Printer wont install on desktop

[cody127]

My HP Office Jet Pro 6968 says it is connected to Wi-Fi but will not show on app so I can scan document to desktop.Tried everything they say online.  Help please.  It was connected but while I was on vacation everything I had connected went offline.  

[Max3Aj]

@cody127, Welcome to the HP Support Community – it’s great to have you here!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your question. I'm more than happy to assist with this and provide a solution that works for you.

I understand your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 is connected to Wi-Fi but not showing up on your desktop app for scanning. Since this happened after a vacation, it’s possible the printer or PC lost network sync or driver settings. Let’s walk through the steps to get everything working again:

Reboot Devices

• Power off your printer, Wi-Fi router, and desktop PC.
• Wait 30 seconds, then power them back on in this order: router → printer → PC.

Confirm Printer is Online

• On the printer’s touchscreen, go to Settings > Network Setup > Wireless Settings.
• Ensure it shows Connected and the IP address is valid (e.g., 192.168.x.x).

Reinstall HP Smart App

• Uninstall the current HP Smart app from your PC.
• Download the latest version from the Microsoft Store or HP Smart

Add Printer in HP Smart

• Open HP Smart → Click “Add Printer”.
• If it doesn’t show up automatically:
  • Click “Set up a new printer”.
  • Enter the printer’s IP address manually (found in Step 2).

Install Full Feature Software (Optional but Recommended)

• Download and install the full driver/software package: Official HP® Support

Check Windows Settings

• Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.
• Ensure your printer is listed. If not, click “Add a printer or scanner”.
• If it shows up but doesn’t scan, click the printer → Manage → Scanner.

Try HP Scan App

• If scanning still fails, install the HP Scan app from the full software package or use Windows Fax and Scan.

Additional Tips

• Assign a static IP to your printer via your router settings to prevent future disconnections.
• Ensure your PC is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer (especially if you have dual-band routers).

I hope your issue is now resolved. If not, feel free to reply and we’ll continue helping until everything’s sorted!

If the post helped, please click “Accepted Solution” to help other users easily find it. And if you’d like to say thanks, just tap the “Yes” button!

Cheers,

Max3Aj

HP Support