Fixing Wi-Fi Connection Issues on an HP Printer (Also Covers HP App)

Your HP printer was working fine last week. Now the wireless light won't stop blinking, the HP app can't find it, or it keeps rejecting a Wi-Fi password you know is right.

In most cases, the printer isn't broken. Either it lost the network details it had saved, or something changed on your network that the printer can't work with. Both are problems you can fix at home.

Start with the quick check below to see which situation you're in. The fixes after that go from fastest to most involved, so work through them in order and stop as soon as the printer connects.

A quick note on apps: Lots of guides still mention HP Smart. HP has replaced it with the HP app, and that's what the steps below use. If the HP app isn't available for your device, HP Smart still works for setup.

Start Here: What Your Printer Is Telling You

Before you reset anything, take a look at the printer itself. It usually gives you a good hint about where the problem is.

Check the Wireless light or Wi-Fi icon:

• Solid blue: the printer is connected to a network. If you still can't print, your computer may be on a different network, or the problem is on the computer's side. Skip down to the section on printers that are connected but still show offline.
• Blinking or off: the printer isn't connected to any network. Keep reading.
• Blinking right after you reset the network settings: that's Wi-Fi setup mode, and the printer is waiting for you to add it. Some models show this with a purple or pulsing status light instead.

Then find your starting point:

Why Your HP Printer Won't Connect to Wi-Fi

Almost every case comes back to one of these:

• Your network isn't the one the printer remembers. A new router, a new internet provider, or a new Wi-Fi name or password leaves the printer searching for a network that's gone. It won't switch to the new one by itself.
• The printer can't use your router's band. Many HP home printers only work on 2.4 GHz. HP confirms this for its DeskJet 2800, 4200, and 4900 series, for example. When a router puts 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one network name, setup on those printers can fail. Other models, like the OfficeJet Pro 9135e, work on both bands.
• Your router's security is newer than the printer. A router set to WPA3 only can shut out printers that top out at WPA2.
• The printer and your device aren't on the same network. Guest networks, public Wi-Fi that makes you sign in, and the printer's own DIRECT-xx-HP signal all keep your computer from reaching the printer over your home network.
• A USB cable is still plugged in. HP notes that a USB connection to a computer can block Wi-Fi setup.
• The signal is too weak. Distance, walls, metal furniture, and other electronics all eat into it. A nearby network that uses the same name as yours can also send the printer to the wrong place.
• Setup mode timed out. Once you put the printer in Wi-Fi setup mode, you have two hours to add it in the HP app. After that, the app won't find it.
• The router only lets approved devices join. If MAC address filtering is turned on, the printer may not be on the list.

How to Fix an HP Printer That Won't Connect to Wi-Fi

Try one fix at a time. When you finish each one, look at the printer's Wireless light. Once it stays solid blue, you're connected.

Fix 1: Restart the Printer, Router, and Your Device in Order

It sounds too simple to work, but a restart in the right sequence gets a lot of printers back on Wi-Fi.

1. Press the printer's power button to turn it off. If it doesn't respond, pull the power cord.
2. Shut down the computer or phone you print from.
3. Restart your router and wait until the internet is working again.
4. Turn the printer back on. If it's plugged into a power strip, move the plug to a wall outlet, which is what HP recommends.
5. Turn your computer or phone back on.

Now check two things: the printer's Wireless light, and the Wi-Fi network your computer or phone joined. They need to be on the same one.

Fix 2: Rule Out the Easy-to-Miss Problems

Go down this list before you reset the printer. Any one of these can stop it from connecting.

• Is your device on your main Wi-Fi? Check the network name on your computer or phone. A guest network doesn't count, and neither does a network named DIRECT-xx-HP with your printer model at the end. That second one is the printer's own signal, not your home Wi-Fi.
• Is a USB cable connecting the printer to a computer? If you want to print over Wi-Fi, unplug it.
• Is the printer close enough to the router? HP suggests keeping it within about 26 feet (8 meters) of the router or a range extender. During setup, the same room is even better.
• Is the internet actually working? Open a website on your phone. If pages won't load or crawl along, restart the router. If that doesn't help, call your internet provider to see if there's an outage.
• Do you have the right password? Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive. The sticker on most routers lists the network name (SSID) and a password labeled something like Wi-Fi Password, Network Key, or Wireless Security Key. If someone changed it from what's on the sticker, you can look it up in the Wi-Fi settings of a phone or computer that's already connected.

Fix 3: Print a Wireless Network Test Report

Your printer can test its own connection and print the results. The report checks the signal, looks for your network, and compares the printer's settings with your router's. It's the fastest way to find out what's really going on.

How to print it:

• Inkjet printers with a menu or touchscreen: open the Wireless, Network Settings, or Setup menu and look for the list of reports.
• Most inkjet printers without a menu: press the Wireless and Information buttons together. On some models, it's Wireless and Start Copy Black.
• LaserJet printers: hold the Wireless button for about 10 seconds, and let go when the Ready light blinks. Don't keep holding. On some LaserJet models, a hold of 20 seconds or more resets the network settings instead. If your LaserJet has a menu, you'll find Wireless Network Test under Wireless.
• HP Laser NS and Neverstop Laser printers: hold the Resume and Wireless buttons together for 3 seconds.
• DeskJet 6000 and 6400, ENVY 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers: touch and hold the Information button until every button lights up, then touch Information and Resume at the same time.

How to read it:

Fix 4: Restore Wi-Fi Setup Mode

This puts the printer's network settings back to their defaults and gets it ready to join a network, just like it was out of the box. If your printer is hanging on to an old router or an old password, this is the fix that usually does it.

Printers with a touchscreen

1. Tap the Setup or Wireless icon.
2. Go to Network Setup or Settings, and choose Restore Network Settings. Tap Yes if it asks you to confirm.
3. Give it about 60 seconds. The Wireless light should start blinking blue.

Printers without a touchscreen

The button combination depends on your model. Find yours below. If it isn't listed, start with the row for your printer type.

Keep an eye on the clock. Setup mode stays on for two hours. Add the printer in the HP app before that time is up. If you miss it, just restore setup mode again.

Fix 5: Connect the Printer to Your Wi-Fi Network

With the network settings cleared, it's time to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi. There are four ways to do it. Use the one that fits your printer, and if it doesn't work, try the next.

Touchscreen printers: the Wireless Setup Wizard

1. Open the Setup, Network, or Wireless settings menu and choose Wireless Setup Wizard.
2. Pick your network. If it shows up twice, or you see a version ending in "5G," choose the 2.4 GHz one unless you know your printer supports 5 GHz.
3. Enter the password and wait for the Wireless light to turn solid blue.

Don't see the Wireless Setup Wizard in your menu? Look for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (or WPS) and choose Push Button instead.

Any printer: the HP app

With the printer in setup mode from Fix 4, open the HP app on your phone or computer, choose to add a printer, and follow the prompts. You can get the app from your device's app store or from 123.hp.com. If the app can't find the printer, the next section walks through why.

Printers without a touchscreen: the WPS button

If your router has a WPS button, you can connect without typing a password.

1. Put the printer near the router.
2. Hold the printer's Wi-Fi button for 5 seconds, until its light starts flashing. On DeskJet 6000 and 6400, ENVY 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers, hold the Wi-Fi and Power buttons on the back for 3 seconds instead.
3. Within 2 minutes, press and hold the WPS button on your router until it starts connecting.
4. When the printer's wireless light stops flashing, you're connected.

Button-only printers, when nothing else works: Wi-Fi Direct

This method connects your computer straight to the printer's own Wi-Fi signal. From there, you can open the printer's built-in settings page and point it at your home network.

1. Find the printer's Wi-Fi Direct name and password. On most printers without a touchscreen, pressing the Information button prints a page that lists both. Some models use a different button or combination, so check your manual if nothing prints.
2. On your computer, open the list of Wi-Fi networks. Pick the one that starts with DIRECT and includes your printer model, and enter the Wi-Fi Direct password.
3. Open a web browser and type 192.168.223.1 into the address bar. If your browser shows a security warning, it's safe to continue here, since this is the printer's own local settings page.
4. If you're asked to sign in, use the PIN printed on the label on your printer, which is usually inside the cartridge access door. On LaserJet printers, the username is admin.
5. Go to Network, then Wireless (802.11), then Wireless Setup Wizard. Choose your home network and enter its password.
6. When it's done, switch your computer back to your regular Wi-Fi network.

Fix 6: Change the Router Settings That Keep HP Printers Off Wi-Fi

If the printer still won't connect, the router is the next place to look. Most internet providers let you change settings in their app, and many routers have a settings page you can open in a browser. Menu names vary a lot by brand, so keep your router's manual or your provider's help page open while you work.

• Give each band its own name. Many routers combine 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one network name. Depending on the brand, you'll see this called Smart Connect or band steering. HP recommends giving the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks separate names so printers that need 2.4 GHz can find it. Connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz name. Your phones and laptops can stay on 5 GHz, and on a typical home router they'll still be able to reach the printer.
• Check the security type. If the router is set to WPA3 only, change it to WPA2 or a WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode. Plenty of HP printers, especially older models, don't support WPA3. If the printer still won't join in mixed mode, set the 2.4 GHz network to WPA2. Don't switch to an open network just to get the printer connected.
• Look for device filtering. If MAC address filtering is on, add the printer's MAC address to the allowed list. You'll find it on the Wireless Network Test Report from Fix 3.
• Keep the printer off the guest network. HP says guest and public networks have extra security that can stop printing. Put the printer, and every device that prints to it, on your main network. Some routers also have a setting called AP isolation or client isolation that keeps devices from talking to each other. If it's turned on for your main network, turn it off.
• Update the router's firmware. Out-of-date router firmware is one of the causes HP points to for wireless trouble. Your internet provider or router maker can tell you how to check for updates.

After you change anything on the router, restart the printer so it connects with the new settings.

Fix 7: Update the Printer Firmware and Run Diagnose & Fix

HP puts out firmware updates with fixes and improvements for its printers. If yours hasn't been updated in a long time, it's worth checking.

• On a touchscreen printer: the path depends on the model. One common route is Setup, then Printer Maintenance, then Update Printer, then Check Now.
• In the HP app: select your printer, open Advanced Settings, and look for Printer Update or Printer Updates. Enter the printer PIN if asked, then click Check Now.
• From HP's website: if the printer can't get online on its own, go to HP's software and driver downloads page for your model. Any available updates are listed under Firmware.

Leave the printer on until the update is completely done. HP warns that turning it off partway through can permanently damage it. For more ways to update, see our guide on how to update HP printer firmware.

Next, let HP's troubleshooter take a look. In the HP app for Windows or Mac, select your printer and choose Diagnose & Fix, then click Start. Keep the app open until the scan finishes, and follow any fixes it suggests. HP has retired its older Print and Scan Doctor tool, so skip any site that still offers it as a download.

When the HP App Can't Find Your Printer

"Printer not found" during setup is one of the most frustrating messages you can get, and the cause is usually on your phone or computer, not the printer. Check each of these, then try adding the printer again.

• Is setup mode still on? If you restored it more than two hours ago, it has timed out. Repeat Fix 4.
• Is Bluetooth on? The HP app uses Bluetooth to spot the printer during setup, so turn it on for your phone or computer.
• On a phone, does the app have location access? On iPhone and Android, turn on location services, and allow the HP app to use your location and Bluetooth when it asks.
• On a Windows PC, is Wi-Fi turned on? Even if your computer uses an Ethernet cable, turn Wi-Fi on for setup. If it won't turn on while the cable is plugged in, unplug the cable until setup is done.
• Is a VPN running? Disconnect it before you start setup.
• Which network is your device on? It should be your home network, not a guest network or the printer's DIRECT-xx-HP signal.
• Did you get a message about 2.4 GHz? On DeskJet 2800, 4200, and 4900 printers, the app may say the printer can only connect to a 2.4 GHz network. Switch your phone or computer to your 2.4 GHz network and try again. If you can't find one, check your router's label or ask your internet provider whether your router offers 2.4 GHz and can give it a separate name.
• Still nothing? Delete the HP app, install it again from your app store or 123.hp.com, and start setup from the beginning.

If Your HP Printer Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi

A printer that connects and then drops off again has a different problem than one that never connects at all. The connection works. It just doesn't last.

• Confirm it on the test report. Print the Wireless Network Test Report from Fix 3 and look at Signal Strength and Disconnect Counts. A weak signal or a high disconnect count tells you the connection itself is the weak spot.
• Give the signal a better path. A router stuck in a closet, a corner, or behind the TV has a hard time covering the whole house. HP recommends a central spot. If the printer has to live far from the router, a range extender can close the gap.
• Take some load off the network. When a lot of devices are busy at once, especially ones streaming video, the printer can get squeezed out. Pause what you're not using and see if the connection holds.
• Stop the printer's address from changing. Sometimes the printer stays on Wi-Fi, but your computer keeps losing track of it because the router gave it a new IP address. Reserving an address for the printer fixes that, and our HP printer offline guide shows how.
• Keep firmware current on both ends. Update the printer (Fix 7) and the router (Fix 6), since both can affect how steady the connection is.

Connected to Wi-Fi, but Your Computer Still Says Offline

If the Wireless light is solid blue and the test report says Connected, your printer is on the network. When your computer still calls it offline, the fix is on the computer's side. Common culprits are the Use Printer Offline setting in Windows, a stuck print job, a VPN, or an old copy of the printer that no longer connects.

Our HP printer offline guide covers each of those, step by step, for Windows and Mac. If the printer shows online but pages still don't come out, go to our guide for an HP printer not printing.