Can't print because of "unknown network configuration" and nobody is taking responsibilty

[astrojon258]

I haven't been able to print a scrap of paper for about a week. At first, the printer screen said it was a connectivity issue. 

My Wi-Fi is among the best available, and I pay a premium for it. After I checked everything, I got a message telling me that it is in fact an "unknown network configuration issue" with an error code. I called HP support for the third time only to ask if the problem was an HP issue, a Windows issue, or my ISP. The gentleman said to call Verizon, and they said there was nothing wrong as far as they could see and to contact Microsoft, who said it was an HP problem. 

So now I have a printer that doesn't print, one for which I am paying monthly, and NOBODY is taking responsibility. I did as much troubleshooting as possible, i.e., updating drivers and software, running diagnostic tests, etc. The kicker is that I am advised to log into my HP account and use a remote printer—WHAT??! 

I am desperate and would greatly appreciate any guidance, suggestions, and thoughts. Thank you very much in advance. 

[Garp_senchau]

@astrojon258, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Restart and Reconnect Printer to Wi-Fi

On your printer screen, go to Network Settings and reconnect to your Wi-Fi.

Make sure it’s connected to your home Wi-Fi, not a neighbor’s.

Remove and Reinstall Printer Drivers

On your PC, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

Remove your HP printer.

Download and install the latest driver from HP’s website.

Restart your PC and add the printer again.

Try Printing with USB Cable

Connect your printer to your PC using a USB cable (if you have one).

See if it prints. If yes, it’s a Wi-Fi issue.

Restart Print Spooler and Clear Print Queue

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.

Find Print Spooler, right-click it, and click Stop.

Go to folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files inside.

Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler and click Start.

Try printing again.

Reset Printer Network Settings

On your printer, find Network Settings > Restore Network Settings.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi and try printing.

Check Your Router Settings

Make sure “client isolation” or similar security settings are off so your printer can communicate with your PC.

Restart your router.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[astrojon258]

First of all, THANK YOU so much for your excellent suggestions—all of which I've tried with no success. However, this came to my attention for the first time when a Wi-Fi Test Results page printed—the only time the printer works. You can't imagine how much paper has been wasted. 

"ATTENTION:  More than one Wi-fi router has been that matches your Wi-Fi network name (SSID). If you don't intend this, the printer could unintentionally connect to the incorrect Wi-Fi network. To keep this from happening, change your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) to one that is unique."

This concept is unfamiliar to me, and I am uncertain about its meaning or the actions I should take. If I change my network name, I'll have to configure the new name on all Wi-Fi devices using the network. Until two weeks ago, everything was working perfectly. I cannot think of a thing I did that might have altered the situation in any way. I need the printer more than ever, but I'm confused and don't know what to do. I've called HP Support at least ten times. The representatives have been so kind and exhibited extraordinary patience, but I think they're as baffled by all of this as I am. 

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this recent revelation. Apart from the abject confusion, this has been very draining and time-consuming with no solution on the horizon. Many thanks again! 

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @astrojon258,

Thanks for sharing the detailed background—this is a frustrating situation, and the Wi-Fi Test Results message gives us a very useful clue. The issue likely stems from SSID (Wi-Fi network name) duplication, meaning your printer is seeing multiple routers broadcasting the same network name, and it may be connecting to the wrong one (e.g., a neighbor’s, or a mesh node that’s not correctly routing traffic).

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening and how to fix it:

Ensure Unique, Reliable Wi-Fi Connectivity

1. Rename Your Wi-Fi Network (SSID)

Go into your router’s admin settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser).

Change the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) to something unique.

Set both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to the same SSID if your printer is dual-band, otherwise use only 2.4 GHz.

Reconnect all your devices (including the printer) to the new SSID.

Yes, it's inconvenient to reconnect everything, but this step removes confusion between your Wi-Fi and any nearby networks.

2. Assign a Static IP to Your Printer

Log into your router’s settings.

Locate your printer in the list of connected devices.

Assign it a static IP address so it always gets the same one.

Helps prevent disconnection due to IP conflicts.

Reconnect Printer Correctly

Factory Reset the Printer’s Network Settings:

On the printer, go to Settings > Network > Restore Network Settings or similar.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi:

Choose the newly renamed Wi-Fi network.

Enter the password.

On Your PC:

Remove and re-add the printer using the new IP address or by auto-discovery.

Test to Confirm

Try printing a Wi-Fi Network Test page again.

Ensure it shows:

Connected to the new SSID

Correct IP address

No duplicate SSIDs detected

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,