How to Fix: WiFi Connection Issues
The printer fails to connect to or maintain a stable WiFi connection, causing intermittent printing failures or inability to discover the printer on the network. WiFi issues are among the most common printer complaints in home and office environments. This guide walks you through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions to fix wifi connection issues on any printer, regardless of brand or model.
Common Causes
This problem is most often caused by one or more of the following:
- Printer is too far from the wireless router or has signal obstruction
- WiFi password was changed and the printer still has the old credentials
- Router using a 5GHz-only network and printer only supports 2.4GHz
- Too many devices on the network causing IP address conflicts
- Printer’s WiFi module has lost its configuration after a power outage
Step-by-Step Solution
Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue. Test your printer after each step.
- Step 1: Move the printer closer to the wireless router to improve signal strength
- Step 2: Restart both the printer and the wireless router by power cycling them
- Step 3: Reconnect the printer to WiFi using the printer’s wireless setup wizard on its control panel
- Step 4: Ensure the router is broadcasting on 2.4GHz, as most printers do not support 5GHz WiFi
- Step 5: Assign a static IP address to the printer through the router’s DHCP reservation settings
- Step 6: Check for IP address conflicts by reviewing the router’s connected devices list
- Step 7: Update the printer’s firmware, as WiFi stability improvements are often included in updates
Brand-Specific Troubleshooting
Some printer brands require slightly different troubleshooting approaches. See the brand-specific guidance below.
Hp Printers
HP printers support WiFi Direct for direct device-to-printer printing without a router. Use the HP Smart app to diagnose WiFi issues. The HP Wireless Setup Wizard (on the printer’s control panel) walks through reconnection steps. HP printers may disconnect if WPA3 security is enabled on the router — try WPA2.
For more Hp-specific troubleshooting, visit our Hp Printer Troubleshooting hub.
Canon Printers
Canon printers use the ‘Cableless Setup’ feature for initial WiFi configuration through the Canon PRINT app. If WiFi drops frequently, update the firmware. Canon printers can be sensitive to router channel settings — try setting the router to a fixed channel instead of ‘Auto.’
For more Canon-specific troubleshooting, visit our Canon Printer Troubleshooting hub.
Epson Printers
Epson printers offer Epson Connect for cloud printing and WiFi Direct. Use the Epson Printer Connection Checker tool to diagnose wireless issues. Epson printers can lose WiFi settings during firmware updates — reconfigure WiFi after updating.
For more Epson-specific troubleshooting, visit our Epson Printer Troubleshooting hub.
Brother Printers
Brother printers have a WLAN Setup Wizard accessible from the Network settings menu. The BRAdmin Light utility can scan the network and find Brother printers. Brother printers may have WiFi issues if MAC address filtering is enabled on the router.
For more Brother-specific troubleshooting, visit our Brother Printer Troubleshooting hub.
Related Problems
Users experiencing wifi connection issues often encounter these related issues:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?
Frequent WiFi disconnections are usually caused by weak signal strength, IP address conflicts, or router compatibility issues. Assign a static IP address to your printer through your router’s settings. Ensure the printer is on a 2.4GHz network (not 5GHz). Check if the router firmware needs updating, and consider using a WiFi range extender if the signal is weak.
Can I use my printer on a 5GHz WiFi network?
Most printers only support 2.4GHz WiFi networks. If your router uses a combined 2.4GHz and 5GHz network with the same SSID, the printer may have trouble connecting. Either separate the bands into different SSIDs or ensure the router has a 2.4GHz band active. A few newer high-end printers support both bands, but this is still uncommon.
How do I find my printer’s IP address for WiFi troubleshooting?
Most printers can print a network configuration page from the Settings or Network menu on the control panel. You can also find the IP address in your router’s admin interface under connected devices. On Windows, if the printer is already installed, go to Printer Properties > Ports tab to see the IP address.
Need brand-specific help?
This guide covers the general fix. For model-specific instructions, find your printer brand below and navigate to your exact model for tailored troubleshooting steps.