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How to connect the printer to Wi-Fi and what to do if it loses the connection

Summary: Connecting a printer to Wi-Fi can be done in three ways: from the printer's panel by choosing the network, with the router's WPS button, or from the manufacturer's app. The golden rule: the printer must go on the 2.4 GHz network, the same one you connect your devices to. This guide covers all three methods, connection by brand, and what to do if the printer loses Wi-Fi frequently.

A printer connected to Wi-Fi lets you print from any computer, mobile, or tablet at home without cables. The initial setup takes five minutes; the most common problem is not connecting it, but keeping it connected. We cover both.

Before you start

  • Have your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password handy.
  • Place the printer reasonably close to the router during setup.
  • If your router broadcasts on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with different names, aim for the 2.4 GHz one: it has more range and most printers only work on that band.

Method 1 · From the printer's panel

This is the universal method for printers with a screen:

  1. On the panel, go to Settings → Network → Wireless Setup Wizard (the name varies slightly by brand).
  2. The printer will search for networks. Select yours from the list.
  3. Enter the Wi-Fi password using the on-screen keyboard.
  4. Wait for confirmation. The Wi-Fi icon will remain steady when the connection is stable.

Method 2 · With the router's WPS button

The fastest if your printer doesn't have a convenient screen:

  1. On the printer, press and hold the Wi-Fi button until the indicator blinks.
  2. Within the next two minutes, press the router's WPS button.
  3. They pair automatically, without typing a password. The Wi-Fi indicator will remain steady.

Method 3 · From the manufacturer's app

The recommended way today, especially for the first installation: the app guides you step-by-step and uses the mobile's Wi-Fi to pass the data to the printer.

Brand App Detail
HP HP Smart Detects the new printer and completes the entire Wi-Fi setup from the mobile.
Epson Epson Smart Panel Initial setup wizard included; useful for EcoTank without a large screen.
Canon Canon PRINT / Canon Inkjet Guided configuration and connection to the home network.
Brother Brother Mobile Connect / iPrint&Scan Initial installation and connection, also via Wi-Fi Direct.

The printer loses the Wi-Fi connection frequently

The most reported problem. The causes and solutions, in order:

  • Weak signal. The further from the router and more walls in between, the more the connection drops. Move the printer closer or add a repeater.
  • Wrong band. If the printer connected to the 5 GHz network, it will lose connection at a short distance. Reconnect it to the 2.4 GHz one.
  • Changing IP. The router assigns the printer a different address each time and the computer "loses it". Solution: in the router settings, assign the printer a fixed IP (DHCP reservation).
  • Aggressive sleep mode. Some printers turn off Wi-Fi when entering sleep mode. In their power settings, extend the sleep time or disable that option.
  • Outdated firmware. Connection failures are corrected with updates; update from the manufacturer's app.
Tip · fixed IP fixes almost everything

If the printer "disappears" from the computer every few days but is still on and connected, it is almost always the changing IP. Reserving a fixed IP for it on the router (by its MAC address) eliminates the problem at the root and is a two-minute setting.

What if the printer has no screen?

Use the WPS button (Method 2) or the manufacturer's app (Method 3), which do not need a screen. As an alternative to printing without configuring the network, there is Wi-Fi Direct: the printer creates its own network to which you connect the mobile directly. We explain it in how to print from a mobile.

If the printer is already on the network but still does not print, the problem is something else: check the printer does not print even though it has ink.

Frequently asked questions

How do I connect my printer to Wi-Fi?

In three ways: from the printer's panel (Settings → Network → Wireless Wizard, you choose your network and type the password); with the router's WPS button (you press Wi-Fi on the printer and WPS on the router); or from the manufacturer's app, which guides the entire setup from the mobile.

Why does my printer lose the Wi-Fi connection?

The usual causes are weak signal due to distance to the router, connection to the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz, an IP that changes every time, a sleep mode that turns off Wi-Fi, or outdated firmware. Assigning the printer a fixed IP in the router resolves most cases.

Should the printer go on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network?

On 2.4 GHz. That band has more range and goes through walls better, and most printers only work on it. If your router separates the bands with different names, connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz one.

How do I connect a printer without a screen to Wi-Fi?

Use the WPS button: press and hold the printer's Wi-Fi button and, within two minutes, press the router's WPS; they pair without a password. You can also use the manufacturer's app, which does the entire setup from the mobile.

What is the WPS button?

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a button on the router that allows connecting a device to the network without typing the password. You press WPS on the router and the Wi-Fi button on the printer, and they pair automatically in a few seconds.

The printer is connected to Wi-Fi but does not print

If the printer appears connected but does not print, the problem is not the network: check the print queue, that the computer is on the same network, and the driver. We cover it in the guide "the printer does not print even though it has ink".

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Last update: May 2026. Startoner, Central Warehouse, Calle Océano Atlántico 38, 11379 Los Barrios, Cádiz. CHICTRATEC S.L. (NIF B72834534), part of Grupo Recycop founded in 1998.

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