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To connect a printer to Wi-Fi, use its Wireless Setup Wizard or manufacturer app to select your network and enter its password. WPS is a separate option that works only when both the printer and router support it. A phone hotspot may work, but compatibility depends on the printer’s supported Wi-Fi bands and hotspot settings. If there is no suitable router network, Wi-Fi Direct may let your device connect to the printer directly.
Choose a setup method your printer supports
Wireless Setup Wizard, a manufacturer app, WPS, and Wi-Fi Direct are different connection methods. Start by checking the printer’s model-specific manual or support page for its supported bands and methods; a printer may not offer every option.
- Wireless Setup Wizard: The printer joins a shared Wi-Fi network after you select its name and enter the password.
- Manufacturer app: The app guides setup for supported printer models.
- WPS: The printer and router pair using a button or other model-specific sequence.
- Wi-Fi Direct or Wireless Direct: A phone or computer connects to the printer’s own wireless network rather than through a router.
Connect through the printer’s wireless setup wizard
On printers with a control panel, the wireless settings are commonly under Setup, Network, or Wireless. Exact names and button sequences vary by model. HP documents this general workflow for supported printers in its Wi-Fi setup instructions.
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- On the printer, open Setup, Network, or Wireless settings.
- Choose Wireless Setup Wizard or the equivalent option shown on the printer.
- Select your Wi-Fi network from the list.
- Enter the network password and confirm. Check capitalization and characters if the printer reports an authentication failure.
- Wait for the printer to confirm it has joined the network. Then add or select the printer from the phone or computer you want to print from, following the device or printer maker’s instructions.
If your model uses a manufacturer app instead of a control-panel wizard, follow the app’s setup prompts. The available controls and app workflow depend on the model.
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Connect a printer to a phone hotspot
A phone hotspot creates a temporary Wi-Fi network using the phone or tablet’s cellular connection. On an iPhone or iPad, Apple says to turn on Personal Hotspot and enable Allow Others to Join. See Apple’s Personal Hotspot instructions. Apple describes it this way: “Personal Hotspot uses the mobile data connection of an iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) to create a temporary, portable Wi-Fi network that other devices can use to connect to the internet.”
Whether a printer can join that network is model-dependent; a hotspot is not guaranteed to work with every printer. Before trying, check that the hotspot’s band and security settings are compatible with the printer, and whether the setup app can see the hotspot’s network name.
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Some models have documented 2.4 GHz requirements, but these examples should not be generalized to all printers. HP says the DeskJet 2800, 4200, and 4900 series connect only to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. HP also documents a 2.4 GHz discovery issue in HP Smart for iOS during setup of LaserJet M109–M112 and M139–M142 models. See HP’s pages for DeskJet troubleshooting and LaserJet troubleshooting. Check your exact printer and phone documentation before changing hotspot settings.
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Use WPS only if both your printer and router support it. Some router brands do not offer WPS, and printer button sequences vary by model. Follow the printer’s manual rather than assuming that a particular button combination applies universally.
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- Start WPS mode on the printer using the method specified for your model.
- Press the router’s WPS button within the printer’s pairing window. HP’s general instructions specify a two-minute window for supported models.
- Complete any confirmation step shown on the printer. Canon’s MG5320 instructions, for example, require a confirmation step within two minutes.
- Wait for the printer to report whether the connection succeeded.
See HP’s WPS instructions and the Canon MG5320 WPS instructions for those manufacturers’ model-specific procedures.
Connect without a router using Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct, called Wireless Direct on some models, lets a phone or computer connect directly to the printer’s wireless network. It can be useful when no usable router network is available or when a guest network prevents devices from discovering a printer on the local network. HP identifies these as Wi-Fi Direct use cases in its Wi-Fi setup guidance.
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- Check that your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct or Wireless Direct.
- Enable direct wireless mode on the printer using the controls in its manual.
- On the phone or computer, open Wi-Fi settings and select the printer’s network.
- Enter the password displayed or configured for the printer, as directed by its manual.
- Print using the printer or device maker’s instructions for direct connections.
For one model-specific example, Canon explains how to connect to Wireless Direct on its TR160 series manual page.
Fix common connection problems
The printer cannot find the Wi-Fi network
- Confirm that the printer supports wireless networking and the band used by the network. Some specific models, including the HP DeskJet families cited above, require 2.4 GHz; that is not a universal printer limitation.
- Check that the router or hotspot is broadcasting the intended network name and that the printer is close enough to receive it.
- For a hotspot, verify its current settings and consult the printer’s documentation for compatible bands and security options.
The password is rejected
Re-enter the Wi-Fi password carefully, including capitalization and special characters. Make sure you selected the correct network if several names are similar.
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WPS pairing does not complete
- Verify that WPS is supported by both devices.
- Follow the exact printer-model sequence and press the router button within the pairing period specified by that model.
- If WPS is unavailable or repeatedly fails, use the Wireless Setup Wizard or the manufacturer’s app if your printer supports it.
The setup app cannot find the printer
Check whether the printer is still in wireless setup mode. HP documents ways to restore Wi-Fi setup mode when it has expired or setup cannot find the printer, but the controls vary by touchscreen and model; use the instructions for your exact printer rather than a generic button sequence.
Devices on a guest network cannot print
Guest-network isolation can prevent a phone or computer from discovering a printer connected elsewhere on the network. If your network administrator permits it, connect both devices to a shared network that allows local discovery. Otherwise, check whether your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct and use its model-specific direct-connection instructions.
Quick Recap
Check these details before choosing a method
- The printer’s exact model and supported Wi-Fi bands.
- Whether its manual lists a Wireless Setup Wizard, app-based setup, WPS, or Wi-Fi Direct.
- Whether the router supports WPS if you intend to use WPS.
- Whether the phone hotspot’s band and security settings are compatible if you intend to use a hotspot.
- Whether a guest network blocks local printer discovery if the printer and client are on different networks.
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