Printing from Your Phone to the HP DeskJet 2721 via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide Without a PC

Modern printers such as HP DeskJet 2721, allow you to print documents and photos directly from your phone without using a computer. This feature is especially useful for users who work remotely, study, or simply want to quickly print an important file. However, not everyone knows how to properly set up such a connection to avoid errors and failures.

HP DeskJet 2721 supports wireless printing via Wi-Fi Direct and a standard home network connection. Unlike older models, this printer is optimized for mobile devices but requires some setup. In this article, we'll cover both connection methods, as well as common errors and solutions.

If you've never set up a printer via smartphone, don't worry: the process takes no more than 10 minutes with the right approach. The main thing is to make sure your the phone and printer are on the same network (or use Wi-Fi Direct for direct connection).

⚠️ Attention: Printer interface settings may vary depending on the firmware version. If your HP DeskJet 2721 If the device doesn't behave as described in the instructions, check the software's current status using the official app. HP Smart.

1. Preparing the printer HP DeskJet 2721 to wireless printing

Before connecting your phone, you need to make sure the printer itself is Wi-Fi ready. To do this, follow a few basic steps:

1. Turn on the printer and wait for the initialization process to complete. The blue light (power indicator) on the control panel should be lit.

2. Check for paper and inkEven if you plan to print later, the printer may refuse to connect to the network without consumables.

3. Reset network settings (if the printer has been used before). To do this, hold down the button Wi-Fi on the control panel for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.

⚠️ Attention: If the printer has previously connected to a different network, it may automatically attempt to connect to it. This often causes errors when setting up a new connection.

To check the current network status on the printer:

  1. Click the button Information (the "i" icon in a circle) on the control panel.
  2. Find the item Network report or Wi-Fi Status.
  3. If the printer is connected to the network, you'll see its name (SSID). If not, proceed with setup.

Make sure the printer is turned on and ready to print|

Checking the availability of paper and ink|

Reset network settings (if necessary)|

Printing a network diagnostic report-->

2. Method 1: Connecting via your home Wi-Fi network

This is the most reliable method if you have a stable router. The printer and phone must be connected to the same network.

Step 1: Connect your printer to Wi-Fi:

  1. On the printer control panel, press and hold the button Wi-Fi (antenna icon) for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.
  2. On your phone, open the list of available Wi-Fi networks. You should see a network named HP-Print--DeskJet 2721 (Where — unique symbols).
  3. Connect to this network. Once successfully connected, the printer will automatically enter setup mode.

Step 2: Select your home network:

The settings page will open on your phone screen (if it doesn’t open, enter the address in your browser) 192.168.223.1). Select your primary Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password. The printer will reboot and connect to the router.

Step 3: Install the app HP Smart:

After installation, the app will automatically find the printer on your network. If this doesn't happen, click Add a printer and select HP DeskJet 2721 manually.

3. Method 2: Direct connection via Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have a router or want to print on the go, use Wi-Fi DirectThis method creates a direct connection between the phone and the printer.

How to enable Wi-Fi Direct on HP DeskJet 2721:

  1. On the printer panel, press and hold the button Wi-Fi and the button Cancel (cross) simultaneously for 5 seconds.
  2. The Wi-Fi indicator will start flashing blue, which means the mode is Wi-Fi Direct activated.
  3. On your phone, open the Wi-Fi settings and connect to the network named DIRECT-***-HP DeskJet 2721.

Wi-Fi Direct Features:

  • 🔄 The printer and phone must be no more than 10 meters apart.
  • 📶 Data transfer speed is lower than via a router.
  • 🔒 There is no internet access on the phone while printing.

Once connected, open the app HP Smart or use the standard printing function on your phone (for example, through the menu Share → Print in the gallery).

Via home Wi-Fi|

Wi-Fi Direct|

USB cable|

Another way-->

4. Printing from Android: Step-by-Step Instructions

On phones with Android 5.0 and later Printing is configured through the built-in print service. Here's how:

Step 1. Add the printer to the system:

  1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Print service.
  2. Click Add a service and select HP Print Service Plugin (if not installed, download from Google Play).
  3. After installing the plugin, your HP DeskJet 2721 should appear in the list of available printers.

Step 2. Printing a document or photo:

  • 📄 Open the file (PDF, Word, Excel) in the appropriate application.
  • 🖨️ Click Share → Print (or the printer icon in the menu).
  • 📱 Select HP DeskJet 2721 from the list and configure the parameters (number of copies, orientation, color).

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (eg. Xiaomi or Huawei) The built-in printing service may conflict with proprietary shells. In this case, use the app HP Smart.

Problem Cause Solution
The printer was not found in the list. The phone and printer are on different networks Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network
Error: "Failed to connect" Outdated printer firmware Update software via HP Smart
Printing takes too long Weak Wi-Fi Direct signal Bring your phone closer to the printer
Distorted characters in the document Incompatible file format Save the file as PDF before printing

5. Printing from iPhone (iOS): nuances and solutions

On iPhone And iPad printing is configured through technology AirPrint, which is supported HP DeskJet 2721However, there are several key points:

Step 1. Check compatibility:

  • Make sure you have it installed on your iPhone. iOS 11 or later.
  • The printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone (or via Wi-Fi Direct).

Step 2. Printing via AirPrint:

  1. Open the document or photo you want to print.
  2. Click the button Share (square with an arrow pointing up).
  3. Scroll down the menu and select Seal.
  4. The printer list will appear HP DeskJet 2721If it's not there, update the printer firmware.

Common errors on iOS:

  • 🚫 No printers available - Check your Wi-Fi connection or restart your printer.
  • ⚠️ Connection error - Disable VPN on iPhone (it may block local devices).
  • 🔄 The print is frozen — restart the AirPrint service (turn Wi-Fi on/off on your iPhone).
What to do if AirPrint isn't working?

If HP DeskJet 2721 If your printer is not showing up in the printer list on your iPhone, try the following steps:

1. Remove the printer from your iPhone's memory: go to Settings → Printers and delete it.

2. Restart the printer (turn it off for 30 seconds).

3. Connect your iPhone to a different Wi-Fi network, then return to the original one.

4. Update your printer firmware via HP Smart (even if it seems relevant).

If the problem persists, try printing through the app. HP Smart instead of AirPrint.

6. Solving common problems when printing from a phone

Even with proper setup, glitches can still occur. Here are the most common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

1. The printer is connected to Wi-Fi, but does not print:

  • 🔌 Check if the red error light on your printer is on (this could indicate a lack of paper or ink).
  • 📡 Restart your router—sometimes it blocks traffic between devices.
  • 📱 Turn off the mode in your phone settings Saving traffic or Limiting background activity for the application HP Smart.

2. The document is sent to print, but the printer does not accept it:

  • 🖨️ Make sure there are no other jobs in the print queue (check via HP Smart).
  • 📄 Try printing a test sheet from the printer menu (Settings → Print Test Page).
  • 🔄 Reinstall the app HP Smart — sometimes the cache interferes with correct operation.

3. Poor print quality from phone:

  • 📸 For photos, select the mode Best Quality in the print settings.
  • 🖼️ If the printing is streaky, check the ink levels or clean the print head HP Smart.
  • 📄 For text documents, use the format PDF instead of Word or Excel - this reduces formatting errors.

7. Alternative ways to print without a computer

If your Wi-Fi connection isn't working, there are several other options for printing documents from your phone:

1. Printing via USB-OTG (for Android):

  • 🔌 Buy USB-OTG cable (Type-C or Micro-USB depending on the phone's connector).
  • 🖨️ Connect the printer to your phone with a cable and select the mode USB printing V HP Smart.
  • ⚠️ Not all phones support this method - check compatibility on the manufacturer's website.

2. Cloud printing via Google Drive or Email:

  • 📧 Send the document to the printer's dedicated email address (configured via HP Smart → Web services).
  • 🌐 Upload the file to Google Drive, open it through the browser on your phone and select Seal.
  • 🔒 For this method, the printer must be connected to the Internet (via your Wi-Fi).

3. Using third-party applications:

  • 📱 PrinterShare - supports printing on most printers, including HP DeskJet 2721.
  • 🍎 PrintCentral — a convenient solution for iPhone with advanced settings.

⚠️ Attention: When using third-party apps, there's a risk of data being shared with third parties. Before installing, check the app's reviews and permissions.

8. Updating the printer firmware for stable operation

HP regularly releases firmware updates for the DeskJet 2721 that fix connectivity issues with mobile devices. If your printer is not working reliably, the first thing you should do is update its software.

How to update firmware:

  1. Connect your printer to Wi-Fi (as described in Section 2).
  2. Open the app HP Smart and go to the section Printer settings.
  3. Select Firmware update and follow the instructions on the screen.

What does the update provide:

  • 🛠 Fix connection errors on Android/iOS.
  • 🔒 Security improvements (vulnerability closures).
  • ⚡ Optimize Wi-Fi printing speed.

If the automatic update does not work, download the firmware manually from official HP website, transfer it to a flash drive and update the printer via the USB port.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about printing from your phone to the HP DeskJet 2721

Is it possible to print from a phone to HP DeskJet 2721 without Wi-Fi?

Yes, there are two options:

  1. Wi-Fi Direct — direct connection of the phone to the printer without a router.
  2. USB-OTG — connection via cable (your phone must support OTG).

Both methods are described in Section 3 And Section 7.

Why does my printer connect to Wi-Fi but won't print from my phone?

There may be several reasons:

  • The phone and printer are connected to different networks (for example, the phone to 5 GHz and the printer to 2.4 GHz).
  • There is an old job stuck in the print queue (check through HP Smart).
  • The printer firmware is outdated (update it).
  • Traffic is blocked by the router (try disabling the firewall).

Detailed solutions are in Section 6.

How to print from iPhone if AirPrint isn't working?

If HP DeskJet 2721 not showing up in the printer list on iPhone:

  1. Make sure your printer and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Disable VPN on iPhone (it may block local devices).
  3. Restart the printer (turn it off for 30 seconds).
  4. Use the app HP Smart instead of built-in printing.

If the issue persists, please check your iOS version's compatibility with AirPrint. Apple website.

Is it possible to print from a phone to HP DeskJet 2721 via mobile Internet (4G/5G)?

No, to print via Wi-Fi, the printer and phone must be connected to the same local network. However, there are workarounds:

  • Create access point on your phone and connect the printer to it.
  • Use cloud printing (send the document to the printer's email or via Google Drive).

Learn more about cloud printing in Section 7.

How do I reset my printer's Wi-Fi settings if it won't connect?

To reset your printer to factory network settings:

  1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi and the button Cancel (cross) simultaneously for 10 seconds.
  2. The Wi-Fi indicator will start flashing, which means the settings have been reset.
  3. Now you can set up the connection again (see Section 2).

If the buttons do not respond, try turning off the printer, then turning it on while holding the button Wi-Fi.

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