How to Connect an HP Printer to WiFi Step by Step

Step by step

1. 1

   Prepare the printer and your WiFi network

   Switch on the printer and place it within range of the router. Make sure you know your WiFi network's name and password. Importantly, most HP printers only connect to the 2.4 GHz band, not 5 GHz. If your router broadcasts both networks under different names, pick the one labeled 2.4G. Also connect the phone or computer you're using for the setup to the 2.4 GHz network.

2. 2

   Install the HP Smart app

   HP Smart is the simplest route and the one the manufacturer recommends. Download the app from the App Store, Google Play, or from 123.hp.com for a Windows or macOS computer. It's free and walks you through the whole setup step by step. On first launch it asks you to sign in to an HP account, which makes managing the printer easier later.

3. 3

   Put the printer in setup mode

   A new or reset printer usually enters pairing mode by itself after switching on, and the WiFi light blinks. If the printer has been used before, restore its network settings: on models with a panel, pick that option in the network menu; on models without a screen, hold the WiFi button for a few seconds. A blinking light means it's ready to connect.

4. 4

   Add the printer and hand over the WiFi details

   In the HP Smart app, choose the add-printer option marked with a plus. The app searches for nearby devices. When your printer model appears, tap it and follow the instructions. At this stage you'll pick the WiFi network and enter the password, and the app passes those details to the printer. When the WiFi light turns solid, the printer is on the network.

5. 5

   Alternative: connect via WPS

   If you'd rather not use the app and your router has a WPS button, use quick pairing. Press the WiFi button on the printer until the light starts blinking, then press the WPS button on the router within two minutes. The devices connect on their own, with no password typing. This method only works on a 2.4 GHz network and requires access to the router.

6. 6

   Alternative: the printer's touchscreen panel

   Printers with a screen can be connected without a phone. Go to Settings, then Network or Wireless Settings, and run the Wireless Setup Wizard. The printer shows a list of available WiFi networks, so pick yours and type the password on the screen. Once confirmed, the printer connects to the router and the WiFi icon stops blinking.

7. 7

   Add the printer in Windows and macOS

   Once the printer is on the network, add it in your operating system. In Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners, click Add device, and select the printer. In macOS, open System Settings, choose Printers & Scanners, click the plus, and pick your model. The system usually downloads the driver by itself.

Wi-Fi Direct when you have no router

Wi-Fi Direct lets you print without a router, because the printer creates its own network that you connect your phone or laptop to. It's a handy option where there's no WiFi, or when you want to quickly print something from a single device.

Enable Wi-Fi Direct in the printer's network settings. A network name starting with DIRECT followed by the model name will appear in your phone's WiFi list. Connect to it and enter the Wi-Fi Direct password, which you'll find in the settings or on a printed configuration page. In this mode, the phone has no regular WiFi internet at the same time.

The most common HP printer WiFi problems

The most common reason a connection fails is the 5 GHz band. The printer looks for a 2.4 GHz network while the phone sits on 5 GHz, so the devices can't see each other. The fix is switching the phone to the 2.4 GHz network for the duration of the setup, or temporarily splitting the bands in the router settings.

A printer showing as offline has usually dropped off the network after going to sleep or after a router restart. Switch the printer off and on, and check that the WiFi light is solid. After a WiFi password change, the printer loses its connection because it remembers the old details, so redo the network setup through HP Smart or the printer's panel and enter the new password.

Brother and Canon printers - the same idea

Other brands work the same way; mostly just the app name changes. You'll set up Brother printers with the Brother Mobile Connect app or via WPS, and Canon with the Canon PRINT app. In every case the pattern is the same: the app, WPS, or the printer's panel, and finally adding the device in Windows or macOS.

The same 2.4 GHz band rule applies everywhere, as does the need to reconfigure after a WiFi password change. If you know the steps for an HP printer, you'll handle the other brands without trouble.

Frequently asked questions