Common Reasons Printers Won't Connect
Before troubleshooting, it helps to understand why printers lose their connection:
- The printer lost its Wi-Fi connection after a router restart or password change
- The printer's IP address changed (common with older printers)
- Outdated or corrupted printer drivers on your computer
- The printer is connected to a different Wi-Fi network than your computer
- The printer's wireless feature is turned off
- A firewall or security software is blocking the connection
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Work through these steps in order:
- 1Restart everything: Turn off the printer, your computer, and your router. Wait 30 seconds, then turn them back on in this order: router first, then printer, then computer.
- 2Check the printer's Wi-Fi connection: Most printers have a wireless indicator light. If it's off or blinking, the printer isn't connected to Wi-Fi.
- 3Print a network configuration page: Most printers can print this from the control panel — it shows the printer's current IP address and Wi-Fi status.
- 4Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi: On the printer's control panel, go to Network Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
- 5Update or reinstall the printer driver: Go to the printer manufacturer's website and download the latest driver for your printer model.
- 6Add the printer again on your computer: Go to Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add a Printer and follow the prompts.
Tip: If your router's Wi-Fi password changed recently, that's almost certainly why your printer stopped connecting. You'll need to reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi with the new password.
Wireless vs. USB Connection
If you're still having trouble with wireless printing, consider connecting your printer directly to your computer with a USB cable. This bypasses Wi-Fi entirely and is the most reliable connection method. The downside is that only the computer connected by USB can print directly — though you can still share the printer over your network.
Tip: For home offices where one person does most of the printing, a USB connection is often the most reliable and trouble-free option.
When to Call a Professional
It's time to call for help when:
- You've worked through all the steps above and the printer still won't connect
- The printer is printing but the output is poor quality (streaks, missing colors)
- The printer is making unusual noises
- You need to set up the printer for multiple computers or devices
- You're not comfortable updating drivers or changing network settings