How to Fix WiFi Not Working on an HP DeskJet Printer: WPS, HP Smart App Setup, Static IP, and Network Reset Fixes

HP DeskJet printers are reliable workhorses, but their WiFi connections have a well-known weak point: every current DeskJet model — including the DeskJet 2700e, 2800e, 4100e, and 4200e series — supports only the 2.4 GHz band. The moment your router changes its channel, switches to a merged dual-band SSID, or you move to a new ISP gateway, the printer loses its network configuration entirely and stops appearing in HP Smart or the Windows print queue. The fixes below work on all modern HP DeskJet ink-advantage models running HP’s current firmware. If you own a different HP model, our general guide on how to fix WiFi not working on an HP printer covers WPS pairing and manual TCP/IP setup across the lineup.

Why HP DeskJet Printers Lose Their WiFi Connection

Understanding the cause makes the fix faster:

• 2.4 GHz only: HP DeskJet printers cannot join a 5 GHz or 6 GHz network. If your router uses band steering (one shared SSID for all bands), the printer may attempt to associate with the 5 GHz radio, fail silently, and show as offline.
• Changed WiFi password or SSID: The printer stores credentials in non-volatile memory. A router replacement, ISP gateway swap, or password update requires re-entering credentials on the printer.
• DHCP lease expiry or IP conflict: Printers that use DHCP can end up with a new IP address after a router reboot, breaking the port on the print server. A reserved IP or static address eliminates this entirely.
• Outdated firmware: HP regularly releases firmware updates that fix WiFi reconnection bugs, especially after router firmware changes. Older DeskJet firmware versions have known issues reconnecting after a sleep cycle.

Step 1: Restart Everything and Check Signal

Before touching printer settings, power-cycle in order: unplug the router for 30 seconds, then the printer, then plug both back in and wait 90 seconds for the router to finish booting. This clears DHCP table entries and resets the printer’s wireless radio. If the printer’s wireless indicator light is off or blinking amber after restart, it is not associated with any network — proceed to the steps below. A weak signal (amber blinking) means the printer is too far from the router; move it within 15–20 feet before attempting reconnection.

Step 2: Confirm the Router Is Broadcasting on 2.4 GHz

Open your router’s admin panel (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and confirm the 2.4 GHz radio is enabled and broadcasting a distinct SSID. If your router uses a single merged name for both bands (band steering), create a separate 2.4 GHz-only SSID temporarily — just for setup — or look in the router settings for a “smart connect” or “band steering” toggle and disable it. Once the printer is connected, you can re-enable band steering; the printer will stay on 2.4 GHz automatically because it cannot see 5 GHz. Our guide on 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz vs 6 GHz explains why some devices are locked to the lower band.

Step 3: Reset the Printer’s Network Settings

A network reset clears stored WiFi credentials and puts the printer back into wireless setup mode.

For DeskJet printers with a touchscreen (4100e, 4200e series)

1. Tap the Wireless icon on the control panel.
2. Tap Settings, then scroll to Restore Network Settings and confirm.
3. The wireless light will blink blue, indicating setup mode is active.

For DeskJet printers without a screen (2700e, 2800e series)

1. Press and hold the Wireless button and the Cancel (X) button simultaneously for 5 seconds.
2. Release when the Power light flashes.
3. The printer will restart and enter wireless setup mode, indicated by a blinking blue wireless light.

Step 4: Reconnect via the HP Smart App

HP Smart (available free for Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS, and Android) is the most reliable reconnection method for current DeskJet models.

1. Open HP Smart and tap or click the + icon to add a new printer.
2. HP Smart will detect the printer in setup mode and prompt you to select your 2.4 GHz network name and enter its password.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts; the app pushes the credentials to the printer over Bluetooth or a temporary direct WiFi connection.
4. Once the printer connects, the wireless indicator turns solid blue.

If HP Smart cannot find the printer, ensure your phone or computer is on the same 2.4 GHz network you intend the printer to join, and that Bluetooth is enabled on your mobile device (HP Smart uses BLE for initial discovery on newer DeskJet e-series printers).

Step 5: Use WPS if HP Smart Fails

WPS Push Button Connect works on any router with a physical WPS button and avoids entering a password entirely.

1. On the printer, press and hold the Wireless button for 3 seconds until the wireless light blinks rapidly.
2. Within 2 minutes, press the WPS button on your router for 3–5 seconds.
3. The printer will negotiate credentials automatically; the wireless light goes solid blue when connected.

WPS must be enabled on your router (most are enabled by default). If WPS is disabled for security reasons — some ISP gateways disable it — use the HP Smart app method instead.

Step 6: Assign a Static IP to Prevent Future Disconnections

If the printer reconnects successfully but drops off the network every few days, a changing DHCP address is the likely cause. Fix it by assigning a reserved IP in your router:

1. Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer (on models with a display: Settings → Network Setup → Print Network Config; on buttonless models, press and hold the Wireless button for 3 seconds).
2. Note the printer’s current IP address and MAC address (labeled “Hardware Address”).
3. In your router’s admin panel, find DHCP Reservations (sometimes called “Address Reservation” or “Static DHCP”) and add an entry mapping the printer’s MAC address to a fixed IP outside the DHCP pool range.

With a reserved address, the printer always receives the same IP after a reboot, so the Windows or macOS print port never loses track of it. If you are troubleshooting broader network reliability issues, running a speed test can confirm whether the problem is the printer or the network itself.

Step 7: Update Printer Firmware

Firmware bugs cause WiFi reconnection failures on several DeskJet e-series models. Update before concluding the hardware is at fault:

1. In HP Smart, tap your printer tile and then tap Advanced Settings to open the Embedded Web Server (EWS).
2. Navigate to Tools → Printer Updates and click Check Now.
3. Install any available update; the printer will reboot automatically.

Alternatively, visit HP’s support site, enter your printer model number, and download the latest firmware package directly if the printer cannot reach HP’s update servers over WiFi.

Step 8: Full Factory Reset as a Last Resort

If none of the above steps restore connectivity, a full factory reset returns the printer to out-of-box settings. On DeskJet printers with a display: go to Settings → Restore Defaults → Restore Factory Defaults and confirm. On buttonless models: with the printer powered on, press and hold both the Wireless and Power buttons for 15 seconds. After the reset completes, walk through the HP Smart setup process from the beginning. A factory reset also clears any custom print settings and stored scan destinations, so note those before proceeding. If you have an HP ENVY instead, the same approach is covered in our guide on how to fix WiFi not connecting on an HP ENVY printer.