Best Products > Computer Components The 4 Best Wireless Printer Adapters of 2022 Give your old printer wireless printing capabilities By Rajat Sharma Rajat Sharma Twitter Writer Kurukshetra Unversity Rajat Sharma is a tech writer whose writing has appeared on sites like I Love Free Software andBeebom and he's written for, ZEE Media Enterprises Limited and The Times Group. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 18, 2022 Fact checked by Yoona Wagener Fact checked by Yoona Wagener Bowling Green State University Yoona Wagener is a tech editor and writer. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Computer Components Printers Monitors Keyboards Mice Cards CPU USB/USB-C Storage Laptop Bags & Backpacks We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Wireless printer adapters offer a simple and cost-effective way of upgrading wired printers and connecting with them much more accessible. These small adapter devices allow older printers to join Wi-Fi/wired networks and receive print jobs from computers connected to a network. Before getting a wireless network adapter, it's important to know which port your printer uses for connectivity. While some adapters are compatible with printers that use an Ethernet port, others work great with USB printers. Printer adapters usually also support multiple operating systems and only need some basic network settings updates to get up and running. We researched some of the top products from well-known manufacturers like IOGEAR and StarTech to help you find the right one. Here are the best wireless printer adapters currently available. The Rundown Best Overall: IOGEAR Universal Ethernet to Wi-Fi N Adapter at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: IOGEAR USB Printer Server at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Remote Printing: StarTech 1 Port USB Wireless Print Server at Amazon Jump to Review Best Compatibility: X-MEDIA USB Print Server at Amazon Jump to Review in this article Expand Our Picks What to Look For About Our Trusted Experts Best Overall: IOGEAR GWU637 Universal Ethernet to Wi-Fi N Adapter Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Lightweight and compact Can be powered by a USB port What We Don't Like Runs a little hot Doesn't work with mesh networks IOGEAR's GWU637 Ethernet to Wi-Fi Universal Wireless Adapter offers a simple yet reliable way to add wireless connectivity to just about any printer that has an Ethernet port. It works by creating a network bridge, allowing devices connected to a Wi-Fi network to communicate with the printer. Pairing the GWU637 with your existing Wi-Fi network is as easy as pressing the dedicated WPS buttons on the adapter and your router. You can also configure the device manually by connecting it to a computer using an Ethernet cable, and the bundled instruction manual makes doing so a cakewalk. However, you may need to use Internet Explorer for manual configuration. The IOGEAR GWU637 features dual antennas and can reach wireless transfer speeds of up to 300Mbps, which should be fast enough for any routine print job. You also get support for wireless encryption protocols like WEP and WPA, features that help secure the data you transmit, and a one-year warranty with this device. Connectors/Ports: Ethernet (RJ-45), MicroUSB (for power) | Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 802.11bgn | Compatibility: Microsoft Windows, macOS The 7 Best USB Wi-Fi Adapters, Tested and Approved by Lifewire Best Budget: IOGEAR GPSU21 USB Printer Server Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Auto-sensing Ethernet port for improved speeds One-touch reset button What We Don't Like No support for multi-function printers Some stability issues If you have a USB printer that you'd like to share with one or more computers on a wired network, IOGEAR's GPSU21 USB Print Server can handle the job. This device is backed by a three-year warranty and comes with two primary ports: an Ethernet port that allows connection to a router via an Ethernet cable and a USB port for connecting to your printer. Once you set up these connections and turn on the GPSU21, some setup is involved, though it's mostly easy and well-documented (more so for Windows than macOS). You have to install the companion software from the included CD and decide on some basic network options. After that, you're ready to start printing. You can also configure most device settings via a web browser for added convenience. Connectors/Ports: Ethernet (RJ-45), USB-A, DC (for power) | Wireless Spec: N/A | Compatibility: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux Best for Remote Printing: StarTech PM1115UW 1 Port USB Wireless Print Server Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Staples What We Like WPS button for quick wireless pairing Helpful status indicator LEDs What We Don't Like Installation needs some effort Slow printing speeds With StarTech's PM1115UW USB Wireless Print Server, you can easily connect any USB printer to a Wi-Fi network and then share it with multiple devices simultaneously over that network. It works well with both relatively modern and older wireless standards and devices. The PM1115UW also features an Ethernet port as a backup for wired connectivity if a Wi-Fi network isn't available. After connecting the PM1115UW to your printer (via a USB cable) and powering it on, you need to hook it up to a router using an Ethernet cable. You only need to do this for the initial setup, which involves assigning the printer a static IP address so that other devices can always find it. Once you complete this step, you won't need to connect to your printer with a wired connection. Connectors/Ports: Ethernet (RJ-45), USB-A, DC (for power) | Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 802.11bgn | Compatibility: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux The 8 Best Powerline Network Adapters of 2022 Best Compatibility: X-MEDIA XM-PS110U USB Print Server View On Amazon View On EBay What We Like Upgradable firmware Support for Windows, macOS, and Linux What We Don't Like Setup utility is Windows-only Pre-assigned IP address may cause some issues If there's one thing that gives X-MEDIA's XM-PS110U USB Print Server an edge over competing products, it's extensive compatibility. The device is compatible with more than 320 USB printers from several manufacturers, including popular brands such as HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Brother, Xerox, Sharp, Ricoh, and Panasonic. It's powered by a 5-volt external adapter and features a high-speed microprocessor that handles print jobs quickly and efficiently. You also get support for all major network protocols and can manage most settings from a web browser. Other notable features of the X-MEDIA XM-PS110U are the built-in POST (Power On Self Test) to ensure the device runs properly, multiple status indicator lights, and a compact yet lightweight design. Connectors/Ports: Ethernet (RJ-45), USB-A, DC (for power) | Wireless Spec: N/A | Compatibility: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux Final Verdict If you have an old printer in your home (or office) that you want to make wireless, our top vote goes to IOGEAR's GWU637 Ethernet to Wi-Fi Universal Wireless Adapter (view at Amazon). Its WPS button makes joining Wi-Fi networks an effortless task, and you also get fast printing speeds. We suggest going for StarTech's PM1115UW USB Wireless Print Server (view at Amazon) if you have a USB printer. It works well with most Wi-Fi networks, and there's even an Ethernet port if you need wired connectivity. What to Look for in a Wireless Printer Adapter Primary Connector Type It's important to know how you'll connect to your legacy printer to get the correct wireless printer adapter. Some adapters use an Ethernet port for connectivity and only work with printers with an Ethernet port. Other adapters come with a USB Type-A port and are only compatible with USB port printers. Power Source Requirements Even though wireless printer adapters are fairly small devices, they need an external power source to work. You can power some by the USB port (if available) of the printer they're meant to be connected with, while others need a power supply outlet. You should decide which adapter suits your needs the best based on your printer's location or port availability. Platform/OS Support Since most wireless printer adapters use standard network protocols, they're usually compatible with all major operating systems (OS). That said, you still might want to check if their accompanying software (e.g., installation utilities) is available for your preferred OS. Also, the web-based management interfaces of these adapters may not work with modern browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome. FAQ How does a wireless printer adapter work? The primary purpose of a wireless printer adapter is to add wireless functionality to a printer that doesn’t have any, whether it’s connected to a network or is a standalone device. In the case of a network printer (that connects to multiple computers), the adapter establishes a network bridge that allows Wi-Fi connectivity to the printer. On the other hand, a standalone printer must connect to the adapter via its USB port. The adapter also connects to the router using Ethernet, making it possible for other devices on the network to find and communicate with this printer wirelessly. How do I set up a wireless printer adapter? Wireless printer adapters come with detailed instruction guides (either printed or electronic) to help you configure them. And even though there are differences, the steps for setting up most adapters remain essentially the same. They may involve changing settings such as the device’s IP address once you’ve successfully connected all the hardware. How do I find a wireless printer adapter that's compatible with my printer? The first thing to know is the primary connection type for your printer. Network-compatible printers usually connect using an Ethernet cable, while standalone printers use a USB cable for connectivity. In addition, you should cross-reference the model of your printer against the models listed in the wireless printer adapter’s compatibility list. This list is available (often as a PDF document) on the adapter’s official website, as well as listing on third-party retailers. About Our Trusted Experts Rajat Sharma is a technology writer and editor with more than eight years (and counting) of experience. He has tested/reviewed numerous gadgets over the course of his career so far. Prior to joining Lifewire as a freelance contributor, he worked as a senior technology journalist with two of India's biggest media houses: The Times Group and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. Rajat conducted in-depth research on more than 10 wireless printer adapters from several brands. He also read more than 100 reviews (both positive and negative) and cross-verified information from the products' official websites to finalize his top picks. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit