How to keep others from using your printer

[sbella]

I have the HP officejet pro 8600. Ink is pretty expensive, and this printer is expensive. I don't mind other people using it on occasion, however I have one roommate in particular who won't stop using it, and won't contribute to buying ink. Are there any changes I can make so that I am the only one that can use this printer? I checked and she isnt using the eprint address, because it isn't showing up in the history, but I do know she is printing wirelessly somehow. How can I stop her from using it period? Can I put a password on it?

[banhien]

Hi,

Looks like she knows how to setup print directly using adhoc mode. You can go to the printer Control panel and set a security code and keep it for yourself. This will stop people to "hack" to your printer.

Regards.

[sbella]

Hi! 

Thank you for responding to my question. Sadly, I'm a little tech dumb. Could you explain to me what adhoc mode is? I'm glad to hear that there is an ability to set up a password, but I can't find the steps on how to do it. Could you walk me through the steps to do so? I have Windows 8.

I have tried to do: Control Panal>View device and printers>HP officejet pro 8600>Right click Printer Properties 

but I haven't found any thing to put a password on it.

Thank you again and in advance

Sbella

[Jon-W]

That printer supports something called wireless direct that you can enable so the printer broadcasts its own network, which she could then connect to and print from. Your best bet might be to hook up USB to your computer if you arent already and turn wireless off on the front panel, although this might not stop it if the person has physical access to the printer.

To stop it entirely you would want to connect to that printers same network, and type 192.168.223.1 in to the address bar of a web browser as if it were a website. From here you should have a settings tab along the top, and then I believe administrator settings along the left. In that screen you should be able to uncheck features that you want disabled, like wireless.

If you guys are sharing a network this is the best option as she will be able to print from the same network you are without any issues.

[jasonluke37]

It's simple to stop people using your printer. Open the lid and remove the plastic cover that sits on top of the scrolling wheels. Lock it in your drawer. The printer will not print,merely scroll paper into the printer. When you are ready to use the printer again, simply replace the plastic cover. Job done.