HP Smart for macOS cannot find HP Tango printer for initial setup (despite multiple WiFi resets)

[THXwww]

I am trying to set up a brand new HP Tango with my MacBook Pro. The Tango is unpacked and on, cartridges are in, the front edge light is pulsing blue after resetting the printer's wifi setup multiple times (by pressing the little button in the back for 5 secs)

I downloaded the HP Smart app for macOS X. Installed and opened it and clicked on "Setup New Printer".  The app didn't see it right away (unlike in the instructional video for "Tango and macOS", where the printer shows up magically when the app is opened for the first time...)

The MacBook Pro is connected to my local WiFi network. As I said - the printer has the blue pulsing edge light on indicating it's in setup mode. But the HP Smart app cannot find any printer. When I hit "Setup New Printer" it's asking me if I want to set it up wirelessly or through a cable. The HP Tango doesn't even have a cable option, so I pick "wireless". Then it asks me if my printer has a display or not. Here is where it's getting strange - when I choose the option "no display" (the Tango doesn't have one), it tells me to connect the printer via a USB cable, which of course doesn't work with the Tango.

So I pick "has a display" (which it hasn't), but regardless of that - I click OK and the app tries to find the printer (that's still in blue setup mode right next to the computer). It's searching and searching for minutes, but - nothing. It cannot find it. I tried resetting the printer multiple times. Nothing. The printer cannot be found.

What am I doing wrong here? Or might something be wrong with the printer? I picked this printer because (it looks great and) setting it up seemed really simple (in the video)...

[THXwww]

Here are some more observations that seem to confuse me.

While the printer is in "setup mode", it seems to create its own Wifi Setup Network, as it shows up on my MacBook Pro's Wifi connections:

Do I need to manually join this HP setup network (I have tried to select this network on my MacBook Pro and only get an "unable to join network" error message)? Or should HP Smart automatically join this network during the discovery process? Could that be the problem?

If I try to set up my Tango trough a smartphone, will HP Smart on that phone join this HP setup network automatically or does the phone need to be connected to it manually during the setup? 

In every instructional setup video for the Tango all this seems to happen automatically, which it doesn't when I try it.

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

You should not manually connect to the HP-Setup network, but connect to your home wifi unless the HP Smart app clearly guides you to manually connect to that network.

Please make sure you are connected to your network, then follow 'Connect a printer that does not have a touchscreen control panel > Step 2: Connect the printer with the HP Smart app' below:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05987925

Shlomi

[THXwww]

Thanks, ShlomiL for the clarification. I'll be able to give my printer setup another try tomorrow.

When I clicked on the link you provided, I  noticed the option to set up the Tango via WPS. My router has a WPS button. Wouldn't that be the easiest way of adding it to my wireless network (no HP Smart App involved) - like pressing two buttons to put the Tango into WPS mode and then pressing the WPS button on my router? After that my Mac (either through the HP Smart App or through the regular "Add Printer function" of macOS) should be able to see the printer and print. Correct?

Thanks.

[ShlomiL]

This is correct,

You may connect it with WPS, if you experience any difficulties, use the HP Smart app as instructed.

Please let me know if you experience any difficulties,

Shlomi