Whether you just bought a new printer or moved to a new home with a different WiFi network, this guide walks you through exactly how to connect your printer wirelessly for HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother printers on both Windows and Mac.
Setting up a printer on WiFi sounds like it should be simple. In most cases, it is – once you know the right steps. But skip one thing or do it in the wrong order and you’ll spend an hour staring at a blinking orange light wondering what went wrong.
I’ve helped hundreds of people get their printers online. The same mistakes come up every single time. This guide will help you get it right on the first try.
Before You Begin – Check These 3 Things
Your WiFi password is ready. You’ll need the exact password – capitals, numbers, and symbols matter. Check the back of your router if you’ve forgotten it.
Your printer supports WiFi. Look for a WiFi symbol on the printer body or check the model name on the manufacturer’s website. Most printers made after 2015 support wireless printing.
Your phone or computer is on the same WiFi network you want the printer to join. Seems obvious, but it’s easy to miss when you have multiple networks at home.
Method 1: Using the Printer’s Control Panel (Recommended)
This works for most modern printers – HP, Canon, Epson, Brother — that have a small screen or LCD display on the front.
Power on the printer and wait for it to fully start up. Don’t rush this — some printers take 60–90 seconds to be ready.
On the printer’s screen, go to Settings (sometimes shown as a gear icon ⚙️ or a wrench icon 🔧).
Select Network Settings or Wireless Setup. The exact name varies by brand — look for anything that mentions WiFi, Wireless, or Network.
Choose Wireless Setup Wizard and follow the on-screen prompts. Your printer will scan for nearby networks. Select your home WiFi name from the list.
Enter your WiFi password carefully using the printer’s keyboard or arrow buttons. Double-check every character before confirming.
Wait for the connection confirmation. A solid blue WiFi light or an “Connected” message on screen means success. If it fails, recheck your password.
Print a Network Configuration Page to verify the connection. This is usually found under Settings → Reports → Network Configuration. It should show your WiFi name and a valid IP address.
After connecting to WiFi, visit your router settings and assign the printer a static IP address. This stops the printer from randomly going “offline” after your router restarts. Look for DHCP Reservation in your router’s admin panel (usually accessed at 192.168.1.1).
Method 2: WPS Button (Quickest, No Password Needed)
If your router has a WPS button (most home routers do), this is the fastest method. No password typing required.
On the printer, go to Settings → Network → WiFi and select WPS (Push Button) or look for a dedicated WPS button on the printer itself.
Within 2 minutes, press and hold the WPS button on your router for 3–5 seconds until its light flashes.
Wait for the printer to connect. Both devices will communicate automatically. The printer’s WiFi light should turn solid when connected.
WPS has a 2-minute window. If you take too long pressing the router button after starting WPS on the printer, the connection will fail and you’ll need to restart the process.
Method 3: HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel App
Most major brands now have a free smartphone app that makes wireless setup extremely easy — often easier than using the printer’s own display.
HP Printers Download “HP Smart” from App Store or Google Play. Open the app → Add Printer → follow the guided setup.
Canon Printers Download “Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY”. Open the app → Register Printer → follow the on-screen instructions.
Epson Printers Download “Epson Smart Panel”. Open the app → Set Up Printer → the app handles the WiFi connection for you.
Brother Printers Download “Brother iPrint&Scan”. Open the app → Select Your Machine → follow the wireless setup guide.
How to Add the Printer to Your Windows PC
Once the printer is connected to WiFi, you need to add it to your computer so you can print from it.
Click the Start Menu → Settings (gear icon) → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners.
Click “Add device”. Windows will automatically search for printers on your network. Wait 30–60 seconds.
Your printer should appear in the list. Click it, then click “Add device” to install it. Windows will download and install the drivers automatically.
Once installed, print a test page to confirm everything is working. Right-click the printer → Printer Properties → Print Test Page.
How to Add the Printer to a Mac
Click the Apple Menu (🍎) → System Settings → Printers & Scanners.
Click the “+” button to add a printer. macOS will scan your network. Your printer should appear within a few seconds.
Select your printer and click Add. macOS downloads the driver automatically via AirPrint or the manufacturer’s driver package.
Open any document and try printing to confirm it works.
Common WiFi Printer Problems & Fixes
⚠ Printer Connected to WiFi But Shows “Offline” on Computer
The printer’s IP address changed after a router restart, so the computer lost track of it.
Remove the printer from your computer and re-add it. Then assign a static IP to the printer via your router’s DHCP settings so this never happens again.
⚠ Printer Not Found During WiFi Setup
The printer is searching on the wrong WiFi band, or it’s too far from the router.
Move the printer closer to the router during setup. If you have a dual-band router (2.4GHz and 5GHz), make sure both your phone/computer and printer are on 2.4GHz — many printers don’t support 5GHz.
⚠ “Incorrect Password” Error Even When Password Is Right
Special characters in WiFi passwords can sometimes cause issues with printer keypads.
Temporarily change your WiFi password to something simpler (letters and numbers only) to complete the printer setup. Change it back afterward — most printers store the password and reconnect fine.
⚠ Printer Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi
The printer’s power-saving mode is turning off its WiFi radio after a period of inactivity.
Go to printer Settings → Power Management and disable or extend the sleep/power-save timer. Also check that your router isn’t dropping idle devices.
Always download drivers directly from the manufacturer’s official website — never from third-party driver sites. Unofficial driver sites are a major source of malware and often provide outdated or broken drivers.
Bottom Line
Getting your printer on WiFi takes about 5 minutes when you know the steps. Use the Wireless Setup Wizard on the printer’s screen, enter your password carefully, and then add the printer to your computer. If you run into trouble, 90% of issues come down to the wrong WiFi band, an incorrect password, or a changed IP address — all easy fixes once you know what to look for.