HP Color Laser MFP 179fw won't connect over Wi-Fi or Ethernet

[Muddyedits]

Hello,

I've been trying to set up a Color Laser MFP 179fw over Wi-Fi or Ethernet but nothing I do will get Windows to install it. Here's what I've tried so far:

- enabled Wi-Fi on the printer and connected to my home network using the wizard. The network configuration report says the link status is 'Connected' and link quality 'Excellent'

- enabled Wi-Fi Direct on the printer

- searched for the printer over Wi-Fi in Windows' control panel. It wasn't detected until I clicked the 'Show Wi-Fi Direct printers'. At this point, the printer appeared as DIRECT-39-HP Laser 179fnw.

- after clicking 'Add device', Windows told me to follow the instructions on the printer.

- On the printer, I accepted the connection, but an error in Windows says 'That didn't work. Try adding your DIRECT-39-HP Laser 179fnw again or check with the manufacturer for additional setup instructions.'

- The same error appeared when I tried to connect over Ethernet.

I also tried to set up the printer using HP Smart, but it wouldn't detect the printer at all except over USB. I'm only able to print over USB, in fact.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Muddyedits,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you've tried several methods to connect your HP Color Laser MFP 179fw to your network, but it's still not being detected over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Let's go through some additional troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue.

Check Network Settings:

• Ensure that your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
• Make sure there are no firewalls or antivirus software blocking the connection.
• Verify the network configuration on the printer:
  • Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer control panel to check the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway.
  • Ensure that the IP address falls within the correct range for your network.

Update Printer Firmware:

• Ensure that your printer has the latest firmware. Sometimes, connectivity issues are due to outdated firmware.
• You can download the latest firmware from the HP Support website and update it via USB if needed.

Reset Network Settings:

• Reset the network settings on the printer to default and try reconnecting:
  1. On the printer, go to Network > Restore Network Settings or a similar option.
  2. Reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi network using the wizard.

Manual IP Address Assignment:

• Sometimes assigning a static IP address to the printer can resolve connection issues:
  1. Access the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS):
     • Enter the IP address (from the Network Configuration Page) into a web browser.
  2. Assign a static IP address:
     • Navigate to Network > IPv4 Configuration or similar.
     • Manually set the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway, ensuring that the IP address is within your router's range.

Disable Wi-Fi Direct:

• If you're not using Wi-Fi Direct, disable it:
  1. On the printer, go to Network > Wi-Fi Direct and turn it off.
  2. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and try adding the printer again.

Try Adding the Printer Manually:

• If Windows still doesn't detect the printer automatically, try adding it manually using the IP address:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a Printer.
  2. Click on The printer that I want isn't listed.
  3. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
  4. Enter the printer's IP address (from the Network Configuration Page) and follow the prompts.

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Check Router Settings:

• Ensure that your router's DHCP settings are correctly configured and that there are enough IP addresses available for all devices.
• If you have MAC filtering enabled on your router, make sure your printer's MAC address is allowed.

HP Print and Scan Doctor:

• Run the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool, which can help diagnose and fix many issues. You can download it from the HP Support website.

Reinstall Printer Drivers:

• Completely uninstall any existing HP printer drivers and software from your computer.
• Download and install the latest drivers from the HP Support website, making sure to select the correct model.

Check for Windows Updates:

• Ensure that your Windows OS is fully up-to-date, as sometimes updates can include fixes for connectivity issues.

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!

Alden4

HP Support 

[Muddyedits]

Thank you! It was the manual IP assignment that was the issue. I switched to DHCP on the printer and got it working over Wi-Fi finally