Printers · Repair guide

How to fix a printer that won't connect to Wi-Fi

10 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Restart the printer and router, move the printer closer to the router, then run the wireless setup on the printer and pick your network and password again. If your router has a separate 2.4 GHz network, connect the printer to that one.

What it means

A printer that won't join Wi-Fi either can't see your network, has the wrong password saved, or is blocked by a router setting. It often happens after a new router, a Wi-Fi password change, or when the printer sits too far from the router.

Common causes

  • Wrong Wi-Fi name or password, often after a router or password change
  • The printer is too far from the router or blocked by walls and other devices
  • The router only offers 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which some printers can't use
  • The printer and phone or computer are on different networks, or a guest network
  • A router setting such as a hidden network name or MAC address filtering
  • Old saved network settings or outdated printer software

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Restart the printer, router and your deviceEasy

  1. Turn the printer off.
  2. Unplug the router, wait about 15 seconds and plug it back in. Wait until the internet works again.
  3. Turn the printer back on.
  4. Restart the computer, phone or tablet you set up the printer from.
  5. Try connecting again.

Why it helps: Restarting clears glitches in the router and printer that stop a new Wi-Fi connection.

02Check the network name and passwordEasy

  1. Find your Wi-Fi network name and password, often printed on a sticker on the router.
  2. Make sure your phone or computer is on that same network, not a guest network or one that needs a sign-in page.
  3. When you enter the password on the printer, check capital letters, numbers and symbols carefully.
  4. If you recently changed the Wi-Fi password or router, the printer still has the old details and needs to be set up again.

Why it helps: A typo or an old saved password is the most common reason a printer can't join Wi-Fi.

03Move the printer closer to the routerEasy

  1. Move the printer into the same room as the router while you set it up, if you can.
  2. Keep it away from microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices and other wireless gadgets.
  3. Avoid placing it behind thick walls, metal furniture or inside a cabinet.
  4. Try connecting again, then move it back once it works and test that it stays connected.

Why it helps: Printers have small Wi-Fi antennas, so distance and interference often stop them connecting.

04If your router uses 5 GHz, connect the printer to 2.4 GHzMedium

  1. Check your printer's manual or the maker's website for which Wi-Fi bands it supports. Some printers only work with 2.4 GHz.
  2. If your router shows two network names, such as one ending in 2.4G and one in 5G, choose the 2.4 GHz one on the printer.
  3. If your router only runs 5 GHz, printer makers such as Epson advise switching the router to dual-band mode (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Your router's manual or internet provider can show you how.

Why it helps: A printer that only supports 2.4 GHz can't see or join a 5 GHz-only network.

05Run the wireless setup on the printerEasy

  1. Printers with a screen: on the control panel, open the Wi-Fi or Wireless settings and start the wireless setup wizard. Choose your network and enter the password.
  2. Printers without a screen: if your router has a WPS button, press and hold the printer's Wireless button until its light blinks.
  3. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on the router. The printer's light stops blinking once it connects.
  4. Button names and timings vary by model, so check your printer's manual if these steps don't match.

Why it helps: Rejoining the network from the printer itself replaces old or wrong Wi-Fi details.

06Set it up with the printer maker's appEasy

  1. Install the maker's app on your phone or computer, for example the HP app (which replaces HP Smart), Epson Smart Panel or Brother Mobile Connect. Other brands have their own setup apps on their support websites.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone during setup if the app asks; HP's app uses it to find the printer.
  3. Add the printer in the app and follow the steps to send it your Wi-Fi details.
  4. Keep the phone near the printer and on your home Wi-Fi during setup.

Why it helps: The maker's app walks you through setup and can send the Wi-Fi details to the printer for you.

07Print a wireless test reportEasy

  1. Use the printer's menu or manual to print its wireless test report or network configuration report (Brother calls it the WLAN Report).
  2. Check whether the report says the printer is connected, and which network name it shows.
  3. If the report shows an error code or message, look it up on the printer maker's support website for your model.
  4. Note the signal strength; if it is weak, move the printer closer to the router.

Why it helps: The report shows exactly why the printer can't connect, such as a wrong password or weak signal.

08Check router settings that can block printersMedium

  1. If your network name is hidden (not broadcast), choose the manual option on the printer and type the network name and password exactly.
  2. If your router uses MAC address filtering, add the printer's MAC address to the allowed list. You can usually find the address in the printer's network settings or on its network report.
  3. If you are not sure how to change router settings, ask your internet provider or whoever set up the router.

Why it helps: Hidden networks and device filters stop a printer joining even when the password is right.

09If you changed your router, reinstall the printer softwareMedium

  1. Connect the printer to the new Wi-Fi network using the printer's control panel or the maker's app.
  2. On Windows: open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the old printer entry, choose Remove, then Yes.
  3. Download the latest software for your model from the printer maker's support website and install it, choosing a wireless connection.
  4. On a Mac: open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, Control-click the old printer, choose Remove Printer and confirm, then add it again with Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.

Why it helps: The computer may still look for the printer on the old network, so it needs adding again.

10Reset the printer's network settingsAdvancedResets settings

  1. Warning: this erases the printer's saved Wi-Fi name, password and other network settings. You will need to set it up on Wi-Fi again afterwards.
  2. On the printer's control panel, open the Wi-Fi, Wireless or Network settings and look for the option to restore or reset network settings. If you can't find it, check your model's manual.
  3. Wait for the printer to restart.
  4. Set it up on Wi-Fi again with the wireless setup on the printer or the maker's app, then add it to your computer again.

Why it helps: A network reset clears saved settings that are stopping the printer from joining the network.

Check it's fixed

  • The printer's wireless light is solid, or its screen shows it is connected.
  • The wireless test report says the printer is connected to your network.
  • Your computer or phone finds the printer and a test page prints.

When to get help

If the printer still can't connect after a network reset, contact the printer maker's support with your model number and the wireless report. If other devices also struggle to connect, contact your internet provider about the router.

Questions

Why won't my printer connect to my new router?

The printer still has the old network name and password saved. Run the wireless setup on the printer, choose the new network, then add the printer again on your computer.

Can my printer connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

Some newer printers can, but others only support 2.4 GHz. Check your printer's manual; if it is 2.4 GHz only, connect it to your router's 2.4 GHz network or turn on the router's dual-band mode.

Do I need a USB cable to set up a Wi-Fi printer?

Usually not. Most printers can join Wi-Fi from their control panel, a WPS button or the maker's app.

What is the DIRECT network my printer shows?

It is the printer's own Wi-Fi Direct link for printing without a router. It is not your home network, so don't use it for normal setup.

Related fixes

How to fix a printer that says offlineTurn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds, then turn it back on and restart your computer and router. Make sure the printer and computeHow to fix a printer that won't printCheck the printer for paper, ink, jams and error messages, then restart it and your computer. Make sure you picked the right printer, cancelWhy does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting?Restart your modem and router and move closer to the router to test. If only one device keeps dropping, forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network How to fix a weak Wi-Fi signalMove the router to a central, open, raised spot away from walls, cabinets and appliances, then restart it. If some rooms are still weak, addHow to access your router settingsConnect to your home network, check the label on your router for the admin address and login, type that address into your browser's add

Still stuck?

Paste the exact message to find the closest fix, or search it on Google, Microsoft, Apple, Reddit and YouTube.

Sources