Troubleshoot a Wi-Fi connection to an HP printer

Make sure your Wi-Fi network and printer setup meet connection requirements.

1. Restart the printer and the computer or mobile device to clear possible error conditions.

2. Make sure the printer is not connected to a computer with a USB cable. A USB connection can block Wi-Fi setup and disables the printer internet connection required for HP Instant Ink.

3. Check your router support website or documentation to make sure it meets the following requirements.

   • Many routers operate in both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequency bands, but not all HP printers support both bands. Make sure the 2.4 GHz router band is enabled and broadcasting. If the router broadcasts separate network names (SSIDs) for each band, connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz band SSID. If the printer supports 5.0 GHz, connect it to the 5.0 GHz band SSID.

   • Bonjour support (Mac): HP recommends routers that support Bonjour, Apple's network discovery software. Connecting with Bonjour is the best way to find the printer and support wireless printing.

4. On your computer or mobile device, open the list of available networks.

   • If the network you are connected to is not yours, disconnect from the network and reconnect to your normal Wi-Fi network.

     Note:

     A printer connection cannot be established over public or guest networks that allow guest logins used in schools, hotels, or coffee shops.

   • If the network status is not connected, connect to your network, and then check the status again. A check mark or connected status displays next to the network name when connected.

5. Move the printer close to the router or range extender, and then check the printer connection status.

   • If the wireless light or icon is solid and blue, the printer is connected to the network.

   • If the wireless light or icon is off or flashing, the printer is not connected to the network. Go to HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network) for more information.

Check for network issues and review setup requirements if your wireless printer is not found during setup with HP Smart.

1. Restart the printer and the computer or mobile device to clear possible error conditions.

2. 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.

   • Printers without a touchscreen display or menu: Go to Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer to restore default settings by pressing the buttons on your printer.

3. On your computer or mobile device, open the list of available networks.

   • If the network you are connected to is not yours, disconnect from the network and reconnect to your normal Wi-Fi network. Do not connect to the printer Wi-Fi signal DIRECT-xx-HP [your printer model name].

     Note:

     A printer connection cannot be established over public or guest networks that allow guest logins used in schools, hotels, or coffee shops.

   • If the network status is not connected, connect to your network, and then check the status again. A check mark or connected status displays next to the network name when connected.

4. Enable additional connections on your computer or mobile device.

   • Turn on Wi-Fi (PCs only): Enable Wi-Fi even if the computer is connected to the network with Ethernet. If Wi-Fi does not turn on while using the wired connection, disconnect the Ethernet cable temporarily to enable Wi-Fi.

     

   • Turn on Bluetooth: HP Smart uses Bluetooth to detect the printer during setup.

     

   • Enable location setting (mobile devices only): After installing HP Smart for iOS and Android, enable the location service in the device settings, and allow the app to use your location and Bluetooth.

     

5. Move the printer and the computer or mobile device within eight meters (26 feet) of the router or range extender, and then check the connection status.

   • Printer connection: If the wireless light or icon is solid and blue, the printer is connected to the network. If it is off or flashing, the printer is not connected to the network.

   • Computer or mobile device connection: Check the network signal strength. If the wireless icon shows a weak signal status , move closer to the router or range extender until a strong signal displays . Walls, metal bookcases, and electronics that emit radio signals can weaken the wireless signal.

6. Reinstall the HP Smart app from your app store, and then add the printer again.

7. Open a website to confirm the internet service is working. If page load time is slow or intermittent, restart the router. If necessary, contact your internet service provider to check if the service is down.

If the printer has been successfully connected to the network but does not maintain the connection, check the network environment and settings for issues.

1. On your computer or mobile device, open the list of available networks.

2. Check the network signal strength. If the wireless icon shows a weak signal status , move closer to the router or range extender until a strong signal displays . Walls, metal bookcases, and electronics that emit radio signals can weaken the wireless signal.

3. Open a website to confirm the internet service is working. If page load time is slow or intermittent, restart the router. If necessary, contact your internet service provider to check if the service is down.

4. Limit the number of devices actively on the network, especially devices streaming content.

5. Move the router to a central location in the home, or add a range extender to improve signal strength farther away from the router.

6. Contact your internet service provider or the router manufacturer for steps to check for and install any firmware updates.

7. Print a Wireless Network Test Results or Network Configuration report.

   • Most printers with a control panel menu: Open the Wireless or Network Settings menu and select Wireless Network Test.

   • Most printers without a control panel menu: Press and hold the Wireless button or the Copy button for ten seconds or until the Ready light blinks.

   For detailed steps for your printer, go to HP Customer Support, enter your printer model, and then search for self test page to find the document on printing reports.

8. Review the report for connection status, network used, and any perform instructions provided for any issues found.

   

   If no issues are found and the printer is connected to the correct network, continue with these steps.

9. In the Number of 802.11 networks discovered list on the last page of the report, locate the channel for your Wi-Fi network.

   

   • If your network is not on a channel used by several other networks, the issue is not related to Wi-Fi channel interference.

   • If your network is on a channel used by several other networks, change the router channel.

10. Determine your router IP address and password.

    Note:

    The following list is provided for informational purposes only and might not work with your router model. Consult your internet provider or router documentation for steps to access router settings.

    Common router brands with default IP addresses, user names, and passwords

    Router brand	IP address	User name	Password
    3Com	http://192.168.1.1	admin	no password required, or admin
    ASUS	http://192.168.1.1	admin	admin
    Belkin	http://192.168.2.1	no user name required, or admin	no password required
    D-Link	http://192.168.0.1	admin or user	no password required, or admin
    Linksys	http://192.168.1.1	admin, no user name required, or Comcast	admin, no password required, or 1234
    Netgear	http://192.168.0.1	admin	password, 1234, or setup

11. Open a web browser, type the router IP address in the address bar, press Enter, and then sign in with the user name and password.

    The router setup page displays.

12. Use the configuration menu to change the Wi-Fi channel.

13. If your Wi-Fi network continues to under-perform, consider upgrading your router or internet service.

When scanning over a Wi-Fi connection, the scan job fails, and a scanner not found, detected, or unavailable message might display on the computer.

1. Prepare for the network and printer setup.

   • Place the printer and the computer or mobile device near the Wi-Fi router.

   • Turn on Wi-Fi on your computer or mobile device and connect to your network. If the computer connects to the network with an Ethernet cable, temporarily disconnect the cable and use the Wi-Fi connection during setup.

   • Enable Bluetooth on the computer or mobile device so that HP Smart can detect the printer during the setup.

   • After installing HP Smart for iOS and Android, enable the mobile device location service to allow the app to detect the printer and offer solutions during setup.

2. Download the HP Smart app from 123.hp.com (Android, Apple iOS), HP Smart - Microsoft Store (Windows, in English), or HP Smart - Mac App Store (macOS, in English).

   Note:

   Disconnect from a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection before downloading.

3. Open the HP Smart app.

   • If this is the first time you are opening HP Smart, the app attempts to detect and set up the printer. Follow the guided setup screens to complete the printer setup.

   • If this is not the first time you are opening HP Smart, click Add Printer or the plus sign to find the printer. Follow the guided setup screens to complete the printer setup.

   If your printer is not found, continue to the next step.

4. 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.

   • Printers without a touchscreen display or menu: Go to Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer to restore default settings by pressing the buttons on your printer.

5. Within 2 hours, close and re-open HP Smart, and then add the printer again.

6. Click a Scan tile to start a scan job.

   Go to How to scan with an HP printer for more information.

The printer must be connected to the internet at all times to ensure replacement ink cartridges are delivered when needed. Check the network and printer status to reconnect the printer to the HP Instant Ink service.

1. Restart the printer and the computer or mobile device to clear possible error conditions.

2. Make sure the printer is not connected to a computer with a USB cable. A USB connection can block Wi-Fi setup and disables the printer internet connection required for HP Instant Ink.

3. On your computer or mobile device, open the list of available networks.

   • If the current network is not yours, disconnect from the network and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

     Note:

     The printer does not work on public or guest networks used in schools, hotels, or coffee shops that allow guest logins.

   • If the network status is not connected, connect to your network, and then check the status again. A check mark or connected status displays next to the network name when connected.

4. Check the network signal strength. If the wireless icon shows a weak signal status , move closer to the router or range extender until a strong signal displays . Walls, metal bookcases, and electronics that emit radio signals can weaken the wireless signal.

5. Open a website to confirm the internet service is working. If page load time is slow or intermittent, restart the router. If necessary, contact your internet service provider to check if the service is down.

6. Move the printer close to the router or range extender, and then check the printer connection status.

   • If the wireless light or icon is solid and blue, the printer is connected to the network.

   • If the wireless light or icon is off or flashing, the printer is not connected to the network. Go to HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network) for more information.

7. Sign into your HP Instant Ink account.

8. On the Overview page, make sure the printer status is Ready to print, and then click the refresh icon to sync the latest printer information with the account.