Can’t connect a second hand DeskJet 2721e to my Wi-Fi

[Shania25]

 Hello,

I had purchased a second hand DeskJet 2721e from someone who was buying a newer model, I’ve never had a printer before so it’s all new for myself. I wasn’t given any instructions or anything with the printer so it’s trying to figure all this out from scratch. The printer at the moment sits without paper and ink in it, I wanted to see if perhaps I could just connect the printer to the internet through wireless however when I try through the app it finds the printer but then when it’s trying to connect to the router it pops up with a tab saying 

“ Cannot connect the printer to Wi-Fi

Connecting to your printer is taking longer than expected
Select retry to attempt to connect to your printer again. Select Exit setup to close this window without setting up the printer to continue where you were” 

Is there anything I need to do to get it to connect? I was trying to get it to connect through my phone and my tablet but to both devices got this message. Can anyone help give me some tips on how to connect the second hand printer to my Wi-Fi? Or if I need to factory reset it? 
The printer also appears as a Wi-Fi device to log into but it needs a password? Is there any advice on this thank you I really a

[Max3Aj]

Hi @Shania25, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Since you got the DeskJet 2721e second-hand, the previous owner’s settings might still be stored, which could be causing the connection issue. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set it up properly:

Factory Reset the Printer

To remove any old settings, reset the printer to factory defaults:

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Press and hold the Wi-Fi button (🛜) and the Cancel (❌) button together for about 5 seconds until the Wi-Fi light starts blinking.
3. The printer will restart, and the Wi-Fi light should blink, indicating it's ready for setup.

Prepare for Wi-Fi Setup

• The blinking Wi-Fi light means the printer is in setup mode and ready to connect.
• If it is not blinking, you might need to reset the network settings:
  1. Press and hold the Wi-Fi and Power buttons together until the printer restarts.

Connect the Printer to Wi-Fi

Using HP Smart App (Recommended)

1. Download HP Smart from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).
2. Open the app and tap Set up a new printer.
3. The app should find your printer automatically (ensure Bluetooth and location are enabled).
4. Select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Manual Wi-Fi Direct Connection (If Needed)

Since your printer appears as a Wi-Fi network, this is Wi-Fi Direct mode. If you need the password:

1. Press the Information (ℹ️) button on the printer to print a network configuration page.
2. Look for the Wi-Fi Direct section on the page—the default password will be listed.
3. Connect your phone/tablet to the printer's Wi-Fi Direct name and use the password.
4. Open HP Smart and try setting it up again.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support