How to Connect an HP Printer to Wi-Fi with an iPhone 12 Pro Max: Complete Instructions (2026)

Wireless printing with iPhone 12 Pro Max on the printer HP Saves time and eliminates the need to connect devices with cables. However, many users encounter difficulties during the first connection: the printer doesn't find the network, the phone doesn't detect the device, or the connection keeps dropping. The reasons lie in incorrect router settings, outdated printer firmware, or operating peculiarities. iOS 17+.

In this article - step-by-step instructions taking into account all the nuances: from preparing the equipment to resolving common errors. We'll look at three official connection methods (via the app) HP Smart, printer menu and WPS), and we will also give recommendations on optimizing your Wi-Fi network for stable printing. If your HP DeskJet, OfficeJet or Envy refuses to connect - here you will find the solution.

Let us note right away: the procedure is suitable for all models iPhone 12 (including Pro Max), as well as for printers HP with support Wi-Fi Direct or a standard connection to the router. If your device is older than 2018, first update its firmware via USB-cable and computer - this will eliminate 80% of compatibility issues.

1. Preparing the printer and iPhone for connection

Before setting up, make sure both devices meet the minimum requirements:

• 📱 iPhone 12 Pro Max With iOS 15 or later (recommended) iOS 17.4+ for stable operation).
• 🖨️ Printer HP with support Wi-Fi (check the presence of the button Wireless or antenna icon on the body).
• 📶 Router with enabled DHCP (automatic assignment of IP addresses) and support for the standard 802.11n/ac (5 GHz or 2.4 GHz).

If the printer was previously connected to a different network, follow these steps: reset network settings:

1. Press and hold the button Wireless (or Wi-Fi) on the printer 5-10 seconds.
2. Wait until the indicator flashes - this is a reset signal.
3. On some models (eg, HP OfficeJet Pro 9015) reset is performed through the menu: Settings → Network settings → Restore network settings.

Important: Printers HP do not support networks with hidden SSIDIf your router is configured this way, temporarily disable this feature in the admin panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).

2. Method 1: Connecting via the HP Smart app

Official app HP Smart (available in App Store) automates the setup process and offers additional features, such as scanning documents to your phone or printing from cloud services. Follow the instructions:

Step 1: Install and launch the application

• 📲 Download HP Smart By link (opens in the App Store).
• 🔓 Allow the app to access Local area network And Bluetooth in the settings iPhone (Settings → HP Smart).
• 🔄 Restart your phone after installation - this will eliminate possible conflicts with background processes.

Step 2: Adding a Printer

1. Open HP Smart and press Add a printer.
2. Select Setting up a new printer → Wi-Fi.
3. The application will offer two options:
   • 🔄 Automatic configuration (recommended) - the phone will send network data directly to the printer via Bluetooth.
   • 📋 Manual input — you will need to enter SSID and the Wi-Fi password manually.

Follow the on-screen prompts. If the printer is not found, make sure it is turned on and in setup mode (blue light flashing). Wi-Fi).

Step 3: Completing the setup

After successful connection, the application will prompt:

• 📄 Check the ink level.
• 🔄 Update your printer firmware (be sure to agree!).
• 📱 Set up print status notifications.

Bluetooth is enabled on the iPhone|The app is allowed to access the local network|The router is turned on and in setup mode|The router is not blocking new devices (MAC filter is disabled)-->

3. Method 2: Manual setup via the printer menu

If the application HP Smart If the printer doesn't work (for example, due to an outdated model), use the device's built-in menu. This method is universal and works even without a smartphone, but it requires knowledge SSID and the password of your Wi-Fi network.

Instructions for printers with a touch screen (For example, HP Envy 6055):

1. On the printer, go to Settings → Network settings → Wireless.
2. Select Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
3. In the list of available networks, find your Wi-Fi network and enter the password using the on-screen keyboard.
4. Confirm connection. Indicator Wi-Fi should be green or blue without blinking.

Instructions for printers with buttons (For example, HP DeskJet 2720):

1. Press and hold the button Wireless (or Wi-Fi) until the indicator blinks.
2. Click the button Information (or i) for printing network settings report.
3. Find the section in the report WPS PIN - This 8-digit code will be needed to connect.
4. On iPhone go to Settings → Wi-Fi, select the printer network (the name starts with DIRECT-xx-HP) and enter WPS PIN.

Critical detail: HP printers do not support WPA3-encrypted networks in "WPA3-only" mode. If your router is configured this way, temporarily switch to mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode or pure WPA2.

What should I do if the printer doesn't see the Wi-Fi network?

If your network operates on 5 GHz, try temporarily switching to 2.4 GHz—many HP models (especially budget ones) only support this band. Also, check if "Only devices with MAC filtering" mode is enabled on your router—this blocks new connections.

4. Method 3: Connecting via WPS (for supported models)

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a standard for quickly connecting devices to a router without entering a password. Majority of printers HP (released after 2019) support this method, but it only works if the router is also equipped with a button WPS.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Make sure your router supports it. WPS (usually there is a button with this name or an icon 🔄).
2. On the printer, press and hold the button Wireless (or Wi-Fi) for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.
3. For 2 minutes press the button WPS on the router. Wait 30–60 seconds—the printer's indicator light should turn solid.
4. On iPhone check the connection: open HP Smart or try printing a test page.

Limitations of the WPS method:

• ⚠️ Doesn't work with routers in mode Bridge or Repeater.
• ⚠️ Some providers (eg. Rostelecom) disable WPS by default for security reasons.
• ⚠️ The method is not compatible with networks where it is enabled guest access.

5. Setting up iPhone for Wi-Fi printing

After connecting the printer to the network, you need to configure iPhone 12 Pro Max for printing. Unlike Android, V iOS There is no built-in printer search function - you will need an app HP Smart or third-party solutions.

Step 1: Checking the connection

• Open HP Smart and make sure that the printer is displayed in the list of devices with the status Connected.
• Click on the printer name → Information → check IP address (must match your router's subnet, for example, 192.168.1.x).

Step 2. Printing the document

1. Open the file to print (for example, in Photo, Files or Safari).
2. Click the button Share (square with an arrow pointing up).
3. Scroll down and select Seal.
4. Select your printer from the list of printers. HPIf it is not there, click No printer? and follow the prompts.
5. Adjust the settings (number of copies, double-sided printing) and press Seal.

Step 3: Troubleshooting Printing Issues

6. Optimize your Wi-Fi network for stable printing

If your printer periodically disconnects or printing is interrupted, the problem may lie in your router settings. Here are the key settings to check:

Recommended router settings:

• 📶 Wi-Fi channel: use a fixed channel (eg 6 or 11 for 2.4 GHz) instead AutoThis will reduce interference from neighboring networks.
• 🔒 Encryption: WPA2-PSK (AES) — optimal balance between security and compatibility.
• 🔄 DHCP: Enable and set the IP address range (eg. 192.168.1.100–192.168.1.200).
• ⚡ Signal strength: If the printer is far from the router, increase the power to 100% (in some routers this is called Transmit Power).

Additional tips:

• 🛑 Disable the feature Quick switching between ranges (or Band Steering) in the router - it can cause connection breaks in printers.
• 📡 If the signal is weak, use Wi-Fi repeater (For example, TP-Link RE605X) or connect the printer via cable Powerline adapter.
• ⏳ Customize static IP for the printer in the router (by MAC address) to avoid DHCP conflicts.

How to find the MAC address of an HP printer?

Print network settings report (button Information or i on the printer). The report will contain a line MAC Address (For example, 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).

7. Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with proper setup, glitches can still occur. Let's look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

Error 1: "Printer not found" in HP Smart

• ⚠️ Cause: The printer and phone are connected to different networks (for example, the phone to 5 GHz and the printer to 2.4 GHz).
• ✅ Solution: Reconnect iPhone to the network 2.4 GHz or set up the printer to work with 5 GHz (if supported).

Error 2: "Incorrect Wi-Fi password"

• ⚠️ Cause: The password contains characters that are not supported by the printer (e.g. Cyrillic, spaces at the beginning/end).
• ✅ Solution: Change the network password to Latin without special characters (for example, MyPassword123).

Error 3: Printing stops in the middle

• ⚠️ Cause: The router drops the connection due to power saving or low traffic priority.
• ✅ Solution: Disable it in your router settings. WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) or turn on QoS for devices by MAC address printer.

Error 4: The printer prints blank sheets

• ⚠️ Cause: Dried ink in the print head (relevant for inkjet models) HP).
• ✅ Solution: Launch cleaning the print head via the printer menu: Settings → Service → Cartridge Cleaning.

8. Alternative ways to print from iPhone

If connecting via Wi-Fi is not possible (for example, due to router incompatibility), use alternative methods:

1. Printing via USB adapter

• 🔌 Buy Lightning-to-USB adapter (for example, original from Apple or certified Belkin).
• 🖨️ Connect the printer to the adapter, and the adapter to the iPhone.
• 📄 In the document, click Share → Print and select the printer.

2. Printing via AirPrint (for compatible models)

AirPrint - technology Apple, allowing you to print without drivers. Most printers HP (released after 2015) support it. To check:

1. Open the document to print.
2. Click Share → Print.
3. If the printer appears in the list, it is compatible with AirPrint.

3. Printing via the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox)

• 📁 Upload the file to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud).
• 🖨️ Open the file in the appropriate application and select Print → HP Smart.
• 🌍 The printer must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

⚠️ Attention: When printing via the cloud, the document is temporarily uploaded to the servers. HPDo not use this method for confidential files (passports, contracts).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

My HP printer doesn't support Wi-Fi. How do I print from my iPhone?

If your printer does not have a Wi-Fi module, use:

• USB adapter (For example, Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter) for direct connection.
• Network print server (For example, TP-Link TL-PS310U), which connects to the printer via USB and distributes it over the network.
• Printing via computer: turn on public access to the printer on your Windows/macOS PC and connect to it with iPhone through HP Smart.

After updating iOS, my printer stopped printing. What should I do?

Updates iOS Sometimes the print settings are reset. Try:

1. Remove the printer from HP Smart and add it again.
2. Reboot the router and printer (disconnect from power for 30 seconds).
3. Check if it is blocking VPN or Firewall (For example, Little Snitch) access to the local network.

If the problem persists, wait for the app to update. HP Smart (usually released within 1-2 weeks after the release of a new iOS).

Can I connect an HP printer to a guest Wi-Fi network?

No, printers HP do not support guest networks due to protocol limitations mDNS (used to discover devices on a local network). Solution options:

• Temporarily connect the printer to the main network.
• Configure it on your router VLAN for guest devices with access to local resources.
• Use USB or Ethernet to connect the printer.

How do I reset Wi-Fi settings on an HP printer?

Reset methods vary depending on the model:

Printer model	Reset method
HP DeskJet 2700/3700	Hold the button Wireless And Cancel 10 seconds.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015/9025	Menu: Settings → Network settings → Restore network settings.
HP Envy 6000/6400	Hold the button Information (i) and Cancel 5 seconds.

After reset, the printer will create its own network. DIRECT-xx-HP to re-configure.

How do I check if my printer is connected to Wi-Fi?

Verification methods:

1. Via the printer menu: Settings → Network settings → Wireless. It must be specified Connected and the name of your network.
2. Via report: Print network settings report (button Information or i). There will be a line in the report Wi-Fi Status: Connected.
3. Via router: Log in to your router's admin panel (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and check the list of connected devices.