Printer appears but unable to connect when trying to printer from iOS device

[Niknak11]

I have an iPhone 16, I am trying to printer via cloud connected device. Previously worked for me but now stopped. Other devices in household print without issue. When I select something to print > print > select printer … my device is found, it’s connected, I select this and after a couple of seconds it is unselected and cannot proceed. If I try printing from hp app the printer is present, connected, the file says it is sent to printer but waits for confirmation and this never arrives and no document in queue. Any ideas?

[Niknak11]

Here are the screen grabs - printer connected, I select this and small wheel starts spinning, then it disappears and reverts back to select printer.

 

 

 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Niknak11,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP printer appears on your iPhone 16 but you’re unable to print—your iOS device finds the printer, but when you select it, it quickly deselects and printing doesn’t start. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Restart Devices and Printer

Turn off your iPhone and the printer, wait 30 seconds, then power them back on.

This often resolves temporary network or device communication glitches.

Check Wi-Fi Connection

Ensure your iPhone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network.

If your home network has multiple bands (2.4GHz / 5GHz), connect both devices to the same band.

Update iOS and HP Smart App

Go to Settings → General → Software Update on your iPhone and install any pending updates.

Make sure HP Smart is the latest version from the App Store.

Forget and Re-add Printer on iPhone

Open Settings → Wi-Fi → select printer (if listed) → Forget this device.

Then open HP Smart → Add Printer again and follow the prompts.

Reset Printer’s Network Settings

On the printer, go to Setup → Network → Restore Network Settings.

Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi and confirm it’s online.

Check for Firmware Updates

In HP Smart or printer menu, check for printer firmware updates.

Updated firmware can fix iOS connectivity issues.

Test AirPrint vs HP Smart

Try printing a simple document directly via AirPrint from iOS.

If AirPrint works but HP Smart doesn’t, the issue is app-related.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Niknak11]

Thanks this prompted me to check everything again where I discovered a recent software download as part of my works package to allow me to use my own device has installed a VPN which was resulting in my phone being on a different WiFi network to each other! Quick disable of that and works no problem! 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi,

Thanks for letting us help you out! If you're all set, please mark this post as 'Accepted Solution' so I can do a virtual happy dance! 

If you need anything else, I'm all ears (or rather, all text). Just let me know! 

You're awesome, and I'm honored to have been your go-to guide today! 

Stay fantastic, and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,