Your wireless printer may become unreachable when your Windows PC has an active VPN connection. If that is the case, you can take steps to resolve this issue.
First, turn off the Invisibility on LAN option by following these steps:
On Windows 10 64-bit and 11:
- In the NordVPN app, open application settings by clicking the gear icon in the bottom left corner:
- Next, click on the connection and security button:
- Ensure the option Stay invisible on LAN is turned off:
If the issue persists, follow these steps:
- Locate the printer's IP address. The manual that came with the printer should have this information.
- Now, open the device's settings and press the bluetooth & devices option:
- Next, click on the printers & scanners button:
- Afterward, select the add device option:
- You will see a loading screen. Just below it, select the add manually option:
- Check the circle next to add a printer using an IP address or a hostname, and press the next button:
- Set your device type as autodetect, input your printer's IP address in the hostname or IP address field, and select the next button:
NOTE: If you get an error that says "A port with that name already exists. Choose another port name." like in the screenshot below:
Then you will need to write the Port name and add the suffix _VPN at the end: - Finally, click next and see if you can reach your printer now.
You may receive an additional prompt, "Add Printer, Additional port information required.". Follow these steps to rectify it:
-
- Under Device Type, select your printer, or if it is not listed, select generic network card, and click next:
- After that, a new dialogue box will appear asking to install the printer driver. Make sure to click on windows update and then next:
- Under Device Type, select your printer, or if it is not listed, select generic network card, and click next:
On Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 32-bit:
- In the NordVPN app, click on the gear icon to open app settings.
- Select Advanced and disable the Invisibility on LAN feature.
