Printing can be hectic if you don't have a good printer, but even the best printers on the market sometimes have trouble connecting. Some suddenly stopped printing, and others refused to connect to Wi-Fi or a computer.
These problems are very easy to solve, but they can be very frustrating, especially if a basic task gets stuck due to such problems. Here is a tutorial based guide to help you if yourHP printer does not connect to Wi-Fi.
Why won't my HP printer connect to Wi-Fi?
A network issue that causes your HP printer to lose connection is one of the most serious problems you may encounter. There are many different situations that cause an HP printer not to connect to Wi-Fi.
The most universal is power loss. Even after restarting the printer and computer after a power outage, the HP printer may still show as unavailable. Outdated drivers are another major source of network connection issues.
Such problems can be a bit difficult to solve without proper knowledge. This guide to why your HP printer won't connect to Wi-Fi can help you resolve minor issues quickly.
Methods to fix an HP printer that won't connect to Wi-Fi
1. Disconnect and restart the printer.
This has become a cliché in the computer world, but with printers it is true most of the time; sometimes you just need to turn it off and on again.
This usually involves pressing and holding the power button until the device turns off. It may ask you to clear the queue before deactivating it.
If that doesn't work, for example the printer says "busy" from time to time, and you don't want to turn it off, you may need to unplug it before plugging it back in.
When this solution works, it seems magical, but it also means there is no undefined answer to this recurring connection problem.
You must disconnect and restart the printer whenever the connection to the printer is lost.
It is similar to a Wi-Fi router that stops broadcasting. You can also reset the printer using a voice assistant like Alexa.
2. Reduce the distance between the printer and the router.
I'm not sure why, but I've seen many Wi-Fi printers have a weak signal, even though all my other devices work fine in the same place.
Some printers work much better when the router is in the same room, while others need to be close to the router to work properly.
If you're having trouble connecting, try moving the printer closer to your Wi-Fi router, even if Wi-Fi strength seems to be good in that area.
If your printer's Wi-Fi chip is not up to date, it may need a strong signal to stay connected. Also make sure you are entering the correct password.
3. Make sure your drivers are up to date.
As with any technology, it is prudent to begin troubleshooting by updating all relevant software. Outdated drivers are the main reason why your HP printer won't connect to Wi-Fi.
Go to the printer manufacturer's support section, the HP website, and search for your printer model number.
Get the latest driver, software and firmware updates to keep every link in the chain as up-to-date as possible.
If you're having trouble connecting, one of these updates may have fixed the problem since you bought the printer.
Updating your drivers yourself is a time-consuming process, and after just a few steps, you can get rid of the annoyance.
Updating a driver shouldn't be fun, and it isn't. It's actually quite disgusting as it can waste hours complaining about how long it took to update something in hopes of restoring your HP printer's network connection.
Therefore, you should save yourself the headache and install an application that will automatically update all your drivers.
Using a specific application to update all drivers is a best practice to ensure that your wireless printer works properly with your Wi-Fi network and computer.
I would start by opening Device Manager to do it manually. From there, you can right-click on any device. The General tab will appear on the first screen.
x`Select Properties in the menu that appears. On this screen you can update the driver and check its details.
As you can see, doing this for every device on your system becomes quite a pain, which is why automated solutions are so much better.
4. Reconfigure the printer and reconnect it to the computer.
Similarly, even if my printer is set to "Offline" in Windows printer and scanner settings, everything seems fine.
If this happens, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, find your printer and delete it.
To add them back to the device list, select Add Printer or Scanner. Surprisingly, this often restores the service.
There are several ways to add a printer. If it is a wireless printer, select the fourth option. But if your printer is not wireless, try another method and refer to the manual that came with it.
5. Reconfigure the printer and connect it to the new router.
The first step of connecting your HP wireless printer to your new network will be very similar to the steps you followed to set up your HP printer.
Press the right arrow on the printer's LCD screen and select Settings. The image of a wrench and a gear wheel is often used to symbolize an icon.
You will then be taken to the settings menu where you select Network.
Then select Wireless Setup Wizard.
You will need to enter your SSID on the next screen to continue. The SSID is listed after the WEP/WPA passphrase.
(Video) How to Reset your HP Printer | HP Printers | HPSupportAfter entering your password, click Done.
Finally, you can confirm your choice by clicking OK.
On the final screen, the system will ask if you want to receive a wireless report. You can skip the report and close the option if you don't think it's necessary.
Note that if you keep the same SSID and network information from your old router while installing your new router, neither of these procedures are necessary. Once you've finished setting up your new router, your device should connect to Wi-Fi if you keep your router settings the same.
6. Connect the printer directly to the Wi-Fi router.
If you don't care where you put the printer, it's best to disconnect it from the Wi-Fi network and connect it directly to the router.
Connecting to the Internet using a cable may not solve all your problems, but it will greatly increase the reliability of your connection by reducing the number of troubleshooting steps you have to perform each time.
If you have an Ethernet connection at home or work, try connecting your printer this way. The Ethernet connector can be found somewhere in the printer. Powerline adapters can be useful in situations where there is no Ethernet network in the home.
If your printer does not have an Ethernet port, try placing it near your router and connecting via USB. Then you can use the router's built-in printer sharing feature. This may provide a better connection.
7. Connect directly to the computer.
This is a last resort if your HP printer won't connect to Wi-Fi even after following all the steps above.
Your computer has a built-in printer sharing feature. You can connect the printer to a computer via USB and use this feature to connect it to other computers on the network.
You can share the printer in Windows by connecting it and installing it as a wired printer.
Go to settings.
(Video) How to Fix a Printer Not Connected to the Internet Message | HP Instant Ink | @HPSupportOpen devices.
Select printers and scanners.
Select the printer that had connection problems.
Select Manage.
Open the printer properties.
Find the Share panel.
There you will see the sharing option which allows you to connect the printer to other computers on the network.
Mac users can:
Go to System Preferences.
Open Share.
Go to printer sharing.
Select the printer you want to share.
Connect it to other systems, like a regular printer, part of a network.
This approach can be difficult in itself, but ifHP printer does not connect to Wi-Fiworth a try myself.
FAQs
Why won't my HP printer connect to Wi-Fi anymore? ›
Restart the printer and the computer or mobile device to clear possible error conditions. Restore Wi-Fi setup mode. Most printers with a touchscreen display or menu: Open the Wireless or Setup menu, select Network setup or Settings, and then select Restore Network Settings.
How do I get my HP printer to recognize my wireless network? ›Place the printer near the Wi-Fi router. Open the Setup, Network, or Wireless settings menu, and then select Wireless Setup Wizard. Select the name of your network, and then enter the password to complete the connection.
How do I fix my printer if its not connecting to Wi-Fi? ›- Try connecting to the printer with a cable. This allows you to see whether the WiFi signal is the issue. ...
- Find a new spot for the printer. ...
- Check the printer queue. ...
- Reboot the printer. ...
- Make sure the firmware is up-to-date. ...
- Confirm that your mobile device is on the right network. ...
- Reset the printer.
- Turn off the printer.
- Disconnect any USB or Ethernet cables from the printer. ...
- Disconnect the power cord from the Wi-Fi router, wait fifteen seconds, reconnect the cord, and then wait for the lights to display a connected status.
- Restart the computer.