Many popular and affordable HP printer models, from the compact Deskjet 2700 series to basic LaserJet printers, lack touch screen displays to keep costs down. How to connect HP printer to Wi-Fi without screen? In this blog post, we will guide you through three methods to help you connect your printer to your network.
Table of Contents
- I. What You Need Before Starting
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II. How to Connect HP Printer to Wi-Fi Without Screen?
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III. Frequently Asked Questions about Connecting HP Printers to Wi-Fi
I. What You Need Before Starting
Before pressing any buttons, please ensure you have the following ready.
- Your Network Credentials: Have your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password on hand. Most HP printers without a screen can only connect to the 2.4 GHz band. Make sure you know which band your router is broadcasting on and that your phone/computer is connected to that band. Dual-band networks usually only display one name; you may need to temporarily disable the 5 GHz band in your router settings for a smoother setup process.
- A Smartphone or Computer: A smartphone with the HP Smart App is the most versatile tool. A computer with a USB port is required for Method 3.
- Physical Access: During initial setup, place the printer within 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) of your Wi-Fi router to ensure a stable and uninterrupted signal.
II. How to Connect HP Printer to Wi-Fi Without Screen?
Below are the three most effective approaches, ranked from fastest to most comprehensive.
Method 1: The Hardware Button Approach
This method utilizes the physical buttons on the printer's control panel. If your network device supports this feature, it's usually the quickest way to establish a connection.
Using the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Button
1. Ensure your printer is powered on. The power indicator light should be solid, and the wireless indicator light (ⓘ) may be solid or slowly blinking, indicating the printer is ready for setup.
2. Next, locate the WPS button on your Wi-Fi router (usually marked with a symbol similar to 🔘). Press this button once. The indicator light on the router will typically start flashing, indicating it has entered pairing mode for approximately 2 minutes.
3. Within these 2 minutes, press and hold the Wi-Fi button on your printer (usually marked with a wireless icon) for 3-5 seconds. Your HP printer's wireless indicator light will begin flashing rapidly, indicating it is searching for a network.
4. Wait 1-2 minutes. When the printer's wireless indicator light becomes solid and stops flashing, the connection is successful. The power indicator light will also remain solid.
Manually Connecting Without a WPS Button
If your router doesn't have a WPS button, you can manually trigger the HP printer's setup mode.
1. On the printer, press and hold the Wi-Fi button for approximately 5-10 seconds until the wireless indicator light starts flashing rapidly. This indicates that the printer is broadcasting its own setup network. On some models (such as the HP Deskjet 2700), you may need to press the "Wireless" and "Cancel" buttons simultaneously.
2. Then, on your computer or smartphone, go to your Wi-Fi settings. You will see a new network named "HP-Setup-XX [Model Number]". Connect to this network. Your device may indicate that there is no internet connection.
3. The setup page should then open automatically. If it doesn't open automatically, open any web browser and enter http://hpsetup.com or 192.168.223.1 in the address bar.
4. The page will display a list of available Wi-Fi networks. Select your network, enter the password, and follow the prompts. The printer's indicator light will flash during the transmission process and will remain solid when successful.
Method 2: Using the HP Smart App
The HP Smart app is a tool for managing modern HP printers and supports over 5000 printer models. Therefore, you can connect your HP printer to Wi-Fi using your mobile phone.
1. Download and install the HP Smart app from your phone's app store. Ensure your phone is connected to the 2.4 GHz band of your home Wi-Fi (most printers do not support the 5 GHz band during initial setup).
2. Then, open the app, create/log in to a free HP account, and tap the "+" icon. The app will search for your printer. Make sure your printer is ready (power indicator light is solid). If the printer has never been set up before, the wireless indicator light may be off or blinking slowly.
3. Once the app finds your printer, select it. The app will guide you to select your local network and enter your Wi-Fi password directly into the app. The app will then send these credentials to the printer.
4. During the transfer, the printer's wireless indicator light will flash rapidly. Once the connection is successful, the light will be solid. The app will confirm that the setup is complete, and your HP printer will now appear as "Online" in the app's control panel.
Method 3: The USB-Assisted Wireless Setup
This method uses a temporary USB connection to transfer network settings from your computer to the printer, which is an excellent backup option if wireless connection fails.
1. First, connect the powered-on printer to your computer using a USB cable. Your computer may automatically install some basic drivers.
2. Then, go to support.hp.com, enter your printer model, and download the full software suite or the "HP Easy Start" application, rather than just the basic drivers.
3. Open and install the downloaded file. During the installation process, when prompted to select a connection type, choose "Wireless," "Network," or "Via the Network."
4. The software will detect the USB connection. It will then guide you to select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. At a crucial step, it will prompt you to disconnect the USB cable. The software will then complete the setup wirelessly.
5. After disconnecting the USB cable, observe the printer's indicator lights. The wireless indicator light will illuminate and blink, indicating that it is receiving data, and will eventually become solid, indicating a successful connection to your network. Your computer will now complete the driver installation for the wireless printer.
III. Frequently Asked Questions about Connecting HP Printers to Wi-Fi
1. How do I manually connect my HP printer to a new Wi-Fi network if I already used one before?
You need to clear the old network settings first. On most printer models, with the HP printer powered on, press and hold the "wireless" button and the "cancel" button simultaneously for about 10 seconds. Release the buttons when the indicator light flashes. This will reset the network settings.
After the reset, the wireless indicator light will flash, indicating that the printer has entered setup mode. You can now connect it to the new network using any of the methods described above.
2. How do I reset my HP printer to factory settings without a screen?
First, turn off your HP printer. Then, press and hold both the "wireless" button and the "power" button. While holding these two buttons, turn on the printer. Continue holding for approximately 20 seconds until the control panel indicator lights flash in a specific pattern or all light up, then release the buttons.
This procedure may vary depending on the model. It's best to visit the HP support website, enter your model number, and search for "restore factory defaults."
Additionally, restoring factory settings will erase all settings (network settings, preferences, page count, etc.). Please use this function only as a last resort. See the blog "How to Reset HP Printer" for details.
3. The HP Smart App can't find my printer. What do I do?
Please check the following:
- Printer State: Ensure your HP printer is in setup mode. This usually happens automatically for new printers. For older printers, perform a network reset (see question 1) to force it into setup mode; the wireless indicator light will then flash rapidly.
- Phone Connection: Your phone must be connected to the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network that you want the printer to join. Temporarily disable mobile data.
- Distance & Interference: Move the printer and your phone closer to the router. Ensure there are no large metal objects between them.
- Restart: Turn off your HP printer model and router, then restart them and try using the app again.
4. After connecting, my computer won't print wirelessly. How do I add the printer?
Connecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network and adding it to your computer are two separate steps. Now that the printer is connected to the network:
- On Windows: Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Click "Add device." It should automatically detect the network printer.
- On Mac: Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Click the "+" button. Your HP printer should appear in the list for you to add.
If the printer does not appear, ensure your computer and printer are connected to the same network and try printing the printer's "Network Configuration Report" (usually by holding down the Wi-Fi button for 5 seconds or more) to verify its IP address.
IV. The Bottom Line
Your screenless HP printer is designed for a wireless environment. With the right steps, you can easily and conveniently print from anywhere in your home.
After a successful connection, please print a Wireless Network Test Report, usually by pressing and holding the Wi-Fi button for 5-10 seconds until a page is printed. This will confirm that your printer is connected to the correct network. Refer to the blog "How to Print a Brother Printer Test Page" for more information.
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