A wireless printer that suddenly won’t connect to WiFi is a common problem.
It usually shows up after a router reset, power outage, or software update.
Sometimes, the printer works fine one day and disappears from your network the next.
When this happens, you may notice your computer says the printer is “offline,” even though it’s on.
Print jobs might stay stuck in the queue.
Or the printer may not show up at all when you try to add it again.
In many cases, the printer has lost its connection to your WiFi network or is using outdated settings.
How to Fix Printer Not Connecting To Wi-Fi or Internet
1. Restart everything
Power off the printer, router, and computer.
Unplug each for at least 30 seconds.
Then plug them back in and turn them on.
This clears cached settings and restarts your network.
Once everything boots up, check if the printer reconnects.
Many issues disappear after a full reset.
2. Reconnect to WiFi manually
Go to the printer’s settings menu and choose “Wireless Setup” or “Network Settings.”
Select your WiFi name and enter the password again.
Be sure the password is correct; even one wrong letter will stop the connection.
If your printer supports WPS, you can also press the WPS button on your router and then on the printer to reconnect without entering a password.
3. Check the router settings
Log in to your router (usually by typing 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser).
Look for the list of connected devices.
If your printer isn’t listed, it’s not connected.
Check that the router’s WiFi isn’t using a band your printer doesn’t support.
Many older printers don’t work with 5 GHz networks and need 2.4 GHz.
You can enable both bands on most routers.
4. Set a static IP for the printer
Printers sometimes fail to reconnect because the router assigns them a new IP address.
Setting a static IP avoids this.
Go to the printer’s network settings and assign it an IP address manually.
You can also set a DHCP reservation in the router so the printer always gets the same address.
5. Update printer firmware and drivers
Go to the printer manufacturer’s website.
Download the latest firmware for your model.
Some printers can update over WiFi if they connect again briefly.
On your computer, uninstall the printer completely, then reinstall it with the latest software.
Outdated drivers can cause detection issues.
6. Switch to a wired or USB connection
If nothing works, try connecting the printer to your computer with a USB cable.
This isn’t ideal for wireless setups but can confirm whether the printer itself is still functional.
If a wired connection works and WiFi doesn’t, the wireless module may be faulty.
7. Printers that reconnect easily
Some newer printers handle reconnections much better.
If you’ve had recurring problems, consider replacing your current model.
Look for these on Amazon:
These have strong wireless features and easier setup tools.
FAQs About Printers And Connections
Why did my printer disconnect from WiFi?
Router resets, IP changes, or signal issues are common causes.
Do printers need to be close to the router?
Yes.
Weak signals cause dropped connections.
Keep them in the same room if possible.
Should I reset my printer?
As a last resort.
This will erase all settings.
Only do it if nothing else works.
Will connecting by USB solve the problem?
Temporarily, yes.
But it’s not a fix for wireless issues.
Can I print from my phone if WiFi is down?
Only if the printer supports WiFi Direct or Bluetooth.
Conclusion
And that is how to fix printer not connecting to Wi-Fi anymore, and why it might be happening.
In summary, this printer not connecting to WiFi issue can be fix by either updating printer firmware and drivers, getting a printer that reconnect easily, or switching to a wired or USB connection.
Or even checking the router settings; in some cases setting a static IP for the print also works.
Additional Reading:
How To Connect Garmin Watch To WiFi
Brianna is based in Minnesota in the US at the moment, and has been writing since 2017. She is currently a 3rd Year med student at the time of writing this.
