CANNOT CONNECT TO WIRELESS ANYMORE AT HOME

[luigi538956]

I have been trying for two days to connect my printer to my home wireless network.  It was working fine for months. At random, it just stops connecting.  I have spent over 24 hours now and nothing works. I have already unplugged it, restarted the router/modem, restarted laptop at least 6 times. Help.   What else can I do to get this thing to connect? It has nothing to do with drivers, etc as it's updated. Have had this printer for a few years and this happened once before and I got it to finally connect after 3 days of trying. It's a glitch somewhere.   What do I do? Thx

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @luigi538956,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding wireless connectivity for the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281cdw!

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

Try these steps:

Verify Network Settings:

• Ensure that your printer is within the range of your wireless network.
• Check if your Wi-Fi network is functioning correctly with other devices.

Reconfigure Wireless Settings:

• Access the printer's setup menu and select 'Network Setup'.
• Go to 'Wireless Setup Wizard' and follow the prompts to connect to your wireless network again.

Check Network Name (SSID) and Password:

• Verify that you're using the correct network name and password for your Wi-Fi.

Update Printer Firmware:

• Check if there's a firmware update available for your printer. Sometimes a newer firmware can resolve connectivity issues.

Static IP Address:

• Assign a static IP address to your printer. This can prevent the printer from losing connection due to changes in DHCP settings. Adjust settings through the printer control panel or use the printer's embedded web server.

Interference and Network Congestion:

• Switch your router to a different channel to minimize interference with other wireless devices (this is done through your router settings).

Network Reset:

• Perform a network reset on the printer to clear any previous settings. You can do this in the printer menu under 'Network Settings' > 'Restore Network Defaults'.

Firewall Settings:

• Check your security firewall settings on your router and computer. Adjust them to ensure they are not blocking printer connectivity.

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,

[luigi538956]

nothing works. I spent 5 days trying all of the above and nothing works. I will have to toss out the printer. Thanks

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @luigi538956,

Thank you for your update. I truly understand how exhausting and frustrating this has been for you, especially after spending so much time trying everything.

If all the standard steps haven’t resolved the issue, there are still a few checks we can suggest before giving up on the printer entirely:

Try a Full Printer Reset (factory reset).
Sometimes, restoring the printer back to factory default settings can clear deep network glitches.

Go to your printer’s Setup menu → Service or Restore Defaults → Choose Restore Factory Defaults.

Once it restarts, run the Wireless Setup Wizard again.

Test a Direct Wi-Fi Connection (Wi-Fi Direct)
If the printer still won’t connect to your router, try Wi-Fi Direct:

Enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer.

Look for the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct name on your computer’s Wi-Fi list.

Connect to it directly and print.
This bypasses the router, helpful to test if it’s a router conflict.

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,