How to Change WiFi on Your HP Printer: A Simple Guide

Experiencing a change in your home WiFi network can sometimes disrupt the connection to your HP printer. Don’t worry, reconnecting your printer to the new network is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through several methods to effortlessly update your HP printer’s WiFi settings, ensuring you can get back to printing without interruption.

Method 1: Updating WiFi Settings Directly on Your Printer’s Control Panel

If your HP printer is equipped with a control panel, this is often the most direct way to change your WiFi settings.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Navigate to Network Settings: On your printer’s control panel, use the navigation buttons to find the settings menu. Look for options like “Setup,” “Network Setup,” or “Wireless Settings.” The exact wording can vary depending on your specific HP printer model.
2. Select Wireless Setup Wizard: Within the network settings, locate and select options such as “Wireless Setup Wizard,” “Wi-Fi Setup Wizard,” or similar. This wizard will guide you through the process of connecting to a new network.
3. Choose Your New WiFi Network: The printer will now scan for available WiFi networks in your vicinity. A list of networks should appear on the control panel display. Select the name (SSID) of your new WiFi network from this list.
4. Enter Your WiFi Password: If your chosen WiFi network is password-protected (as most are), you will be prompted to enter the network security key or password. Use the control panel’s keypad or touchscreen to carefully enter the password. Ensure you enter it correctly, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters.
5. Complete the Connection: Once you’ve entered the password, follow any on-screen prompts to finalize the connection. Your printer will attempt to connect to the new WiFi network. Upon successful connection, many printers will print a confirmation page, or display a confirmation message on the control panel.

Method 2: Using the HP Smart App to Change WiFi Settings

For many modern HP printers, the HP Smart app offers a user-friendly way to manage printer settings, including WiFi changes. This method is particularly convenient if you have the app already installed on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Steps using the HP Smart App:

1. Ensure HP Smart App is Installed: If you don’t already have it, download and install the HP Smart app. It’s available for free on app stores for iOS (Apple App Store), Android (Google Play Store), Windows, and macOS.
2. Add Your Printer to the App: Open the HP Smart app. If your printer is not already added, tap the “+” icon (or “Add Printer” option). The app will typically search for printers connected to the same network. If your printer is not found, follow the prompts to add it manually, which may involve putting your printer in setup mode.
3. Access Network Settings within HP Smart: Once your printer is added to the app, select your printer from the app’s main screen. Look for settings options, often represented by a gear icon or a menu labeled “Printer Settings,” “Advanced Settings,” or “Network Setup.” Navigate to the network or WiFi settings section.
4. Update WiFi Network: Within the network settings, you should find an option to update or change the WiFi network. Select this option. The app will guide you through connecting your printer to a new WiFi network, similar to the printer’s control panel wizard. You will likely be prompted to select the new network and enter its password.
5. Complete the Setup in the App: Follow all on-screen instructions within the HP Smart app to complete the WiFi change process. The app will confirm once the printer is successfully connected to the new network.

Method 3: Changing WiFi Settings via Printer Software on Your Computer

If you have installed the full feature software and drivers for your HP printer on your computer, you can often manage WiFi settings through this software. This method is useful if you prefer managing your printer from your computer.

Steps using Printer Software on a Computer:

1. Open Printer Software: Locate and open the HP printer software on your computer. This is usually named after your printer model or simply “HP Printer Assistant” or “HP Smart” (if you are using the Windows HP Smart app). You can typically find it in your applications or programs menu.
2. Navigate to Printer Settings or Tools: Within the printer software, look for options like “Tools,” “Utilities,” “Printer Setup & Software,” or “Device Setup.” The exact wording depends on your printer software version.
3. Find Wireless Setup or Network Settings: Within the tools or settings section, search for options related to network or wireless setup. This might be labeled “Wireless Setup,” “Network Configuration,” or similar.
4. Update WiFi Connection: Select the option to modify or update the wireless connection. The software will typically launch a wizard to guide you through connecting to a new WiFi network. You will be prompted to select your new WiFi network from a list and enter the network password.
5. Finalize the Setup: Follow the on-screen prompts from the printer software to complete the WiFi change. The software should confirm when your printer is successfully connected to the new WiFi network.

By following these methods, you can easily change the WiFi settings on your HP printer and ensure it remains connected to your home or office network. Choose the method that best suits your printer model and your preferred way of managing your devices.