Connecting Printer via Hotel WiFi

[hoteldenizen]

Just bought a new printer.  I'm living in a hotel for work.  My laptop and phone are both connected to hotel WiFI.  The Printer Information report says the printer is connected to the hotel WiFi network but it also says it's NOT connected to the internet.  I cannot complete set up or set up Instant Ink account as a result.  I've tried the Director connect approach but that ends up adding the printer without a driver and there's no way to add the driver!  Help!!!

[Raj_05]

Hi @hoteldenizen,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're having a few challenges connecting your HP DeskJet 4200e All-in-One Printer to the hotel Wi-Fi and completing the setup, particularly with Instant Ink. Here's a step-by-step guide to help resolve this.

Check Wi-Fi Network Compatibility

• Hotels often have network restrictions (e.g., limited access, firewall issues) that can interfere with printer connections. Ensure the Wi-Fi network is not isolating devices from each other, which can block the printer's communication with your laptop or phone. Some hotels use captive portals (login pages), so ensure that the printer is connected to the Wi-Fi network with the correct settings.

Printer Not Connecting to the Internet

• Even though the printer is connected to the hotel Wi-Fi, it seems it cannot access the internet. Some hotel networks block certain devices or services. To resolve this, consider:
  • Using a personal hotspot: If your phone or mobile device has a hotspot feature, try using it to connect both your printer and laptop to the internet.
  • Check Wi-Fi settings on the printer: Go into the printer's settings and confirm that it’s correctly connecting to the hotel's Wi-Fi network. If it shows any errors, you might need to reconnect.

Driver Installation Issue

• If you're unable to add the printer with the proper drivers via the HP Smart app or HP Easy Start, follow these steps:
  1. Go to the HP Support website: Visit HP's support page and enter your printer model to download the latest drivers for your laptop.
  2. Install the driver manually: Once the driver is downloaded, install it directly on your laptop.
  3. Try setting up the printer via USB: If Wi-Fi setup continues to be a problem, temporarily connect the printer via USB and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.

Instant Ink Setup

• Instant Ink may require the printer to be connected to the internet to complete the setup. If it’s not working through the hotel Wi-Fi:
  • Use a personal hotspot or a USB connection to set up the Instant Ink account and connect the printer to the internet via your phone's hotspot.
  • Alternatively, once you’ve successfully installed the printer driver, go to HP Instant Ink and sign up for an account manually.

Check Hotel Network Restrictions

• Some hotel networks require you to authenticate your devices via a web portal before they can access the internet. Ensure your printer isn't being blocked by the network. In some cases, you may need to ask hotel staff to assist with enabling unrestricted access for devices like printers.

Reboot Devices

• After performing these steps, reboot both your laptop and printer to refresh network connections and settings.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, a personal hotspot might be the most reliable solution for completing the setup.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support