When an HP printer won’t connect to a computer, productivity comes to a stop. Whether we are working from home, printing school assignments, or managing office documents, a failed connection can be frustrating and time-consuming. The good news is that most connection problems come from a handful of common causes—such as Wi-Fi interruptions, incorrect printer settings, outdated drivers, or USB communication errors—and can be fixed quickly with the right steps.

In this guide, we will cover the most accurate reasons why an HP printer is not connecting to a computer, and we will provide practical, step-by-step solutions for Windows and Mac users.

Common Signs Your HP Printer Is Not Connecting

Before applying fixes, we should confirm the exact symptoms. Most users experience one or more of these issues:

1. Printer shows “Offline” even when powered on

2. Computer cannot find the HP printer during setup

3. Print jobs stuck in queue and never complete

4. Printer connected but not printing

5. HP Smart app not detecting the printer

6. USB printer not recognized by the computer

7. Wi-Fi printer keeps disconnecting randomly

Once we identify the behavior, it becomes easier to match it to the correct solution.

Reason 1: Printer and Computer Are Not on the Same Network

One of the most common reasons an HP wireless printer won’t connect is that the printer is connected to a different Wi-Fi network than the computer.

Solution: Confirm the Wi-Fi Network Name (SSID)

We should verify the Wi-Fi name on both devices:

1. On the computer, check the connected Wi-Fi network name.

2. On the printer:

   1. Use the printer screen (if available) to check network settings

   2. Or print a Network Configuration Page

3. If they are different, reconnect the printer to the correct network.

Tip: If we recently changed the router or password, the printer may still be trying to connect to the old network.

Reason 2: Wi-Fi Signal Is Weak or Unstable

but fail during printing. This is especially common when the printer is placed far from the router or behind thick walls.

Solution: Improve Wireless Stability

To fix unstable connections:

1. Move the printer closer to the router

2. Avoid placing the printer near microwaves, cordless phones, or Bluetooth hubs

3. Restart the router to refresh the connection

4. Switch to a more stable band:

   1. 2.4GHz is better for range

   2. 5GHz is faster but weaker through walls

If the printer disconnects repeatedly, the Wi-Fi environment may be causing intermittent drops.

Reason 3: HP Printer Is Set to Offline Mode

Even when the printer is powered on, Windows may display it as Offline, blocking print jobs entirely.

Solution (Windows): Disable Offline Mode

1. Open Control Panel

2. Go to Devices and Printers

3. Right-click your HP Printer

4. Select See what’s printing

5. Click Printer in the menu bar

6. Uncheck:

   1. Use Printer Offline

   2. Pause Printing

After this, try printing a test page.

Reason 4: Outdated or Corrupt Printer Drivers

If the printer driver is outdated or corrupted, the computer may fail to communicate with the printer, even if it appears installed.

Solution: Reinstall the Correct HP Printer Driver

We recommend reinstalling the driver to restore full compatibility.

Windows Driver Fix

1. Press Windows + R

2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter

3. Expand Print queues

4. Right-click the HP printer and select Uninstall device

5. Restart the computer

6. Install the latest HP driver using HP Smart or the official driver installer.

Mac Driver Fix

1. Open System Settings

2. Go to Printers & Scanners

3. Select the HP printer and click Remove Printer

4. Restart the Mac

5. Re-add the printer using Add Printer and choose the correct model.

A fresh driver installation resolves many “printer not responding” errors.

Reason 5: Print Spooler Service Is Not Working (Windows)

Windows uses the Print Spooler service to manage print jobs. If it stops or becomes stuck, the printer may not print or connect properly.

Solution: Restart Print Spooler

1. Press Windows + R

2. Type services.msc and press Enter

3. Find Print Spooler

4. Right-click → Restart

5. Set Startup type to Automatic

Then clear the print queue:

1. Open Devices and Printers

2. Cancel all pending print jobs

3. Try printing again

Reason 6: USB Connection Problems (Wired HP Printer)

If we use a USB cable and the printer is not detected, the issue may be the cable, port, or power delivery.

Solution: Fix HP Printer USB Connection

Try these steps:

1. Use a different USB port (preferably on the back of a desktop)

2. Replace the USB cable with a high-quality data cable

3. Avoid USB hubs and docking stations

4. Turn off the printer, unplug USB, restart computer, then reconnect

If Windows still doesn’t detect it, reinstall the driver after changing ports.

Reason 7: Firewall or Antivirus Is Blocking Printer Communication

Some security tools block printer discovery, especially for network printers that rely on background services.

Solution: Allow Printer Through Firewall

We should temporarily test by disabling security software:

1. Disable firewall/antivirus briefly

2. Try reconnecting the printer

3. If it works, add exceptions for:

   1. HP Smart

   2. Printer discovery services

   3. Network printer ports

For long-term stability, keep security enabled and only allow trusted printer communication.

Reason 8: IP Address Changed (Network Printer Conflict)

Many routers assign devices a dynamic IP address. If the printer’s IP changes, the computer may still be trying to connect to the old address.

Solution: Re-add Printer Using Updated IP

Windows

1. Open Devices and Printers

2. Remove the existing HP printer

3. Click Add a printer

4. Select The printer that I want isn’t listed

5. Choose Add a printer using TCP/IP address

6. Enter the printer’s new IP (from the printer’s network report)

Mac

1. Open Printers & Scanners

2. Add printer using IP tab

3. Enter the current printer IP address

To prevent this from happening again, we can assign a static IP or reserve the printer IP in router settings.

Reason 9: HP Smart App Not Detecting the Printer

HP Smart is often required for setup, scanning, and driver management. If it cannot detect the printer, the setup process stops.

Solution: Fix HP Smart Detection Issues

We should apply these steps:

1. Ensure printer is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi

2. Restart printer and computer

3. Close and reopen HP Smart

4. Remove printer from HP Smart and re-add it

5. Confirm permissions:

   1. On Windows: allow network discovery

   2. On Mac: allow local network access

If HP Smart continues failing, reinstall the app and restart the router.

Reason 10: Incorrect Default Printer Selected

Sometimes the printer is connected correctly, but print jobs go to the wrong printer (especially if multiple printers exist).

Solution: Set HP Printer as Default

Windows

1. Open Settings

2. Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners

3. Select the HP printer

4. Click Set as default

Mac

1. Go to Printers & Scanners

2. Set default printer to the HP model in the dropdown

This resolves “connected but not printing” situations instantly.

Quick Fix Checklist (Most Effective Steps First)

If we want the fastest results, follow this order:

1. Restart printer, computer, and router

2. Confirm printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi

3. Disable “Use Printer Offline” mode

4. Clear print queue and restart Print Spooler (Windows)

5. Reinstall HP drivers or HP Smart

6. Reconnect using Wi-Fi setup or USB

7. Fix IP address conflicts by re-adding printer

8. Check firewall/antivirus permissions

This checklist covers the majority of connection failures.

How to Reconnect an HP Printer to Wi-Fi (Reliable Setup Method)?

If the printer cannot connect at all, resetting Wi-Fi settings can restore pairing.

Standard Wi-Fi Reset (Most HP Models)

1. On the printer control panel, open Wireless Settings

2. Select Restore Network Settings

3. Restart the printer

4. Run setup again using:

   1. HP Smart

   2. WPS button (if supported)

This removes old network profiles that prevent successful reconnection.

When to Use HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows Only)

If we are using Windows, HP provides a dedicated troubleshooting tool that can automatically fix:

1. driver errors

2. offline printer status

3. spooler issues

4. connection failures

Running it is especially useful when we need an automated diagnosis instead of manual fixes.

Final Thoughts: Restoring a Stable HP Printer Connection

An HP printer not connecting to a computer is usually caused by a network mismatch, offline settings, outdated drivers, or USB communication failures. By confirming the network, restarting key services, reinstalling drivers, and ensuring proper permissions, we can restore printing quickly and keep the connection stable long-term.