Many people are familiar with the situation when a printer stops detecting the wireless network or a phone refuses to print a document. It seems like everything was working perfectly just a minute ago, but now the device simply ignores commands. Often, the problem lies not in hardware failure, but in a software glitch, a change in router settings, or a simple IP address desynchronization.
Instead of panicking or taking your device to a service center, it's worth running a comprehensive diagnostic. Most of the errors that cause The printer does not connect to Wi-Fi, can be solved in 10-15 minutes of independent work. We'll cover the steps for various operating systems and printer brands.
First, it's important to understand the nature of the failure. It could be a signal issue or a driver conflict. It's important to remain calm and check each step in order, as skipping a single step could lead to the false conclusion that the device is faulty.
Initial diagnostics and basic checks
Start with the most obvious, yet often overlooked step: checking the physical condition and basic indicators. If the printer screen or indicator light shows a Wi-Fi With a strikethrough or a red cross, the communication module is inactive. Make sure the router is turned on and distributing internet to other devices, such as your smartphone or tablet.
A common cause of problems is the frequency range. Many modern printer models, especially budget ones, operate exclusively within the frequency range. 2.4 GHz and don't see 5 GHz networks. If your router only broadcasts one network with a combined name, try temporarily separating them in the router settings.
⚠️ Attention: Some dual-band routers can intelligently switch devices between frequencies, which can interfere with older printers. Force your phone to use the 2.4 GHz network during setup.
It's also worth checking if your router has MAC address filtering enabled. If you've recently replaced your router or reset its settings, the list of allowed devices may have cleared. In this case, The printer does not connect to Wi-Fi precisely because of the blocking on the access point side, even if the password is entered correctly.
For a more thorough check, you can try connecting to the network from another device. This will help you determine where the problem lies: in the printer itself, your phone, or the router settings. If other devices see the network normally, the focus shifts to the printer.
Setting up printing from Android devices
For owners of smartphones based on Android You're more fortunate, as this system has built-in printing support. However, installing a plugin is often required for the printer to work. Go to your phone's settings, find the "Connections" or "Connected Devices" section, and select "Print."
Here you will see a list of available plugins. For devices HP needed HP Print Service Plugin, For Canon — the corresponding plugin from the manufacturer. If the required plugin is not available, the system will offer to download it from Google Play. After installation, be sure to activate the toggle next to the plugin name.
If the plugin is installed but the device search fails, try adding the printer manually by IP address. To do this, select "Add Printer" in the plugin menu and enter the device's local network address. You can find this by printing a configuration report on the printer itself.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure your phone and printer are on the same subnet. If you have a "Guest Network" configured on your router, devices on it may be isolated from the main network where the printer is located.
Clearing the print service cache can sometimes help. Go to the app settings, find "HP Print Service" (or similar), go to Storage, and tap "Clear Cache." Afterward, restart your phone and try to find the device again. This often resolves the issue with the service freezing.
Connecting iPhone and iPad (AirPrint)
Ecosystem Apple uses technology AirPrint, which doesn't require driver installation. However, for it to work, it's critical that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If The printer does not connect to Wi-Fi With an iPhone, first check to see if your phone is using mobile internet instead of Wi-Fi.
Open a document or photo, click the "Share" button, and select "Print." If the printer doesn't appear in the list, click "Select Printer." If the list is empty, try restarting the Bonjour service on your router (if you have access to its settings), as it is responsible for discovering Apple devices.
☑️ AirPrint Diagnostics
In some cases, the issue can be resolved by switching to IPv6. Go to your router settings and try disabling IPv6 support, leaving only IPv4. Older printer models may not work correctly with the new addressing protocol, which blocks discovery via AirPrint.
It's also worth paying attention to your Wi-Fi privacy settings. iOS has a feature called "Private Wi-Fi Address," which changes your phone's MAC address for each network. Try disabling this feature for your home network in your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings to help the router more reliably identify your device.
Resetting the printer's network settings
If software methods don't help, you need to reset the printer's network settings to factory defaults. This will delete saved passwords and configurations that may have become corrupted. On most models, this is done through the menu: Settings → Network → Restore network settings.
For models without a screen, a combination of buttons is often used. For example, on devices HP you need to simultaneously press the "Wireless" and "Cancel" buttons for 3-5 seconds until the indicators flash. Canon You may need to hold down the Direct Connect or Network button.
Key combinations for resetting the network of popular brands
HP: Wireless + Cancel (3 sec). Canon: Direct Connection (until the indicator light blinks). Epson: Wi-Fi button + Information button (until the Wi-Fi logo appears). Brother: Menu → Network → Network Reset.
After the reset, the printer will enter setup mode. A new device with a name like "Setup-Printer" or similar should appear on your phone or computer screen. Connect to it to restart the initial setup wizard.
Make sure you enter it correctly, taking into account the case of letters. Even a single character error will result in The printer won't connect to Wi-Fi. and will give an error again.
Problems with drivers and software
Often, the cause is outdated software. Manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that improve compatibility with new versions of Android and iOS. Visit the manufacturer's official website and check for updates for your model.
Sometimes app versions conflict. If you're using a proprietary app (e.g., Epson iPrint or Canon PRINT), try uninstalling it and reinstalling it. Older versions may not work correctly with the new WPA3 security protocols being implemented by providers.
| Brand | Android app | iOS app | Do you need a plugin? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP | HP Smart | HP Smart | Yes (automatically) |
| Canon | Canon PRINT | Canon PRINT | Desirable |
| Epson | Epson iPrint | Epson iPrint | No |
| Brother | Brother iPrint&Scan | Brother iPrint&Scan | No |
Please pay attention to OS version compatibility. If you have a very old phone with Android 6.0 or lower, modern apps may simply not launch or not be able to detect the device. In such cases The only solution is to use cloud printing through third-party services or connect via a PC.
Using Wi-Fi Direct as an alternative
If you still can't establish a connection through a router, use technology Wi-Fi DirectIt allows your phone to connect directly to the printer, bypassing your home network. This is an ideal solution if your router is located far away or has complex security settings.
Activate Wi-Fi Direct in the printer menu. The network name and password will appear on the device's screen (or in the printed report). On your phone, find the printer's name (usually starting with "DIRECT-") in the list of available Wi-Fi networks and enter the password.
Once connected, print the document. Your phone will treat the printer as a network device. The downside of this method is that while the phone is connected to the printer, it won't have Wi-Fi internet access (although mobile data can be used concurrently).
This method is also good for temporary printing when you're visiting someone or visiting an office with a secure network where you won't be allowed access. Simply connect directly and print without affecting corporate security.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Why does the printer see the network, but says "Not connected"?
Most likely, you entered the wrong password or used an inappropriate encryption type. Check that your router is set to WPA2-PSK (AES), as older printers don't support the newer WPA3 standards.
Can a printer be connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi?
Most office and home printers only operate in the 2.4 GHz band. If your router combines networks under a single name, try temporarily separating them or disabling the 5 GHz band during setup.
What should I do if my phone doesn't see the printer on the same network?
Check if AP Isolation is enabled on your router. Also, make sure your phone's antivirus software or firewall isn't blocking local connections.
How to find out the IP address of a printer?
Print a network configuration report from the printer menu or look at the list of connected clients in your router's interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 1.1).
Does internet speed affect Wi-Fi printing?
No, external internet speed isn't important. What matters is the speed and stability of the local network between the router and the printer. Even on a slow internet connection, printing will be fast if the Wi-Fi signal is strong.