Connecting a printer to wifi from a mobile
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How to Connect Your Printer to Wi-Fi (and Fix Dropouts)

Actualizado 18 julio 2026

Summary: Connecting a printer to Wi-Fi is 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 keeps losing Wi-Fi.

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

Key points

  • There are three ways to connect the printer: panel, the router's WPS button or the manufacturer's app.
  • Most printers only work on the 2.4 GHz band, not on 5 GHz (HP Support Community).
  • WPS pairs without a password within a two-minute window (Wi-Fi Alliance).
  • If the printer "disappears" every few days, it's almost always the changing IP: reserving it a fixed IP fixes it.
  • With no screen or router in between, you have Wi-Fi Direct.

Before you start

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

The SSID is the visible name of your Wi-Fi network, the one that appears in the list when you search for networks from your phone. The band is the frequency the router broadcasts on: 2.4 GHz reaches further and passes through walls better; 5 GHz is faster but shorter-range.

How do I connect the printer to Wi-Fi from the panel?

Go to Settings → Network → Wireless setup wizard, select your network and type the password. It's the universal method for printers with a screen and doesn't depend on any app or the router. Within a few seconds the Wi-Fi icon goes steady, a sign the connection is stable.

  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 with the on-screen keyboard.
  4. Wait for confirmation. The Wi-Fi icon will go steady when the connection is stable.

If your network doesn't appear in the list, it's almost always because you're trying to connect to a 5 GHz band the printer can't see. Read on to the bands section.

How does the router's WPS button work?

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a Wi-Fi Alliance standard designed so you can connect 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 by themselves within a two-minute window (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2026). It's the quickest route if your printer doesn't have a convenient screen.

  1. On the printer, hold down the Wi-Fi button until the indicator flashes.
  2. Within the next two minutes, press the WPS button on the router.
  3. They pair by themselves, without typing a password. The Wi-Fi indicator will go steady.

Push-button WPS was designed so that users without security knowledge can set up encrypted Wi-Fi with a single button. During the two minutes of pairing, any device in range could join the network, so it isn't a mode to leave permanently active (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2026).

Two practical warnings: not all routers have a physical WPS button (some operators disable it for security) and, if yours doesn't have one, use the panel or the app. Nothing is lost.

Is the manufacturer's app worth using?

Yes, especially for the first install. The app detects the new printer, uses the phone's Wi-Fi to pass it the network details and guides every step, even on models without a large screen. It's the route the manufacturers themselves recommend today: HP, for example, tells you to open its app, place printer and phone near the router and follow the guided steps (HP Support, 2026).

Brand App Detail
HP HP Smart / HP app Detects the new printer and completes all the Wi-Fi setup from the phone (HP Support).
Epson Epson Smart Panel Initial setup wizard included; useful on EcoTank models without a large screen.
Canon Canon PRINT / Canon Inkjet Guided setup and connection to the home network.
Brother Brother Mobile Connect / iPrint&Scan Initial install and connection, also via Wi-Fi Direct (Brother).

A note on HP: the old HP Smart app has been renamed HP app, with the same functions plus additions. If your phone still shows it as HP Smart, it works just the same. A relevant detail: when you activate Wi-Fi setup mode, the printer accepts a new connection for up to two hours before leaving the mode (HP Support, 2026), so there's no rush to finish in seconds.

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

On 2.4 GHz. That band has more range, passes through walls better and most consumer printers only work on it: 5 GHz is more recent and many models, even new ones, can't see it (HP Support Community, 2026). If your router separates the bands with different names, connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz one.

Here's silent failure number one: many modern routers broadcast both bands under the same network name (band steering). You connect with your phone and, without knowing it, join via 5 GHz; the printer, which only sees 2.4 GHz, can't find "your" network or drops as soon as you move a metre away. The official solution the support forums suggest is to give the 2.4 GHz band a different name (for example, MiRed-2.4GHz) so you can pick it manually (HP Support Community, 2026).

At Star Toner we connect our own test printers daily to verify compatible consumables before selling them, and 90% of the time a printer "can't find the network", this is it: the router mixes the two bands and the printer only speaks 2.4 GHz. Separating the network names solves it in a minute.

Why does the printer lose the Wi-Fi connection every so often?

It's the most reported problem, and it's rarely the printer's own fault. The usual causes are a weak signal, the wrong band, an IP that changes on its own, an aggressive sleep mode or old firmware. In fact, HP documents that a simple change of router or network settings is enough for the printer to lose the connection and need reconfiguring (HP Support, 2026). Let's take it in order.

  • Weak signal. The further from the router and the 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 (or band steering moved it there), it will lose the 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 switch off Wi-Fi when they go to sleep. In their power settings, extend the sleep time or disable that option.
  • Out-of-date firmware. Connection faults are fixed with updates; update from the manufacturer's app.

The fixed-IP trick fixes almost everything

A DHCP reservation is a rule in your router that always ties the same IP address to the printer using its MAC address. It's better than a "manual" fixed IP because addressing stays centralised in the router, and in practice it avoids nearly all drops after a restart or a network renewal.

If the printer "disappears" from the computer every few days but stays on and connected, it's almost always the changing IP. Reserving it a fixed IP in the router (by its MAC address) eliminates the problem at the root. It's a two-minute setting that usually avoids most "printer offline" errors after a restart.

And what if the printer has no screen?

Use the WPS button or the manufacturer's app, which don't need a screen. As an alternative for printing without setting up the home network, you have Wi-Fi Direct: the printer creates its own network to which you connect the phone directly, with no router in between. Both Epson and Brother document it as an official way to print from the phone without an access point (Epson, 2026; Brother, 2026).

Wi-Fi Direct is a point-to-point connection between printer and phone: the printer shows a network name (SSID) and a password, you enter them in the phone's Wi-Fi settings and you can print. We explain it in more detail in how to print from your phone.

If the printer is already on the network but still doesn't print, the problem is something else: check the printer won't print even though it has ink. And once connected, you'll probably also want to scan documents with the printer over the same network.

Frequently asked questions

How do I connect my printer to Wi-Fi?

In three ways: from the printer's panel (Settings → Network → Wireless wizard, choose your network and type the password); with the router's WPS button; or from the manufacturer's app, which HP and other brands recommend today because it completes all the setup from the phone (HP Support, 2026).

Why does my printer lose the Wi-Fi connection?

The usual causes are a weak signal from distance to the router, connecting to the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz, an IP that changes each time, a sleep mode that switches off Wi-Fi or old firmware. A simple change of router is enough to lose it (HP Support, 2026). Assigning a fixed IP 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 passes through walls better, and most consumer printers only work on it; many models don't even see the 5 GHz one (HP Support Community, 2026). If your router separates the bands, connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz one.

What is the WPS button and is it safe?

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a router button that pairs a device without typing the password, within a two-minute window (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2026). It's convenient for setup, but during those two minutes another device in range could join, so it's best not to leave it permanently active.

How do I connect a printer with no screen to Wi-Fi?

Use the WPS button: hold down the printer's Wi-Fi button and, within two minutes, press WPS on the router; they pair without a password. You can also use the manufacturer's app, which does all the setup from the phone, or Wi-Fi Direct to print without connecting to the home network (Brother, 2026).

Keep reading at Star Toner

Sources

  • Wi-Fi Alliance — How does Wi-Fi Protected Setup work? — https://www.wi-fi.org/knowledge-center/faq/how-does-wi-fi-protected-setup-work
  • HP Support — HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network) — https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_1780623-1698506-16
  • HP Support — HP printers — Wi-Fi connection is lost after router or network settings change — https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_1736500-1626554-16
  • HP Support Community — Do I Need to Change to 2.4 GHz — https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Wireless-Networking-Internet/Do-I-Need-to-Change-to-2-4-GHz/td-p/8492050
  • Epson — How do I connect my product with a Wi-Fi Direct connection? — https://epson.com/faq/SPT_C11CJ63202~faq-00005ef-et2850
  • Brother — Using Wi-Fi Direct to connect to a mobile device — https://help.brother-usa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/157057/

Last updated: July 2026. Star Toner, Central Warehouse, Calle Océano Atlántico 38, 11379 Los Barrios, Cádiz. CHICTRATEC S.L. (NIF B72834534), part of the Recycop Group founded in 1998.

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