If you want to print from a laptop or phone without plugging in a cable, you need to connect your printer to your home Wi-Fi. The process is usually straightforward, but the right buttons and menu names can vary between printer brands.
This guide explains how to connect a printer to Wi-Fi using the printer’s screen, a phone app, or a WPS button when your router and printer support it. You will also learn what to check if the printer cannot find your network.
What you’ll need
- Your wireless printer, switched on and within range of your Wi-Fi router.
- Your Wi-Fi network name and password. The network name is sometimes called the SSID.
- A phone or computer, if your printer’s setup method requires one.
Good to know: Many printers work best on a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Some newer models support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Check your printer’s manual or specifications if you are unsure which band it supports.
Step 1: Check your Wi-Fi details
Before starting, make sure your home Wi-Fi is working. On a phone or computer already connected to the network, open a website to confirm that the internet connection is available.
Find your network name and password. The network name may appear on a label on your router, in the router’s app, or in the Wi-Fi settings of a device that is already connected. The password may also be printed on the router if it has not been changed.
Take care to enter the password exactly as shown. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, which means uppercase and lowercase letters are treated differently.
Careful: Do not confuse your Wi-Fi password with your router’s administrator password. They are not necessarily the same.
Step 2: Open the printer’s wireless settings
Turn on the printer and wait for it to finish starting. If it has a touchscreen, look for Settings, Network, Wireless, or Wi-Fi Setup.
The exact wording depends on the manufacturer. You may see options such as Wireless Setup Wizard, Wi-Fi Setup, or Network Setup. Choose the option that searches for available wireless networks.
If your printer has no screen, look in its manual for the wireless setup button or app-based setup instructions. Some models use a combination of buttons, so avoid guessing which buttons to hold down.
Tip: If the printer has been used on another Wi-Fi network, it may still remember the old details. Look for an option such as Restore Network Settings or Reset Network Settings if the manufacturer recommends it. This resets the printer’s saved network information, not your router.
Step 3: Select your home Wi-Fi network
When the printer displays a list of networks, find your home network name and select it. If several networks have similar names, check the name carefully before continuing.
Enter your Wi-Fi password using the printer’s keypad or touchscreen. On some printers, you can switch between uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols using an on-screen key.
Confirm the password and choose Connect, OK, or the equivalent option. The printer may take a minute or two to join the network.
If the connection succeeds, the printer may display Connected, show a Wi-Fi symbol, or print a network status page. If it reports an error, check the password and try again.
Step 4: Use a printer app if there is no screen
Some wireless printers are designed to be set up with a manufacturer’s app. Examples include HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, and Brother Mobile Connect. The supported app depends on the printer model and region.
- Connect your phone to the home Wi-Fi network you want the printer to use.
- Install the official printer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app and follow its instructions to add or set up a printer.
- When asked, allow the app to use Bluetooth or your local network if those permissions are needed for setup.
- Follow the prompts to choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password.
The app should tell you when setup is complete. Keep your phone near the printer while the process is running.
Good to know: Download the app published by your printer’s manufacturer. Check the developer name in the app store, and avoid lookalike apps from unfamiliar publishers.
Step 5: Try WPS if your printer and router support it
WPS stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. It is a feature that lets compatible devices join a Wi-Fi network without typing the password. Not all routers or printers support it, and some newer routers have removed the feature.
If both devices support WPS, consult their instructions and use the WPS setup option shown on the printer. The router may have a button labelled WPS. Follow the printer and router instructions in the order they specify.
Do not press buttons at random or hold the WPS button for an extended period unless the router’s instructions tell you to. Button functions vary by model.
Careful: WPS is not available on every network. If you cannot find it in your router’s instructions or settings, use the normal Wi-Fi password method or the manufacturer’s setup app instead.
Step 6: Add the printer to your computer or phone
Connecting the printer to Wi-Fi makes it available on your home network, but your computer may still need to add it.
On Windows 11:
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Choose Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners.
- Select Add device.
- Wait for Windows to find your printer, then choose Add device beside its name.
On a Mac:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Printers & Scanners.
- Choose Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax if the option appears.
- Select your printer and follow the prompts.
On an iPhone or iPad:
For printers that support Apple AirPrint, open the document or photo, tap Share, then Print. Choose Printer to select an available printer. The exact steps can vary slightly between apps.
On Android:
Open the item you want to print and look for Print in the app’s menu or sharing options. If your printer does not appear, check Android’s printing settings or install the manufacturer’s official app or print service recommended for your model.
Step 7: Print a test page
Once your computer or phone can see the printer, try printing a simple document or test page. Check that the correct printer is selected and that the job is sent to it.
If the printer starts printing, the Wi-Fi connection is working. If it does not, check the printer’s display for an error message and make sure the computer or phone is connected to the same home network.
Troubleshooting: When the printer will not connect
My Wi-Fi network does not appear.
Move the printer closer to the router and search again. Check whether your printer supports the Wi-Fi band being used. If your router combines 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one network name, check the printer manufacturer’s advice for connecting.
The printer says the password is incorrect.
Enter the password again carefully, checking uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password, update the saved network details on the printer.
The printer connects, but my computer cannot find it.
Check that both devices are connected to the same home network. A guest network may prevent devices from seeing one another. Restarting the printer and computer can also help. Then try adding the printer again in your device’s printer settings.
The printer keeps disconnecting.
Check the Wi-Fi signal where the printer is located. If the signal is weak, move the printer closer to the router if practical. Also check the printer manufacturer’s website for firmware updates. Firmware is the software built into the printer that controls how it works.
The setup app cannot find the printer.
Make sure the printer is switched on and in its wireless setup mode. Keep your phone close to it, confirm that the phone is connected to the intended Wi-Fi network, and check that the app has the permissions it requests. Restart both devices and try again if necessary.
Enjoy printing without the cable
Once your printer is connected to Wi-Fi and added to your devices, you can usually print from anywhere in your home that has a connection to the same network. Keep your Wi-Fi details somewhere safe, and refer to your printer’s manual if its setup menus use different names.
