When your HP printer not working, it is quite frustrating when you have to wait until you really need to print some document. There is always the case when an HP printer fails to work due to poor connectivity and faulty connection configuration settings in the Wi-Fi network. Most of the issues described can be easily corrected, but there are instances in which some corrections will take time and effort.
Here are five easy fixes if your HP printer won’t connect to WiFi:
1. Reset Your Printer and Router
Begin by switching off your HP printer and router. Most of the time, restarting them will solve the problem and get everything working again because the problem may be due to a glitch that is not permanent but temporary.
Printer: Switch it off then turn it on after 30 seconds; it will refresh all its connections within.
Reset your router: Unplug for 30 seconds and reconnect. This will reboot your router, which might reset it to solve the connectivity.
After both devices have reset, test to see whether or not your HP printer will function to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
2. Troubleshoot Printer and Network Setup
Another common reason for HP printers that fail to connect with the Wi-Fi is that they have a different network setup. Ensure your printer connects to the correct network. Also, the correct network credentials (SSID and password) should be input.
Go to the settings of your printer and navigate to Network Settings, which then checks the Wi-Fi connectivity status.
If not, select your Wi-Fi connection and enter the password in the correct format.
If you still experience some issues, you might be required to check your router settings to ensure that your printer is not experiencing an interference problem.
3. Update Printer Firmware
Updating the firmware of your printer can sometimes cause an HP printer to stop working or not connect to Wi-Fi. HP regularly updates its firmware to improve the printers’ performance and compatibility in different networks.
The software HP recommends checking for an update should be downloaded and used if it has one: navigate to the HP Support website or open the HP Smart app on your phone or computer.
Once applied, your printer should be fine and reconnect to the network.
Firmware updates can also fix bugs in the software that may be leading to connectivity problems, so ensure that the printer is running the newest version of the software installed.
4. Reconfiguration of Printer Connection
If the previous steps don’t solve your issue, consider reconfiguring the printer’s connection. If your HP printer is not connecting to Wi-Fi, it may have lost the previous network settings. To fix this:
- Access the control panel on your printer to go to the Wireless Setup Wizard.
- Reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi network using the on-screen instructions.
- You can reset your Wi-Fi settings via the HP Smart app directly from your phone or computer if you are unsure about what settings to apply.
5. Interference or Signal Range
Sometimes, external factors can interfere with your printer’s ability to connect to the Wi-Fi network. For example, physical obstructions or interference from other devices can weaken the signal.
- Make sure that your printer is within range of your Wi-Fi router.
- Avoid placing large metal objects, microwaves, or cordless phones near the printer and router because they can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal.
- Also, try moving the router closer to the printer or use a Wi-Fi extender if that would help.