HP Printer Setup Guide for Wireless Connection

It could be a task to perform HP wireless printer setup if you are not guided properly. You are in luck as we will be sharing a number of ways that you can use to set up the HP printer easily.

Before moving on to the ways of HP printer wireless setup, there are few things that you must keep in mind when it comes to unboxing:

  • Follow the instructions provided for setup to remove the packaging
  • Connect the cables, switch on the printer and install the print cartridges
  • Give the printer some time so that it can do its startup routine and you can print an alignment page too
  • Visit 123.hp.com/setup to download the apt printer drivers
  • After that, you can select a method to connect your printer as per your preference
  • You can choose either of the ways that we will be sharing with you
HP WIRELESS PRINTER

Possible Methods for HP Wireless Printer Setup

You can pick from a couple of options when it comes to HP wireless printer setup. They are:

Method 1: HP auto wireless connect

This option will allow you to associate your printer to the current WIFI connection that too without using any cables.

One thing that you must keep in mind is that during the setup process you will be disconnected from the Wi-Fi network for a short span of time. As you won’t be having an access to the internet, you should save any online work beforehand.

You can follow the below mentioned steps for Auto wireless connect:

  • Ensure that the device that you are installing the printer software on should be connected to the Wi-Fi
  • You should have the network name- SSID and network security password for WPA or WPA2 security. You will be able to find this information on the label of the router
  • If you are using a mobile to set up the printer then don’t forget to switch on the Bluetooth
  • Visit HP’s website to download the printer software
  • Select to connect to a new printer by tapping on ‘+’

Once the software has been installed, you can follow the instructions shown on the screen. If you haven’t installed the cartridge then the printer software will share some videos for the same that you can refer to.

Tips to keep in mind for HP auto wireless connect

The setup mode will be terminated after 2 hours. If you have left your printer switched on for more than 2 hours without connecting it to the wireless network then you will be required to put it back in the setup mode.

If your printer has a display panel then you will be required to visit the front panel and look for the ‘Restore network settings options’.

If your printer doesn’t have a display then you can use a combination of buttons to get back to the setup mode. You can press the WIFI and the cancel button together for about 5 seconds to get the printer back in the setup mode.

Method 2: WPS (WI-FI protected setup)

You can refer to the instruction manual that came with the printer or visit HP support’s official website to get hands on the method of starting WPS on the printer. However, there are few things that you must keep in mind to use WPS:

  • The wireless router must have an actual WPS button
  • Your network should use WPA or WPA2 security
  • Majority of the WPS wireless routers won’t connect if WEP or no security has been used
  • Most of the WPS wireless routers will not connect using the WPS method if you are using the manufacturer’s default network name and no security
  • You can use the following steps to connect the wireless printer to the wireless router with the help of WPS:

    • Enter the WPS push button mode in the printer
    • If your printer has a touch display then the WPS menu will be there in the wireless settings menu
    • If your printer doesn’t have a display then it can be started by pressing the WIFI button for roughly about 5 seconds
    • Some printers will have a specific WIFI setup button so you can use that
    • Press the WPS button on the router within 2 minutes
    • The flickering blue light will be stabilized once the connection has been done successfully

    Method 3: Wireless printer USB setup (No display)

    If your printer doesn’t have a display screen then you can try this USB setup of Wireless. However, this only works for laptops/computers and not mobile devices.

    USB setup will require a USB cable to connect the printer and the computer on a temporary basis just till the printer connects to the wireless network. You can remove the cables once the connection has been successful.

    However, don’t connect the USB cable till the software instructs you to do so.

    • You can connect the USB when:
    • The computer is connected to the WIFI network either wirelessly or via Ethernet cable
    • The USB cable has been plugged into one of the system’s USB port
    • The printer cable is not plugged in the printer

Once you execute the above mentioned points, you will come across some instructions on the screen that will guide you to connect the printer.

How to connect printer using Wi-Fi direct?

When you print wirelessly, it normally happens through a wireless router. It is what we call the ‘print path’ that goes from the device to the router and then finally to the printer.

The printer presents its personal wireless signal with the help of WIFI direct. It is just like a hotspot connection. You can look for ‘Direct- printer model’ in the list of the wireless signals.

If you are using your phone to connect then WIFI direct looks like being connected to a wireless network that has HP printer.

However, you should know that the WIFI direct is a mere connection, and to print, you must have a print app installed. The system should have the printer software as well as the apt drivers installed as well.

Please note that WIFI direct can offer an internet connection for a device. A WIFI Direct connection will let your android device maintain a simultaneous WIFI connection to the internet.

You can connect to WIFI direct by referring to the steps mentioned below:

Open the Control Panel and switch on WIFI Direct

  1. Make sure that the WIFI is enabled on your device or system and then connect to WIFI direct in the same way like you would for a different wireless network
  2. You can look for the name and the password
    • If your printer has a touch screen then visit the WIFI status screen
    • If it doesn’t have a touch display then print the information report or WIFI direct guide
  3. If you have not yet done it then you can install the printer software or HP smart app for the system. Go to ‘Wireless’ in the printer software for the connectivity option.
  4. If it is a mobile device then you will be asked to install the latest version of the
  5. HP printer plugin app

Steps to Add Wi-Fi Direct to a printer that is already on a wireless network

If you already have a printer on the wireless network then the chances are:

  1. The printer is already connected to a network
  2. You print over the network
  3. Printer software has been installed already on the system

You can follow the steps mentioned below to use the WIFI direct:

  • Connect your system to WIFI direct by following the steps that we have described
  • Use the printer in the same way like you did in the network connection
  • You won’t be asked to install any additional software
  • However, your system can only be connected to the printer or the home network and not both at the same time

Connecting to WIFI Direct: Using it to replace the USB printer cable

If you have installed and used the printer with a USB cable already then you refer to the steps mentioned below:

  1. Connect the Wi-Fi direct and the system
  2. If you are using the HP smart app then you can click on ‘+’
  3. If you are using a system then select Connect a new printer
  4. Don’t select Convert a USB connected printer to wireless by any chance

Once you have successfully established a connection, you will come across 2 printer icons in the printer’s folder for the HP printer. If you don’t want to use a USB cable connection then you can detach the USB cord and delete the icon.



We hope that we were able to help you with the HP printer wireless setup. If you require any more assistance then do get in touch with the HP Printer Support and then experts will guide you in the best way possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

HP Sales - 1 (888) 999-4747
HP Customer Service - 1 (650) 857-1501
HP Support - https://www8.HP.com/us/en/home.html
HP Connect - https://www.HPconnected.com/us/en/signin
HP Shop Online - https://store.HP.com/us/en
HP Driver Downloads - https://support.HP.com/us-en/drivers
HP Printer Driver For IOS/Mac - https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1888?locale=en_US
HP Official Support - https://support.HP.com/in-en/products/printers
Contact HP Shopping - https://www8.HP.com/us/en/contact-HP/shopping.html
Connect With HP - https://ssl.www8.HP.com/us/en/contact-HP/connect-with-HP.html
Offical Address HP Inc.
1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304 P.C. 94304-1112
Palo Alto
United States