unable to connect to internet

[Texdawg79]

I purchased printer over year ago for my office. Everything was great, but i lost my lease, and had to move to a new office. At my old office i had my own internet connection. My new office has includes internet, but i cannot connect printer. I had to connect via USB and it worked fine, but now i am starting to have issue and error messages that I MUST be connected to internet for printer to keep working. Any ideas. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Texdawg79 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for explaining the situation so clearly. It’s understandable how disruptive this can be, especially when everything was working smoothly before the move. 

Let’s walk through a few steps to help you reconnect your HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e to the internet and avoid those error messages.

 

1. Check Network Type

If your new office internet is shared or managed by a third party, it might have restrictions that block printer connectivity. Try confirming:

• Is the network private or public?
• Are there any firewalls or access controls in place?

If possible, ask the network administrator to allow the printer’s MAC address or enable mDNS/Bonjour services, which are essential for printer discovery.

 

2. Reconnect Using HP Smart Setup

To restore full functionality, including HP+ features, the printer needs an active internet connection. Follow these steps:

• Download or open the HP Smart app on your Windows 11 PC.
• Go to Settings > Add Printer and select your OfficeJet Pro 9730e.
• Choose Wireless Setup and follow the prompts to connect to the office Wi-Fi.

3. Use Wi-Fi Direct (if no router access)

If you can’t connect to the shared network, you can still print wirelessly using Wi-Fi Direct:

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Network Settings > Wi-Fi Direct and turn it on.
• Your PC can then connect directly to the printer’s Wi-Fi signal (e.g., HP-Print-XX-9730e).
• Once connected, add the printer manually via Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add Printer.

This bypasses the need for a router but may limit access to cloud-based features.

 

4. Switch Connection Type

If you’ve been using USB and now see internet-required messages, it may be due to HP+ activation or Instant Ink services. To avoid interruptions:

• Open the HP Smart app and go to Settings > Printer Settings > Connection Type.
• Switch from USB to Wireless or Ethernet, if available.

 

5. Firmware Update 

Sometimes, firmware updates resolve connectivity issues. Visit the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e support page and check under “Software and Drivers” for the latest firmware.

6. Re-register any Web Services:

If the printer was previously set up to use HP ePrint or cloud printing services, you might need to reconfigure those services for the new network environment.

Let me know how far you get with these steps. If the network setup is complex or restricted, we can explore alternate solutions that keep your printer working reliably.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye