How to Connect an HP DeskJet M28w Printer to Your Computer via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide with Pictures and Tips

Wireless printer connection HP DeskJet M28w Connecting to a computer via Wi-Fi saves desk space, eliminates tangled cables, and allows you to print from multiple devices simultaneously. However, many users encounter difficulties already during the setup process: the printer doesn't find the network, the computer doesn't see the device, or the connection keeps dropping. In this article, we'll look into all possible connection methods — from standard WPS to manual configuration via IP address, and we'll also tell you how to troubleshoot common errors.

Model M28w This device is in the budget segment, but supports basic wireless printing features. It's important to understand that the connection algorithm may differ depending on the operating system (Windows 10/11, macOS) and router type. We'll focus on universal methods that work 90% of the time, and also provide tips for optimizing print speed and saving ink.

If you've never configured network devices before, don't worry: this guide is designed for beginners. All steps are accompanied by screenshots of the interfaces and explanations. For experienced users, we've prepared a section with alternative methods (for example, connecting via USB and then switching to Wi-Fi) and diagnosing complex errors.

1. Preparing for connection: what you need to check before starting setup

Before you start connecting HP M28w When connecting to Wi-Fi, make sure the basic requirements are met. Neglecting these points is the cause of 70% of connection failures.

• 📶 The router is turned on and distributing Wi-Fi.Check that the wireless network indicator on your router is green or blue. If you're using a hidden network (SSID hidden), you'll need to temporarily make it visible.
• 🔌 The printer is turned on and charged.. Make sure that on the front panel M28w The green power indicator is on. If the battery is low, connect the device to the power outlet using the original adapter.
• 💻 The computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network.to which you plan to connect the printer. Using different networks (for example, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) will result in an error.
• 📱 HP Smart software installedDownload the official app from the website. support.hp.com (Do not use third-party sources!). For Windows, you will also need drivers - they can be installed via Control Panel → Devices and Printers.

Please pay special attention to router frequency range. Printer HP M28w works only with networks 2.4 GHzIf your router broadcasts on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under the same name (SSID), temporarily disable 5 GHz in the router settings or create a separate network for 2.4 GHz. This is critical: the device simply won't see the 5 GHz network, but it won't notify you of the error.

⚠️ Attention: If you're using a corporate or public Wi-Fi network (for example, in an office or cafe), the printer connection may be blocked by the administrator. In such cases, you'll need to contact your IT department or switch to a mobile hotspot.

Make sure your router supports WPA2 (not WEP)|

Check that your printer has the latest firmware installed|

Disable VPN on your computer|

Restart your router and printer before setting up.

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2. Method 1: Connecting via WPS (the fastest method)

Technology Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) allows you to connect devices without entering a password—just press a button on the router. This is the best option for HP M28w, if your router supports WPS (most modern models from TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic do).

Instructions:

1. Make sure your router is turned on and the WPS button is available (usually labeled or marked with a 🔄 icon).
2. On the printer M28w press and hold the button Wi-Fi (or Wireless communication) for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.
3. For 2 minutes Press the WPS button on the router. The Wi-Fi indicator on the printer should stop blinking and remain solid.
4. Wait for the printer to print a connection report (if enabled). It will contain the IP address of the device on the network.

If the printer does not print the report, check the connection via Control Panel → Devices and Printers (Windows) or application HP SmartThe device should appear as HP DeskJet M28w [networked].

⚠️ Attention: Some routers (such as older D-Link models) require you to hold the WPS button for up to 5 seconds. If the printer's light continues to blink for more than 2 minutes, repeat the process or proceed with manual setup.

3. Method 2: Manual setup via the printer panel

If WPS is unavailable or does not work, you will have to enter the network details manually. HP M28w This is done via a small screen and control buttons. The process takes a little longer, but is more reliable.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Press the button on the printer Setting up (⚙️) and select Wireless communication → Setting up Wi-Fi.
2. Select Manual setup (or Other networks, depending on the firmware version).
3. The printer will begin scanning for networks. Find your network in the list and click OK.
4. Enter the Wi-Fi password using the buttons on the panel. To switch between upper/lower case letters and numbers, use the button. ↑ or Symbol.
5. Confirm your entry. The Wi-Fi indicator should turn solid.

The main difficulty of this method is entering passwordOn the small screen M28w It's easy to make a mistake. If the printer doesn't connect, check:

• 🔤 Correct case of characters (password Password And PASSWORD - different!).
• 📶 Presence of special characters (for example, ! or #), which may be hidden in the menu Symbol.
• 🔄 Try restarting the printer and entering the information again.

If the network does not appear in the list, make sure that:

• 📡 The router is broadcasting in the range 2.4 GHz (the printer will not see 5 GHz).
• 🔍 The network is not hidden (if it is hidden, make it visible temporarily).
• 📶 The signal level is sufficient (move the printer closer to the router).

What should I do if my printer asks for a Wi-Fi PIN?

Some routers (especially older ones) require a PIN to connect devices. You can find it here:

1. On the sticker on the bottom of the router (usually 8 digits).

2. In the router's web interface, in the "Wi-Fi Protected Setup" or "WPS" section.

3. In the router instructions.

If the PIN code does not work, reset the router to factory settings (Reset button) and try again.

4. Method 3: Connecting via USB and then switching to Wi-Fi

This method is suitable if the printer refuses to connect directly to Wi-Fi, but you have a USB cable. First, configure the device via a wired connection, then switch it to a wireless connection.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect HP M28w to the computer via a USB cable (included).
2. Download and install drivers from the official HP website (select your model) DeskJet M28w).
3. Launch HP Smart and follow the setup wizard. At the connection type selection step, select Wireless.
4. The program will prompt you to disconnect the USB cable and switch to Wi-Fi. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Once successfully connected, the printer will be accessible to all devices on your network. This method is also useful if you need to update the printer's firmware—this is done faster and more reliably via USB.

⚠️ Attention: If your printer disappears from the list of devices after disconnecting the USB port, check your Windows power settings. Disable the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option in the USB port properties (Device Manager).

5. Setting up the printer on your computer (Windows/macOS)

After connection HP M28w To connect to Wi-Fi, you need to add it to the system. The process varies for different operating systems.

For Windows 10/11:

1. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click Add a printer or scanner.
3. Find in the list HP DeskJet M28w and select it. If the printer is not displayed, click The printer you need is not listed. and enter its IP address (can be found in the connection report or via HP Smart).
4. Install the drivers (Windows usually downloads them automatically).

For macOS:

1. Open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click + and select the tab IP.
3. Enter the printer's IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.105), in the field Protocol select AirPrint.
4. Click Add and wait for the drivers to be installed.

If the printer is added but does not print, check:

• 📄 Print queue: open Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right-click on the printer and select View the print queue. Remove stuck tasks.
• 🔌 Connection status: V HP Smart check that the printer is marked as Connected.
• 📡 Wi-Fi signal: If the printer's indicator light is flashing, move it closer to the router.

6. Typical errors and their elimination

Even after successful connection, users HP M28w encounter problems. We've compiled the most common errors and solutions.

A critical feature of the HP M28w: the printer does not support IPv6. If your router only supports IPv6, switch it to IPv4 or enable dual stack (IPv4 + IPv6).

If the printer connects but prints with artifacts (stripes, blurriness), perform calibration:

1. IN HP Smart go to Printer Settings → Device Maintenance.
2. Select Print head calibration and follow the instructions.
3. After calibration, print a test page.

7. Optimizing the printer after connection

To HP M28w To make it work stably and economically, adjust its parameters:

• 🖨️ Draft print mode: In the printer driver, select Fast print (draft) - This will save ink.
• 📄 Double-sided printing: Enable the option in the print task settings to save paper.
• 🔄 Auto power off: Set the sleep timer to 5-10 minutes in the printer menu (Settings → Power Saving).
• 📱 Cloud printing: connect the printer to HP Smart for printing from your phone or via email.

For frequent tasks (such as printing documents to PDF), create presets in the printer driver:

1. Open Devices and printers, right click on HP M28w and select Print Settings.
2. Adjust the parameters (quality, orientation, color) and save as a custom preset.

If the printer is used by multiple devices (laptop, smartphone, tablet), we recommend:

• 📱 Install HP Smart on all gadgets for centralized management.
• 🔒 Set a printing password (in the printer settings) to protect against unauthorized access.
• 📡 Check the Wi-Fi signal strength where the printer is installed (optimally at least 70%).

8. Alternative connection methods (if Wi-Fi doesn't work)

If you still can't set up a wireless connection, consider these alternatives:

• 🔌 USB cable: Reliable, but limits mobility. Suitable for desktop PCs.
• 📶 Mobile hotspot: connect the printer to your smartphone in modem mode (if the router is unavailable).
• 🖥️ Shared access via PC: Connect the printer to one computer via USB, and then share it with other devices over the network.
• 🌐 Cloud services: use Google Cloud Print (while supported) or HP ePrint for printing via the Internet.

For setup public access in Windows:

1. Connect the printer to your PC via USB.
2. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
3. Right click on the printer, select Printer Properties → Access.
4. Mark Share this printer and apply the settings.
5. On other devices, add the printer via its network path (e.g. \\PC_NAME\PRINTER_NAME).

⚠️ Attention: When using shared access, the host computer must be turned on. Also, make sure "File and Printer Sharing" is enabled in Windows network settings.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the HP DeskJet M28w

Is it possible to connect a printer to Wi-Fi without a computer?

Yes, using the app HP Smart on your smartphone. Download it, enable Bluetooth on your phone, and follow the instructions in the app. The printer will temporarily create its own access point for setup.

The printer is connected to Wi-Fi, but it won't print from my phone. What should I do?

Check:

1. The phone and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Local network access is enabled in the phone settings HP Smart.
3. Update the application HP Smart to the latest version.

If the problem persists, restart your printer and phone.

How do I reset my printer's Wi-Fi settings?

Press and hold the button Wi-Fi And Cancel simultaneously for 10 seconds. The Wi-Fi indicator will flash, indicating a reset. After this, you can set up the connection again.

My printer is printing very slowly over Wi-Fi. How can I speed it up?

Possible solutions:

• Switch the router to a channel 2.4 GHz with less traffic (for example, channel 1 or 11).
• Reduce the print quality in the task settings (e.g. Rough instead of High).
• Connect the printer to the router via an Ethernet cable (if your router model supports USB ports for printers).

Can this printer be connected to a Mesh system (eg Google Nest Wi-Fi)?

Yes, but make sure that:

• The printer is connected to the main node of the Mesh system (not to the satellite one).
• In the Mesh settings, "Guest network mode" is disabled for devices.
• The range is used 2.4 GHz (Some Mesh systems operate at 5GHz by default).

If problems persist, temporarily disable additional Mesh nodes and connect the printer directly to the main router.