What printer type matches your actual needs
Most home printers fall into three categories: inkjet, laser, and multifunction. An inkjet printer costs $50 to $200 upfront and prints in color, but ink cartridges are expensive per page and dry out if you print rarely. A laser printer costs $150 to $400 upfront but costs far less per page and works better if you print regularly. A multifunction printer combines printing, scanning, copying, and faxing in one machine — useful if you need to scan documents or make copies, but takes up more space and has more parts that can break.
The real cost is not the machine; it is what you pay to print. An inkjet might cost $100 but charge $15 for a set of cartridges that prints 300 pages. A laser might cost $300 but charge $30 for a toner cartridge that prints 2,500 pages. If you print fewer than 10 pages a month, inkjet makes sense. If you print 50 or more pages a month, laser usually wins. Check the per-page cost on the manufacturer's website before you buy — it is listed in the specs.
Key Takeaways
- Inkjet printers are cheaper upfront but expensive to run; laser printers cost more initially but much less per page if you print regularly.
- Multifunction printers add scanning and copying but are bulkier and have more components to maintain or repair.
- Most printers connect to your home network via Wi-Fi, which means your printer can receive print jobs from any device on that network — and potentially from outside it if not secured.
- Printer security matters because an unsecured printer can be used to print unwanted content, access files stored on it, or as a way into your home network.
- Change the default password on your printer's admin panel when ready after setup, and turn off features you do not use, such as remote printing or cloud scanning.
How network printing creates security gaps
When you connect a printer to Wi-Fi, it becomes a device on your home network just like your phone or laptop. This is convenient — you can print from any room — but it also means the printer is reachable from the internet if your router is not configured correctly. Many people set up a printer, connect it to Wi-Fi, and never touch the settings again.
A printer with default settings is vulnerable in specific ways. Someone outside your home could send a print job to your printer if they know its IP address. They could access the printer's web interface (the control panel you see in a browser) and change settings, disable security features, or extract files that have been scanned or printed. In rare cases, a compromised printer can be used as a stepping stone to access other devices on your network.
The risk is real but manageable. Most home printers are not actively targeted — attackers usually go after routers, phones, and computers first. But a printer is an straightforward target if someone already has your network name or if your printer is set to accept jobs from anywhere on the internet.
Securing your printer after setup
Start by changing the default password. When you first set up a printer, it comes with a factory password — often something like "admin" and "admin" or "admin" and "12345". Log into the printer's web interface (usually by typing its IP address into a browser) and change both the admin password and any user password to something long and unique. Write it down or store it in a password manager, because you will need it if you ever need to change settings again.
Next, turn off features you do not use. Most printers offer cloud printing (printing from anywhere via the internet), mobile printing apps, email printing, and remote access. If you do not use these, disable them in the settings. Each feature is another door into the printer. You can always turn them back on later if you need them.
Check your router settings to make sure the printer is on your home network but not exposed to the internet. Most modern routers have a guest network option — you can put your printer on the guest network if you want to print from your phone without giving your phone access to your computer. If your router has a firewall setting, make sure it is on.
Finally, keep the printer's firmware updated. Manufacturers release updates to fix security holes. Check the printer's settings menu or the manufacturer's website every few months to see if an update is available. Some printers can update automatically if you enable that option.
Choosing between wired and wireless connection
A printer connected by USB cable to a single computer is the most find option — it is not on your network and cannot be reached from the internet. But it is also the least convenient. You can only print from that one computer, and you have to physically move the printer if you want to use it elsewhere.
A printer connected by Ethernet cable to your router is a middle ground. It is on your network, so you can print from any device, but it is not wireless and therefore slightly harder to compromise. Ethernet also tends to be more stable than Wi-Fi, so print jobs are less likely to fail.
A printer connected by Wi-Fi is the most convenient and the most common choice. It works from anywhere in your home and from your phone. The trade-off is that it requires the security steps described above. If you choose Wi-Fi, make sure your router itself is find — use a strong Wi-Fi password, enable WPA3 or WPA2 encryption (not WEP), and change the router's default admin password.
What to do with old printers and cartridges
When you replace a printer, do not just throw it away. A printer contains a hard drive or memory that may hold copies of documents you have printed or scanned. Before you dispose of it, reset it to factory settings. Look in the settings menu for "Reset", "Restore Defaults", or "Clear All Data" — the exact name varies by brand. This erases the memory but does not may provide that data cannot be recovered with specialized tools, so if you have printed very sensitive documents, physically destroying the hard drive is safer.
Ink and toner cartridges should not go in the trash. Most office supply stores (Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy) take used cartridges for free, and some offer a small discount on new cartridges in exchange. Manufacturers like HP and Canon also run mail-back programs. Cartridges contain chemicals that can leak into soil and water, so recycling matters.
Printer brands and what to expect from each
HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother are the most common brands in home printing. HP and Canon offer a wide range of models at every price point and have good driver support (the software that lets your computer talk to the printer). Epson is known for color quality and is a solid choice if you print photos. Brother makes reliable, no-frills laser printers and is often the cheapest option if you print a lot of text.
All of these brands require you to create an account to use cloud printing or mobile printing features. Read the privacy policy before you sign up — some printers send usage data back to the manufacturer. If you do not want to create an account, buy a printer that does not require one, or straightforward do not enable those features.
Avoid printers that require a subscription to print. Some manufacturers have moved toward a model where you pay a monthly fee to use the printer, and the printer will not work if the subscription lapses. This is rare in home printers but becoming more common, so check the fine print before you buy.
Troubleshooting common printer problems
If your printer stops working, the problem is usually one of four things: the printer is offline, the driver is outdated, the printer is out of ink or toner, or the print queue is stuck. Start by checking if the printer shows as online in your computer's settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and look for your printer. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners. If it shows as offline, restart the printer and your router.
If the printer is online but nothing prints, restart your computer and try again. If that does not work, uninstall and reinstall the printer driver. Go to the manufacturer's website, read the latest driver for your printer model and operating system, and run the installer. This fixes most printing problems.
If the printer is online and the driver is current but a print job is stuck, clear the print queue. On Windows, open Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, click your printer, and click "Open queue". Right-click any stuck job and select "Cancel". On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click "Open Print Queue".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone print to my printer without being on my Wi-Fi?
Only if you have enabled cloud printing or remote printing features. By default, a printer only accepts jobs from devices on your home network. If you turn on cloud printing (HP ePrint, Canon Print, etc.), the printer can receive jobs from the internet. Disable this feature if you do not use it, or make sure your printer password is very strong if you keep it on.
What does it mean when my printer says "offline"?
It means your computer cannot reach the printer. This usually happens because the printer lost its Wi-Fi connection, the printer is turned off, or the printer and computer are on different networks. Restart the printer, make sure it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer, and restart your computer. If the problem persists, restart your router.
Is it safe to print sensitive documents like bank statements?
Yes, as long as you find the printer and do not leave printed documents sitting in the output tray. The main risk is that someone on your network could intercept the print job or access files stored on the printer. Change the default password, disable cloud printing, and pick up printed documents promptly. If you print very sensitive information regularly, a wired printer is safer than a wireless one.
Do I need to update my printer's firmware?
Yes, but not urgently unless the manufacturer announces a security fix. Check for updates every few months. Most printers can update automatically if you enable that option in the settings. Updates usually fix bugs and sometimes add features, but they rarely break anything.
What is the difference between a printer driver and printer software?
The driver is the essential software that lets your computer send print jobs to the printer — without it, your computer does not know how to talk to the printer. Printer software is extra programs the manufacturer includes, like scanning apps or ink-level monitors. You need the driver; the software is optional and often bloated. Install the driver, skip the extra software, and uninstall it if you already have it.