June Wan/

The Chromebook has evolved way beyond its original intent. No longer just a "browser in a box," ChromeOS easily functions as a full-fledged operating system that can do nearly everything you need. Case in point, adding a printer to Chromebook is much easier than you think.

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Now, there is a caveat to this. Your best bet for successful printing from ChromeOS is to add a printer that is attached to another machine on your network and shared out. 

So if you have a Linux, MacOS, or Windows desktop, attach your printer to that machine and share it to your network. Once you've done that, adding the printer to your Chromebook is as simple as it gets.

Also: The best printers right now

Let me show you how.

How to connect your Chromebook to a network printer

Requirements

In order to successfully add a printer to your Chromebook, you'll need the following:

• A Chromebook.
• A printer that is attached to a machine on your LAN.
  
• That printer that is shared from the hosting OS.
  
• Both the Chromebook and the machine hosting the printer must be on the same network.
  
• The IP address of the machine to which the printer is attached.
  

Also: How I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex

Once you have all of those things in place, it's time to add the printer to your Chromebook.

1. Open the Settings app

Log in to your Chromebook and open the Settings app from either the gear icon in the notification popup or from the Launcher.

2. Locate printer settings

When the Settings app opens, type printer in the search field to reveal the Printers section.

Printers are much easier to add in ChromeOS than you think.

Screenshot: Jack Wallen/

3. Add the printer

Click + associated with Add Printer. In the resulting window, click Printer Server at the bottom left corner.

We'll be adding the printer from a print server.

Screenshot: Jack Wallen/

4. Locate the printer

In the next popup, type the IP address of the machine the printer is attached to and click Add.

To locate the printer, type the IP address of the machine hosting the printer.

Screenshot: Jack Wallen/

5. Save the printer

ChromeOS will automatically locate the printer connected to the server and list it in the Add Printer window. Locate the printer you want to add and click Save to complete the process.

To finish up the process, click Save.

Screenshot: Jack Wallen/

Your printer has been successfully added to your Chromebook. If there's more than one printer found on your server, you can always save as many as you like. For example, you might have a monochrome laser and a color printer associated with your server. Add them both and then print to whichever one you need.

Also: 5 reasons Chromebooks are the perfect laptop (for most users)

With your printer added to ChromeOS, you can print to it as if it was connected directly to your laptop. Congratulations on expanding the usability of your Chromebook.

See also

How to use Google Pixel's Magic Eraser to wipe out photobombersCan't find Google Chrome's new battery and memory saver features? Do this4 ways to take a full-page screenshot in Google ChromeHow to Google more effectively to get the results you need

• How to use Google Pixel's Magic Eraser to wipe out photobombers
• Can't find Google Chrome's new battery and memory saver features? Do this
• 4 ways to take a full-page screenshot in Google Chrome
• How to Google more effectively to get the results you need