How to Connect the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w Printer to Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide with Photos

Multifunctional device HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w — a compact assistant for the home or small office that prints, scans, and copies documents. But to get the most out of it, you need to properly configure the wireless connection. Without Wi-Fi, you won't be able to print from a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, or use cloud services like HP Smart or Google Cloud Print.

In this article we will look at all the connection methods. M28w Wi-Fi: via the printer control panel, using WPS, via a USB cable, and even manually if automatic setup fails. We'll cover common errors (for example, when the printer doesn't detect the network or constantly loses connection) and provide a troubleshooting checklist. If you've never set up network printers before, don't worry: the instructions are designed for beginners, with step-by-step photos and explanations.

Before you begin, make sure your the router is turned on, and the printer is within the network coverage area (no further than 5-7 meters from the router, if there are no obstacles). Also check that M28w The latest firmware version is installed - outdated software may cause connection failures.

1. Preparing the printer and network for connection

Before setting up Wi-Fi on HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w It's important to take a few preliminary steps. This will save time and help avoid common mistakes.

Firstly, check the indicators on the printer: The green LED next to the power button should be solid, not blinking. If the light is blinking orange, the device is not ready for use (possibly a paper jam or out of toner). Secondly, make sure your The router supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n standards — older models (for example, those that only support 802.11a) may not be compatible with the printer.

• 🔌 Connect the printer to a power outlet and turn it on using the power button (located on the front panel on the left). Wait until it boots up completely (about 30-60 seconds).
• 📶 Check the name and password of your Wi-Fi network.. They are indicated on the router sticker or in the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). If the network is hidden (SSID is not broadcast), you will have to add it manually.
• 🖨️ Make sure there is paper in the printer.After connecting to Wi-Fi, the device will print a report with network settings—this will help you verify the operation was successful.
• 📱 Download the HP Smart app on your smartphone (Android/iOS) or install the drivers on your PC with official HP websiteThis will make setup easier.

⚠️ Attention: If your router is in the mode 5 GHz, printer M28w may not see it. This model only supports the range 2.4 GHzIf necessary, enable compatibility mode on your router or create a separate network for 2.4 GHz devices.

The printer is turned on and ready to print. The Wi-Fi network name and password are known. The printer has paper for a test print. The router supports 2.4 GHz. The HP Smart app is installed (optional).

2. Connecting via the printer control panel (main method)

The most reliable method for setting up Wi-Fi on HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w — using the built-in menu. No additional devices are required, just the printer itself and network access.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Click the Setup button on the printer control panel (it is indicated by a gear icon).
2. Select "Network" → Wireless Network → Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
3. The printer will begin scanning for available networks. When the list appears, select your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) using the buttons. ↑/↓ and press OK.
4. Enter the network password. To do this, use the numeric keypad on the printer screen (case-sensitive!). If the password is long, be careful— M28w There is no autofill function.
5. Confirm your password and wait for the message ConnectedThe printer will print a report with network settings.

If your printer doesn't find your network, check:

• 📡 Is Wi-Fi working on the router (the wireless network indicator should be on).
• 🔒 Is the password entered correctly (the printer is case-sensitive and character-sensitive).
• 📶 Is the printer within range of the network (try moving it closer to the router).

3. Quick connection via WPS (if your router supports it)

Function WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Allows you to connect your printer to the network without entering a password—just press a button on the router. This is convenient if you don't want to type a long password on a small screen. M28w.

Instructions:

1. Make sure your router supports WPS (usually there is a button on it that says WPS or an icon of two arrows forming a circle).
2. On the printer, go to the menu Settings → Network → Wireless Network → WPS Setup.
3. Select WPS Push Button and press OK.
4. For 2 minutes Press the WPS button on the router. The router's indicator light should start blinking.
5. Wait for the message "Connected" on the printer screen. Done!

If connection failed:

• ⏱️ Repeat the process - you only have 2 minutes to press the WPS button after activating the mode on the printer.
• 🔄 Restart your router and printer, then try again.
• 🔧 Check if WPS is enabled in your router settings (sometimes this feature is disabled for security reasons).

⚠️ Attention: Some modern routers disable WPS by default due to security vulnerabilities. If your device doesn't have a WPS button, use another connection method.

4. Connecting via USB cable (alternative method)

If your printer doesn't detect Wi-Fi or you prefer to configure the network via your computer, you can use a USB cable. This method is suitable for both Windows and macOS.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Connect the printer to your computer using the USB cable (included). Turn it on. M28w, if it was turned off.
2. Download and install drivers from HP website (select model LaserJet Pro MFP M28w).
3. Launch HP Smart (will be installed automatically with the drivers) or open Control Panel → Devices and Printers (Windows).
4. Select your printer and click Printer Setup or "Properties".
5. Go to the section Ports or Wireless Network and follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
6. Enter your Wi-Fi password when prompted. Wait for the process to complete.

Once successfully connected, disconnect the USB cable - the printer will remain online and available for printing via Wi-Fi.

What to do if the drivers are not installed?

If the driver installation fails with an error, try the following:

1. Connect the printer to a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0).

2. Run the installation as administrator (right-click on the file → "Run as administrator").

3. Temporarily disable your antivirus software—it may be blocking software installation.

4. Download drivers from the official HP website, not from the included disk (it may contain an outdated version).

5. Manually adding a network (if automatic setup doesn't work)

If the printer doesn't find your Wi-Fi network or displays an error when connecting, you can add it manually. This is especially true for hidden networks (where the SSID isn't broadcast) or networks with non-standard security settings.

How to add a network manually:

1. On the printer, go to Settings → Network → Wireless Network → Add Network Manually.
2. Enter network name (SSID) exactly as it is specified in the router settings (case sensitive!).
3. Select security type:
   • WPA2-PSK (recommended)
   • WPA-PSK (outdated)
   • Open network (without password)

Enter the network password. If the network is open, leave this field blank.

Save the settings and wait for the connection to complete. The printer will print a report with the IP address.

If the printer gives an error "Unable to connect", check:

• 🔤 Correctness of the entered information SSID (even one typo will cause a crash).
• 🔐 Security type (for example, if the router uses WPA3, and the printer does not support it, select WPA2/WPA3 in the router settings).
• 🌐 Wi-Fi channel (some channels in the 2.4 GHz range may conflict; try changing the channel on your router to 1, 6, or 11).

6. Checking the connection and troubleshooting

After setting up Wi-Fi, you need to make sure the printer is actually connected to the network and ready to use. Here's how:

Verification methods:

• 📄 Print a network settings report: press and hold the button Information (i) on the printer panel for 5 seconds. In the report, check the line Wi-Fi: Connected And IP address.
• 💻 Check the list of devices in the router: Log into your router's web interface (usually 192.168.0.1) and find HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w in the list of connected devices.
• 📱 Submit a test document from your phone via the app HP Smart or from a computer.

Typical problems and their solutions:

• 🔴 The printer is connected but does not print:
  • Check if the drivers are installed on your computer.
  • Make sure your printer is selected as the default in your print settings.
  • Restart the printer and computer.
• 🟡 Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting:
  • Update your printer firmware via HP Smart.
  • Change the Wi-Fi channel on your router (for example, from automatic to fixed channel 6).
  • Disable power saving on your router (if there is such an option).
• 🟢 The printer prints, but slowly:
  • Check your internet speed - there may be a problem with the network.
  • Switch the printer to an Ethernet cable (if possible).
  • Disable background tasks on your computer that may be loading the network.

⚠️ Attention: If the printer starts to reboot spontaneously after connecting to Wi-Fi, this may indicate incompatibility with WPA3 encryption or corrupted firmwareIn this case, update the printer software or reset it to factory settings (hold the button Cancel (X) when turned on for 10 seconds).

7. Setting up printing from mobile devices

After connection HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w You can print from your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi. There are several ways to do this:

Method 1: HP Smart app

1. Download HP Smart from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Open the app and tap Add a printer.
3. Choose yours M28w from the list of found devices.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Method 2: Cloud Printing (Google Cloud Print, AirPrint)

• 🖥️ For Google Cloud Print:
  1. Register your printer in the service via web interface.
  2. Send documents to print from Gmail, Google Docs, or other supported apps.

🍎 For AirPrint (iPhone/iPad):

1. Make sure your printer and Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open the document, click Share → Print and select M28w.

Method 3: Direct printing via Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have a router at hand, you can connect directly to the printer:

1. Activate on the printer Wi-Fi Direct on the menu Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On your smartphone, connect to the printer's network (the name will start with DIRECT-xx-HP LaserJet Pro M28w).
3. Start printing via HP Smart or standard system tools.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connecting the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w to Wi-Fi

🔍 Why can't my printer see my Wi-Fi network?

Possible reasons:

• The network operates in the range 5 GHz (the printer only supports 2.4 GHz).
• SSID is hidden (enable network name broadcast in the router settings).
• The router is using an incompatible security type (eg. WPA3).

Solution: Check your router settings or add the network manually on the printer.

🔄 How do I reset my printer's network settings?

To reset Wi-Fi settings:

1. Go to the menu Settings → Network → Reset network settings.
2. Confirm reset (the printer will reboot).
3. Please set up your connection again.

To perform a full factory reset, hold the button Cancel (X) when the printer is turned on for 10 seconds.

📶 Is it possible to connect a printer to two networks simultaneously?

No, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28w The printer only supports connecting to one Wi-Fi network at a time. However, you can quickly switch between networks through the printer menu or use Wi-Fi Direct for direct connection of devices.

🔒 How do I change the Wi-Fi password on my printer?

The printer doesn't store the network password—it only connects to it. To update the password:

1. Change the password in the router settings.
2. On the printer, go to Settings → Network → Wireless Network.
3. Select your network and enter a new password.

🖨️ Why doesn't my printer print from my computer after connecting to Wi-Fi?

Check the following:

• Are the printer drivers installed on the PC?
• Is it chosen? M28w as the default printer.
• Are there any errors in the print queue (open Devices and Printers → View Print Queue).
• Are the PC and printer connected to the same Wi-Fi network?

If the problem persists, reinstall the drivers or try connecting via USB.