Independent how-to magazine
Get the most from every print
Plain-English guides to choosing, setting up, caring for and fixing the printer you already own.
- Beginner friendly
- Brand-neutral advice
Start with your machine
Pick your printer type
Each type works differently, wears differently and costs differently to run. Choose yours for guides that fit.
Beginner hub
New to printing? Start here
What the buttons mean, which paper to buy, how ink and toner differ, and the five-minute habits that keep a printer happy for years.
Four ways in
Find the guide for the moment you're in
SetupSetup guidesConnect over Wi-Fi, USB or Ethernet and print from any computer or phone.Browse guides
TroubleshootingTroubleshootingOffline printers, jams, streaks, blank pages.Browse guides
MaintenanceMaintenanceNozzle checks, cleaning and care.Browse guides
BuyingBuying guidesCompare types, specs and cost per page with no sales pitch.Browse guides
Reader favourites
Popular guides
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Connect your printer to Wi-Fi with WPS or manual setupBoth routes, side by side: the one-button WPS method and manual setup from the printer's menu,
plus how to add the printer and confirm it works.InkjetLaserAll-in-one
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Printer shows offline: what to check, in orderWork from the simplest cause to the least likely: power, network, a stuck queue, a changed address or
an old printer entry on your computer.All types
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How to clean a printhead safelyWhen a cleaning cycle helps, when it only wastes ink, and how to do a careful manual clean on
printers that allow it.InkjetInk-tank
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Inkjet vs laser vs ink-tank: which suits youA plain comparison of cartridge inkjet, ink-tank and laser printers: print quality, speed, upkeep,
running cost and the kind of user each one suits best.InkjetLaserInk-tank
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Add a printer to your computer, step by stepHow to add a USB or network printer from your computer's printer settings, install the right
driver, set it as default and print a first test page.All types
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Fixing streaks and lines on printed pagesRead the pattern of streaks or lines to find the cause, then fix it: nozzle checks, alignment, paper
settings and, on laser printers, the drum and toner.InkjetLaser
Running costs
Save ink, save money
Most printing costs hide in consumables, not the machine. Small changes to settings, paper and habits add up quickly.
- Draft and grayscale modes, used at the right time
- When a cleaning cycle helps, and when it just uses ink
- Reading cost per page before you buy
Quick troubleshooter
What is your printer doing?
Pick your printer type and the symptom you see. The Symptom Finder points you to the guides most likely to help. It runs in your browser and collects nothing.
Open the Symptom FinderThis tool points you to our free guides. It does not diagnose your device.
What we cover
One publication, every common printer
- 8Printer types covered, from inkjet to dot-matrix
- 4Guide categories: setup, troubleshooting, maintenance, buying
- 0Manufacturer ties. We are independent
- FreeEvery guide, with no account or sign-up
The classic question
Inkjet vs laser
Inkjet
Color, photos and occasional printing
- Sprays tiny droplets of liquid ink
- Strong at photos and mixed color pages
- Lower upfront cost, higher cost per page
- Ink can dry out if left unused for weeks
Laser
Fast, sharp text in volume
- Fuses powdered toner onto paper with heat
- Crisp text and quick multi-page jobs
- Higher upfront cost, lower cost per page
- Toner does not dry out between uses
Fresh on the desk
Latest articles
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Print from a phone or tablet over Wi-FiWhat your network and printer need for mobile printing, how to send a page from a phone or tablet,
and what to check when the printer does not appear.
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Paper jams: clearing them without tearingWhere jams hide, the gentle way to pull paper free so no scraps stay inside, and the habits that
make jams much less likely.
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Understanding cost per pageHow to compare printers by what you will actually spend on ink or toner over time, with a simple
calculation you can do in two minutes.
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Choosing the right paper for every printPaper weight, brightness, finish and size explained in plain terms, with the right choice for
everyday documents, photos, cards and laser printers.
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Printer glossary: DPI, duplex, ADF, PPM and morePrinter specification terms explained in plain language, from DPI and PPM to duplex, ADF, duty
cycle, toner, drum, pigment and dye, plus how to use them.
Keep reading
There is a guide for the next thing your printer does
Browse by category, or start from your printer type and follow the guides that fit it.