Connecting your wireless printer to your home or office network allows every laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone on the network to send print jobs without cables.
Below is a step-by-step walkthrough covering how to configure network settings on major printer brands (HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother), as well as how to add the connected printer to Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Touchscreen Models:
Touch the Wireless / Network icon or navigate to Setup (gear icon) > Network Setup > Wireless Settings.
Select Wireless Setup Wizard.
Choose your network name (SSID), enter your Wi-Fi password, and confirm.
Screenless Models (DeskJet, ENVY):
Press and hold the Wireless and Power (or Cancel) buttons together for 3 to 5 seconds until the power and wireless lights start flashing. This resets the printer into setup mode.
Open the HP Smart app on a smartphone or computer connected to your Wi-Fi network.
Tap Add Printer / + and follow the prompts to automatically send Wi-Fi credentials to the printer.
Touchscreen / Display Models:
Press the Setup (Wrench / Gear) icon.
Select Device Settings > LAN settings > Wi-Fi > Wireless LAN setup.
Tap Manual connect, select your Wi-Fi network, type your password, and select OK.
Screenless Models (PIXMA TS / TR Series):
Press and hold the Wireless / Direct button until the network light flashes.
Open the Canon PRINT app on your phone or tablet.
Select Add/Switch Printer > Register Printer, and follow the on-screen steps to configure wireless access.
Screen Models (EcoTank / WorkForce):
Go to the Home screen and tap Wi-Fi Setup (or Settings > General Settings > Network Settings > Wi-Fi Setup).
Select Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
Choose your network SSID, enter your Wi-Fi network password, and tap Done.
Screenless Models:
Press and hold the Wi-Fi button on the printer for 3 seconds until the network lights flash alternately.
Launch Epson Smart Panel on your mobile device to complete network configuration.
Touchscreen / Keypad Models:
Press Menu or the Settings icon on the control panel.
Select Network (or WLAN) > WLAN > Setup Wizard.
When asked to enable WLAN, choose Yes.
Select your SSID, enter your network key using the keypad, and press OK.
Screenless Models (HL / DCP Series):
Press the Wi-Fi / WPS button on the printer until the Wi-Fi LED starts flashing.
Press the physical WPS button on your Wi-Fi router within 2 minutes to pair automatically. Alternatively, configure network settings via the Brother Mobile Connect app.
Once your printer is on your Wi-Fi network, complete setup on your device.
Ensure your PC is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.
Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (or Devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 10).
Click Add device (or Add a printer or scanner).
Wait for Windows to scan your local network. When your printer model appears, click Add device. Windows will install the required drivers automatically.
Ensure your Mac is connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Click the Apple Menu () in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences).
Click Printers & Scanners in the left menu.
Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... (or the + button).
Under the Default tab, select your printer (detected via Bonjour).
Confirm the driver/AirPrint setting and click Add.
Most modern wireless printers support Apple AirPrint, which requires no driver setup:
Connect your iPhone or iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer.
Open the file, document, or photo you want to print.
Tap the Share button (square icon with an upward arrow) or menu dots.
Scroll down and tap Print.
Tap Printer, select your wireless printer from the list, configure print settings, and tap Print in the top-right corner.
Android utilizes built-in print services or manufacturer plugins:
Connect your Android device to the same Wi-Fi network.
Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Printing (or search "Printing" in Settings).
Verify that Default Print Service is toggled On.
Open the document or image, tap the menu (three dots), select Print, and choose your printer.
Note: If your printer does not show up automatically, download the Mopria Print Service or your brand's official print app (e.g., HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, Brother Mobile Connect) from the Google Play Store.
Frequency Band Incompatibility: Ensure your router broadcasts a 2.4 GHz network band. Most printers cannot communicate over 5 GHz-only Wi-Fi bands.
IP Address Changes: If your printer repeatedly goes offline, access your printer's network menu or router portal to assign a Static IP address.
Power Cycling: If a device fails to find the printer, restart your printer, router, and computer/mobile device to clear stale cache data.