Why won't my printer connect to Wi-Fi? 5 things to check first

Few things are as frustrating as a wireless printer that simply won’t connect. The good news is that most printer problems come down to a handful of common causes — and several can be checked in a few minutes.

1. Are they on the same network?

Many homes now have two Wi-Fi networks (a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band, sometimes with different names). If your printer is on one and your computer is on the other, they often can’t see each other. Make sure both are on the same network.

2. Restart everything

It sounds too simple, but restarting the printer, the router and the computer clears a surprising number of connection problems. Turn each off, wait a moment, and turn them back on.

3. Check for “offline” or “paused”

Sometimes the printer is connected but Windows has quietly set it to offline or paused. In your printer settings, make sure it’s set to online and that there’s nothing stuck in the print queue.

4. Update or reinstall the driver

An out-of-date or corrupted printer driver is a common culprit. Reinstalling the latest driver from the manufacturer often gets printing working again.

5. Rule out a weak signal

If the printer is far from the router or behind thick walls, a weak Wi-Fi signal can cause drop-outs. Moving it closer — or improving your Wi-Fi coverage — can make it reliable again.

Still won’t print?

If you’d rather not wrestle with it, Printer Setup & Troubleshooting covers exactly this — getting your printer connected and printing reliably from all your devices. If the real issue is patchy Wi-Fi, Networking & Wi-Fi can help there too.