A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause the printer to appear connected Connecting an HP printer to WiFi using your phone is one of the fastest ways to start printing wirelessly without needing a computer. Whether we are setting up a new HP printer, reconnecting after a router change, or troubleshooting a connection issue, using a smartphone gives us a convenient, step-by-step way to complete the setup.

In this complete guide, we will cover every reliable method to connect an HP printer to WiFi using Android or iPhone, including HP Smart App setup, Wi-Fi Direct, WPS connection, and how to fix the most common problems that prevent printers from connecting.

Why Connect an HP Printer to WiFi Using Your Phone?

When we connect an HP printer to WiFi using a phone, we gain:

1. Wireless printing from anywhere on the same network

2. Easy setup using the HP Smart App

3. Faster troubleshooting when the printer goes offline

4. Ability to print, scan, and manage ink from one place

Most importantly, we avoid complicated cable setups and can get printing within minutes.

Before We Start: What We Need for HP WiFi Setup

To ensure the setup works smoothly, we should prepare the following:

1. A working WiFi network name (SSID) and password

2. A smartphone with WiFi enabled

3. The HP printer powered on and ready

4. The printer placed close to the WiFi router (during setup)

5. HP Smart App installed on the phone

6. Bluetooth enabled (recommended for faster pairing)

✅ Pro tip: HP printers usually connect to 2.4GHz WiFi, not 5GHz. If we have a dual-band router, ensure we select the correct network.

Method 1: Connect HP Printer to WiFi Using HP Smart App (Best Method)

The HP Smart App is the most reliable way to connect an HP printer to WiFi using a phone. It works for both Android and iPhone and supports most modern HP printers.

Step 1: Install HP Smart App on Your Phone

We can download HP Smart from:

1. Google Play Store (Android)

2. Apple App Store (iPhone)

After installation:

1. Open the app

2. Allow permissions (Bluetooth, location, network access)

Step 2: Turn On the HP Printer and Reset Network Settings (If Needed)

If the printer is new, it may already be in setup mode. If it has been used before, resetting the network helps.

Depending on the printer model:

1. Go to Wireless Settings

2. Select Restore Network Defaults

3. Confirm reset

Many HP printers will show a blinking Wireless light, meaning it is ready to connect.

Step 3: Add the Printer in HP Smart App

In HP Smart:

1. Tap Add Printer or the + icon

2. Wait while the app searches

3. Select our HP printer from the list

If it does not appear:

1. Tap Set up a new printer

2. Follow the guided steps

Step 4: Connect the Printer to WiFi

The app will prompt us to:

1. Choose the correct WiFi network

2. Enter the WiFi password

3. Confirm the connection

Once completed:

1. The printer’s wireless light should become solid

2. The app will show Printer Online

Step 5: Print a Test Page

We should always confirm setup:

1. Tap Print Documents

2. Print a sample PDF or photo

3. Ensure the printer responds instantly

Method 2: Connect HP Printer to WiFi Using Wi-Fi Direct (No Router Needed)

If we cannot access the router or the WiFi is unstable, Wi-Fi Direct lets us connect the phone directly to the printer without a network.

When to Use Wi-Fi Direct

We should use this method if:

1. WiFi password is unknown

2. Router is unavailable

3. We need quick printing without internet

Step 1: Enable Wi-Fi Direct on the HP Printer

On most HP printers:

1. Press the Wi-Fi Direct button (if available), or

2. Go to printer settings → Wi-Fi Direct → Turn ON

The printer will show a Wi-Fi Direct name like:
DIRECT-xx-HP-PrinterName

Step 2: Connect Phone to Printer Wi-Fi Direct Network

On the phone:

1. Open WiFi settings

2. Select the DIRECT-xx-HP network

3. Enter the Wi-Fi Direct password (shown on printer screen or info sheet)

Step 3: Print Using HP Smart App

Now we open HP Smart and:

1. Add printer (it will appear through Wi-Fi Direct)

2. Print files or photos directly

⚠️ With Wi-Fi Direct, the phone may disconnect from home WiFi temporarily.

Method 3: Connect HP Printer to WiFi Using WPS (Fastest Router-Based Setup)

If our router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), we can connect without typing the password.

Requirements for WPS Setup

1. Router must have a WPS button

2. Printer must support WPS wireless setup

Step 1: Put HP Printer in WPS Mode

Common methods include:

1. Press and hold the Wireless button for 3–5 seconds

2. Or use touchscreen: Wireless Settings → WPS Setup

The wireless light should start blinking.

Step 2: Press WPS Button on the Router

Within 2 minutes:

1. Press the WPS button on the router

The printer will connect automatically.

Step 3: Confirm Connection

Once connected:

1. Wireless light becomes solid

2. Printer appears in HP Smart App

How to Connect HP Printer to WiFi Using iPhone (iOS Guide)?

To connect an HP printer to WiFi using an iPhone, we follow the same HP Smart process, but these iOS-specific tips help:

1. Enable Bluetooth for faster discovery

2. Allow Local Network access when prompted

3. Keep WiFi ON (do not use cellular data during setup)

Once connected, we can print using:

1. AirPrint

2. HP Smart App print feature

To print using AirPrint:

1. Open a photo or document

2. Tap Share

3. Select Print

4. Choose the HP printer

5. Tap Print

How to Connect HP Printer to WiFi Using Android (Android Guide)?

Android phones typically detect HP printers quickly, especially when Bluetooth and location are enabled.

Best practices for Android setup:

1. Turn on Location Services

2. Enable Nearby Devices permissions

3. Use HP Smart to connect and manage printer settings

After setup, we can print using:

1. HP Smart App

2. Google’s default print service (if enabled)

How to Reconnect HP Printer to WiFi After Changing Router or Password?

When we change the WiFi name or password, the printer will go offline until we reconnect it.

Step 1: Restore Network Defaults

On the printer:

1. Wireless settings → Restore Network Defaults

2. Confirm reset

Step 2: Open HP Smart App

1. Tap the printer name

2. Choose Printer Settings

3. Select Wireless Setup Wizard (if available)

Step 3: Connect to the New WiFi Network

1. Choose the updated WiFi network

2. Enter the new password

3. Save settings

Fixing HP Printer Not Connecting to WiFi (Most Common Solutions)

If our HP printer refuses to connect, these are the most effective fixes.

1. Confirm WiFi Frequency is 2.4GHz

Many HP printers cannot connect to 5GHz networks.

Solution:

1. Connect the phone and printer to 2.4GHz

2. Split WiFi bands in router settings if needed

2. Restart Printer, Phone, and Router

We should power cycle everything:

1. Turn off printer

2. Restart router

3. Restart phone

4. Turn printer back on

3. Move the Printer Closer to the Router

Weak signals cause connection drops.

Best range:

1. Same room as router during setup

2. Avoid walls, microwaves, and metal objects

4. Update HP Smart App

An outdated app can fail pairing.

Solution:

1. Update HP Smart from the app store

2. Reopen and retry setup

5. Check Printer Wireless Light

Wireless indicator meanings:

1. Blinking = setup mode / searching

2. Solid = connected

3. Off = wireless disabled

If off:

1. Enable wireless from printer settings

6. Use Wi-Fi Direct for Emergency Printing

If router setup fails, Wi-Fi Direct keeps us printing immediately.

How to Confirm HP Printer Is Connected to WiFi Successfully?

Once connected, we should confirm connection through these checks:

1. Wireless light is solid

2. Printer shows Connected on display

3. HP Smart App shows Ready / Online

4. Printer appears in phone print options

5. Test page prints without delay

We can also print a Network Configuration Page from the printer menu to confirm:

1. IP address

2. Network name (SSID)

3. Signal strength

Best Practices for Stable HP Wireless Printing

To avoid future offline issues, we should:

1. Keep printer firmware updated through HP Smart

2. Assign a static IP from router settings (advanced users)

3. Avoid guest networks for printers

4. Use the same WiFi network for all devices

5. Keep printer within strong WiFi coverage

Final Checklist: HP Printer WiFi Setup Using Phone

Before we finish, we confirm:

✅ HP Smart installed
✅ Printer in setup mode
✅ Phone connected to correct WiFi
✅ WiFi password entered correctly
✅ Wireless light solid
✅ Test print successful

With this setup complete, we can now print from our phone anytime without cables.