How Do I Connect My HP Wireless Printer​ to Computer? (Easy Steps)

HP printers are versatile and offer various connectivity options, including a wireless connection. Many beginners find it intimidating to connect an HP wireless printer to a device. Therefore, I will share the steps involved in connecting this printer to a computer wirelessly. As a printer expert, I often work with different printer brands to troubleshoot their issues and connect them to devices. In this blog, I am going to help you connect your HP printer to a device with ease. So, let’s delve into this guide and understand the printer connection.

Step 1: Power On Your HP Printer

Make sure your printer is powered on before connecting it to any device. Plug the power cable into the printer and then into a wall outlet. When the light turns on, your printer is ready to connect to a network and computer.

Step 2: Connect the Printer to a Wireless Network

Once your printer is turned on, connect it to a wireless network. The connection process may vary depending on whether your HP printer has a touchscreen or not. Here’s how to do it using the control panel method.

If the printer has a control panel or display screen, then perform the steps in the section to connect it to your Wi-Fi network.

1. First of all, you have to place the printer near your wireless router.

2. On the display menu, open Wireless Settings or Wi-Fi Setup.

3. After that, select Wireless Setup Wizard and choose your Wi-Fi network.

4. Type in your Wi-Fi password and wait for the connection to complete.

5. After connecting, try printing a test page to make sure it’s working properly.

When the Wi-Fi light becomes steady, your printer is successfully connected to the network. Now, you can add it to your computer to start printing.

Step 3: Add the Printer to Your Computer

Once the printer is turned on and connected to a Wi-Fi network, it’s time to add it to a computer using these steps.

Windows 

1. Select the Start icon on the taskbar and then open Settings.

2. Go to Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners.

3. Click Add Device, then select your printer’s name from the list.

Finally, the printer will be connected to the Windows computer.

Mac 

1. Locate the Apple menu and choose System Settings.

2. Select "Printers & Scanners" and then choose the "Add printer, scanner, or fax" option.

3. Otherwise, you can click the “+” sign to add the printer.

Your Mac computer will automatically detect the printer once the setup process is complete.

Step 4: Download & Install HP Printer Drivers

Downloading and installing printer drivers is a key step in connecting your printer to a computer. This software helps your printer communicate with your computer. You can install them from HP’s official support website. Here are the step-by-step instructions to install them. 

1. Navigate to support.hp.com on an internet browser and select the Software & Drivers section at the top.

2. Select Printer as the product type, and then search for your printer’s name.

3. Select a suitable printer driver package from the list and click the Download button.

4. Let the driver package download completely to your computer, and then go to the Downloads folder.

5. Double-click the driver file and allow it to run on your computer.

Finally, an installation window will appear. Let the process finish, and don’t shut down your system during that process.

Final Words

Connecting an HP wireless printer to a computer is a simple process. It involves turning on the printer, connecting it to a network, and then adding it to the computer. However, you also need to download and install the latest HP printer drivers on your computer so the printer can recognize print commands properly. This way, you’ll have your printer ready to print wirelessly without any hassle.

  Frequently Asked Questions

Question

How Do I Connect My HP Printer to My Android Device?

Learn how to connect your HP Printer to an Android device, use the HP Smart app by following these steps:

1. On your Android device, go to the Play Store.

2. Tap “Install” to begin downloading and setting up the app.

3. Confirm that the printer and mobile device are connected to the same network.

4. Open the app on your mobile device and select your printer’s name from the list to complete the connection. 

Question

How Do I Add My HP Printer to a Wireless Network?

There are several ways to add the printer to a wireless network, such as using the HP Smart app, the printer’s control panel, and the WPS push button. However, you can’t use all these methods on every HP printer model. HP printers with a display can be connected to a Wi-Fi network via their control panel, and those without a display can be connected via the WPS push button. The app will only be used when using a mobile device with the printer. 

Question

Is Downloading and Installing HP Printer Drivers Necessary?

Yes, installing the HP printer drivers is necessary to enable the printer to communicate with the computer. They are the software that allows the printer to understand the print commands from the device. Without the driver software, the printer will not be able to print anything. 

Source: How to Connect My HP Printer to Computer