HP Laser Jet Pro will not stay connected Wireless

[Debbie1234]

Printer will not stay online via wireless connection.  I have to turn the printer Off/On everytime I turn the PC on in order for the wireless connection to work.  After I turn it off and back on it will remain online until I shut down my MAC.  When I turn the MAC back on I have to power printer off and back on in order for it to come online.  

Have powered down router and power back up.

Things I have done to troubleshoot problem:

Checked network connection and it shows network WI-FI is on, WI-FI Direct on,  WI-FI connection Upper right hand corner shows strong wifi siginal.  

Wireless Network Test Report shows everything has passed

Other Networks detected matching your network name (SSID) NO

Wireless Netwrok Detected 0

Disconnect Count 0, Disconnect Count (Last 24 hrs) 0, Disconnect Connect Count (Last Hour)0, Channel 1 =0

Troubleshooting: No problems found

[MKazi · Accepted solution]

@Debbie1234

Welcome to HP Support Forums. 🙂

I came across your post and would like to assist. 

I understand that your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw does not remain connected to the wireless network. You have to restart the printer to have it connected to the network. 

Fabulous diagnostics, spectacular analysis of the issue by you. Kudos to you for that.

You mentioned that you have checked network connection and it shows network WI-FI is on, WI-FI Direct on. At any given time, the Wi-Fi Direct should be turned off if the printer is connected to the Wi-Fi network (wireless network).

The page# 40 from the user guide explains on how to disable the WiFi-Direct. Click here to access the user guide.

While you respond to that. I recommend you to perform the following steps to isolate the issue and arrive at a fix: 

NOTE: Please skip any steps that you may have already attempted:

• Disconnect the power cable from the printer while the printer is still ON.
• Disconnect any other cables if connected the printer.
• Press and hold the printer’s power button for 15 seconds.
• The printer should be directly connected to the wall outlet and not to a surge protector.
• Reconnect the power cable to print and the printer should power ON by itself. If the printer doesn’t power ON then please manually power it ON.

Please continue with the following steps:

1. Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.

2. In the Printers list, click your HP printer, and then click the Minus button  to delete it.

3. Click the Add button .

4. Find and select the name of your printer from the Printer list, and then click Add to add your printer. Do not select an HP Fax driver.

      NOTE: If your printer does not display in the list, make sure the printer is connected, turned on, has power, and is ready to print.

   Figure : Example of the printer selection list

   

5. Click Print Using or Use.

6. Select the name of your printer (if available) or AirPrint.

   Figure : Menu showing AirPrint selected

   

   Your new printer queue displays in the Printers list in an Idle status .

   Figure : Example of a newly added printer in the Printers & Scanners list

   

7. Try printing again.

   • If the printer prints, you can stop troubleshooting.

Incase the problem persists then let us assign a static IP address for your printer. The following steps will help:

• Obtain the IP address of the printer – You can touch the “wireless” icon on the printer control panel to obtain the IP address.

• Type the IP address on your web browser to obtain the printer EWS page on your computer.

• Go to "Network" tab - General - Select "Network protocols" - Select "Enable IPv4 only" (or similar) - Apply the settings.

• Go to the “Network” tab – Click on “Wireless (802.11) – Then click on “Network address (IPv4)

• Click on the radio button which says “Manual IP” and then click “Suggest a manual IP address” to give a manual IP address to your printer.

• Click on radio button which says “Manual DNS Server” and under manual preferred type 8.8.8.8 and under manual alternate type 8.8.4.4 (This is Google DNS server address)

Please click here to watch an HP video that explains how to assign a static IP address in Windows. Similar steps can be replicated in Mac OS also.

I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. Let me know how it goes. I'll be glad to assist you further.

Cheers! 🙂

[Debbie1234]

Yesterday I turned off Wi-FI directed yesterday.  This afternoon when I checked the Wi-Fi Direct was back on,.  Turned it off again.

I then went thru the power on/off sequence as per you suggestion.  So far printer is online.  I will check tomorrow when I get home from work and boot up my PC to see if it is still online and will then update.

Thank you for your help.

Debbie

[MKazi]

@Debbie1234

You're welcome Debbie. 🙂

I'm glad that the printer is online now. However, you would like to check by tomorrow.

Sure, feel free to let me know as conveniently as possible. 

Cheers! 

[Debbie1234]

Kazi,

When I booted up Mac this afternoon Printer was off Line.  I checked Wi-Fi Direct was  turned off.  So I did the following as per your instructions:

1. Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.

2. In the Printers list, click your HP printer, and then click the Minus button  to delete it.

3. Click the Add button .

4. Find and select the name of your printer from the Printer list, and then click Add to add your printer. Do not select an HP Fax driver.

I then connected Printer  via usb cable to Mac found printer: Printer HP Color Laser Jet MFP M281fdw.  I selected to add this printer.

Print Que now shows:

HP Color Laser Jet MFP M281fd (466914)

Status Idle

Kind HP Color Laser Jet MFP M278-M281 Air Print

HP Color Laser Jet MFP M278-281

Status Idle

Kind HP Color Laser Jet M278-M281 Air Print

Under Faxes:

HP Color Laser Jet MFP M281fd (466914) Fax

Kind HP Color Laser Jet M278-M281 Air Print

Status Idle

HP Color Laser Jet MFP M281 Fax

Kind HP Color Laser Jet M278-M281 Air Print

Status Idle

Disconnected Printer from PC and Piinter showed off-line.  WI-FI direct was back on.  Turned WI-FI direct off.  Rebooted Printer.

Printer now shows ready.

Do I need to keep all of the  printers/faxes that are showing up in the printer/fax dialogue box listed in the Printer/Fax 

[MKazi]

@Debbie1234

You have been fabulous to work with considering your superb technical skills and valuable patience. Kudos to you for that.

You may keep the printers in the printer/fax dialogue box listed in the Printer/Fax. That should be alright because your printer is online now and ready. 

But if the printer goes offline again then you may remove them all. 

Cheers! 

[shewhowatchesU]

I have done everything ever suggested numerous times. Either the printer won't stay connected even though my computer says it IS connected or I get error messages for one thing or another, such as looking for printer. It works for a week or so and then--NOT. I had a wireless HP (not ink jet) that worked fine for years in the same house, same location, same route, same computer....

What is the REAL problem with this printer. I am sick to death of "fixing" it.

[Ramzig]

Same issues and same solutions tried.  Very frustrating that realitivly expensive printer is not useable

[rick-s]

@Ramzig

Hello,
Thank you for posting in this thread. Unfortunately, based on when the last response was made, I have closed this thread to help keep comments current and up to date. I recommend starting a new thread for your issue by clicking here: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/forums/postpage

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