.” Note that it could be on the front, too.
Let me remind you that older routers typically don’t have this button, so don’t get too disappointed if you don’t find it, you’ll just need to connect your printer to WiFi from the settings menu.
Where to find the WPS button on a printer?
Okay, let’s say it’s typically on the printer’s back side, but to be honest, it will vary depending on the model and manufacturer.
That’s why you need to check first what printer you have, or just search for the physical button on it.
I have to mention that printers with LED screens usually don’t have a WPS push button, and in that case, you will probably need to use the WPS PIN.
How does it work?
If your printer and router have WPS push buttons, you’re blessed because there’s nothing more straightforward than connecting your printer using this method. You don’t even have to know the network’s SSID (Service Set IDentifier)
- First, you need to turn on both the printer and the router
- Then you need to find that WPS button on your printer, press it, and hold it for a few seconds until it starts blinking
- Important note: If your printer has a display (a touch screen panel), you need to enable the wireless setup mode from there
- After that, find the same button on your router and repeat the process (press & hold)
- It takes approximately two minutes for the router to detect the device and connect it.
As I mentioned, these are general instructions, and you need to check the instructions for the specific printer manufacturer to be 100% sure you have the right one.
Note: If you don’t know what the WPS button looks like and if you can’t find the button that says “WPS,” look for a WiFi icon or an icon with two arrows forming a circle.
What’s a WPS PIN?
Now, if you discover that your printer doesn’t have a WPS button, you can use one more method to connect your printer wirelessly — WPS PIN.
A WPS PIN is an 8-digit number typically displayed on the control panel. Now, it’s not something that shows when you turn on your printer — no, you need to get to it by navigating through the settings.
How does it work?
Though it’s not as simple as pushing the WPS button, it’s still a much easier way to connect your printer than typing the WiFi password.
To connect your printer via WPS PIN, you need to know what brand and model of the printer you have because it will vary depending on the manufacturer and the model.
Which Printer Brands offer WPS Setup?
Well, you won’t be surprised if I tell you that almost all the most popular brands, such as HP, Canon, Epson, Xerox, Brother, and many others, support WPS.
The difference is whether they have a WPS button or you need to use the WPS PIN to connect, and yes, the procedure might slightly differ.
| Brands | WPS button | WPS PIN |
|---|---|---|
| HP | ✅ | ✅ |
| Canon | ✅ (only some models) | ✅ |
| Epson | ✅ | ✅ |
| Xerox | ✅ | ✅ |
| Brother | ✅ | ✅ |
Oh, and if you were wondering which printer would be the best option for you, you might want to check the list of the best printers for photos & prints.
How to Connect Printer to Router via WPS PIN
Since the instructions might vary, I’ve decided to go into detail about the most popular printer manufacturers. Find yours and follow the step-by-step procedure.
How to connect to HP printer via WPS PIN
When it comes to HP printers, you won’t have too many troubles finding the WPS PIN. It’s typically located on the backside of the printer. Now, some HP printers (the latest generation) will most likely display it on top of the screen. And sometimes, you’ll need to go through a “restart” process to obtain the code.
Method 1
- Go to the Control Panel
- Enter Settings and click on the Wireless button
- Choose WiFi Protected Setup
- Follow the instructions on the screen, and when you finish the procedure, a WPS PIN will be displayed on your screen
Method 2
If the above method doesn’t work, it’s advisable to try fixing it using the oldest troubleshooting method — restarting or rebooting. You need to restart your printer and make sure you have paper inside the printer.
The second step is to press and hold the WiFi and the Key button (marked with the letter “i” on the control panel) simultaneously for a few seconds. This will initiate the printing of the WPS PIN.
Connecting the HP printer
Now that you have the code, all you have to do is follow the steps below. Just don’t forget to turn on the printer before doing anything.
- For printers with touchscreen panels: Go to the Settings, Networks, or Wireless Settings menu. In one of these three, you should find WiFi Protected Setup. Select this button and press the Start option to start connecting.
- For printers without touchscreen panels: Find the Wireless button (physical), press it, and hold it for several seconds until the button starts blinking.
- There’s a particular procedure for some printers, such as ENVY 6000 and 6400, HP Deskjet 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers: You should press and hold the Wireless button and the Power button simultaneously.
- Once you’ve done the first part, wait for 2 minutes and then repeat the process with your router. Find the WPS button, press and hold it for a few seconds.
And that’s all. If you need to see whether you’ve done a successful job or not, just check the flashing light on your printer. If it’s still blinking or turned off, you weren’t successful — meaning you’ll have to repeat the process. If it’s not blinking anymore, but there’s a light, congratulations, you did it!
How to connect to a Canon printer via WPS PIN
Again, depending on your model, you’ll need to go through different procedures. Some Canon printers will have a WPS push button (older models), while those with a display will require you to try other methods.
PIXMA TR4520, TR4522, and TR4527
- By clicking on Setup, you’ll open the menu
- Choose WiFi setup and click OK
- Keep clicking the right arrow button until you come across the Other Setup and click OK
- Keep clicking the right arrow button until you come across the WPS (PIN code) and click OK
- Wait for a few moments until the PIN code appears on screen
- Enter the PIN code to your router following the router’s WPS instructions
- Once the printer is connected, you’ll get the notification on display “Connected, Press OK.” Click OK, and that’s it.
MAXIFY GX6020 and GX7020
- Go to the Home screen
- Tap the WiFi icon on the bottom left corner
- Choose WiFi Setup
- Tap on Other Connection Types
- Choose WPS (PIN method)
- The PIN code will appear on display
- Enter the PIN code into your router, wait for a moment and click OK when the display shows the notification “Connected to the Wireless network.”
If you have different models, you can always find the best way to connect it to the router on the Canon support website.
How to connect to an Epson printer via WPS PIN
Okay, those who have an Epson printer will have to try this pretty straightforward method.
- Press the WPS button on your router
- Press the Home button on your printer
- Keep clicking the right or left arrow button until WiFi setup appears, then click OK
- Now keep clicking the up or down arrow button until you come across Push Button Setup (WPS) and click OK
- The instructions will appear on the printer’s LED screen. Follow them and finish the process.
How to connect to Xerox printer via WPS PIN
If you have a Xerox B210 Printer or Xerox B210 Printer Family, you have an easy method of connecting it to the Wireless network using the WPS push button.
Note: If you have a cable connection with the router, you need to disconnect it by unplugging it and resetting your printer before starting the WPS connection with the power-off switch.
Now, if you have some other model, you might want to try these steps:
- Open Machine status
- Go to Tools
- Select Admin Settings, and within it, find Network
- You’ll see the option named Wireless, and when clicked, you will have the option to start a Wireless Setup Wizard.
If this doesn’t help, perhaps it’s best to check the Xerox support page for WPS PIN connections.
How to connect to a Brother printer via WPS PIN
For Brother printers, there are two methods you can use.
Regardless of the model you have (touchscreen or without it), the procedure is the same; it’s just that with touchscreen models, you don’t have to press the OK button after every step.
- Turn on your printer.
- Press Menu and choose Network.
- Tap WLAN, keep clicking the up or down arrow until you reach WPS w/PIN Code and then press it.
- It will display a PIN code on the screen.
- Use your computer to carry on with the procedure by following the instructions (Brother support advises using the Wireless Setup Wizard or the Control Panel).
The advantages and disadvantages of using WPS
For those who don’t know, you do have several options for connecting your printer to WiFi. You can use WPS, SSID, and of course, Ethernet cable.
I’m going to be brutally honest with you — WPS has advantages in that you can connect to the WiFi quickly and efficiently without complicated procedures and without knowing the network name and remembering passwords, but the downside might be the security aspect.
I really need to mention that despite the easy procedure, WPS might have some lackings when it comes to safety. I wouldn’t be able to say it’s the most secure connecting method you could use. Why? First, it is effortless to crack and hack your system.
The issue is related to the WPS PIN, which despite having 8 digits, checks only the first four digits, significantly reducing the time it takes to hack into the system.
Plus, if we compare the WPS push button with WPS PIN, I would say that button is more secure. It stays open for just a few minutes or until one device connects, which limits opportunities for unauthorized access to the network at any time. On the other hand, the WPS PIN connection stays open all the time and acts a bit like an open invitation for hackers.
So, yeah, if you have some sensitive information you want to print, perhaps you should use some other encryption method, such as WEP or, even better, WPA.
Conclusion
Wow, that was a lot to take in! I started this article thinking everything would be simple and straightforward, but it’s technology; at the end of the day, it can get tricky. Well, that’s how it looks when you want to explain where to find WPS PIN on a printer for different manufacturers.
At least you have most of them listed, so I hope this helped. If you have questions about connecting your printer, or perhaps you have a method I haven’t mentioned in the article, feel free to share it in a comment!
