HP LaserJet M234dw won't connect to wifi

[MNDrummer]

Tried for over 3 hours to get this new Laser Jet M234dw printer to connect to home WiFi.  No luck,

I'm a seasoned IT professional.  Tried all the troubleshooting steps.  Reset everything multiple times.  Watched YouTube videos.  No luck.  It won't accept my WiFi password.  Using WPA2 and can't go lower than that.  Older HP connects just fine.  No issues with any devices connecting to my home router accept this new printer.  The control panel on this is worthless.  Connected via USB just fine, but that's not a solution.  Tried this to see if I could access more printer options for networking and that was worthless as well.

I'm returning this printer. I want a printer where the control panel allows you to see all the network settings.  My older/cheaper non-HP printer Canon allows this.  Very disappointed since this is a $200 printer.  The time I have spent on this is already worth more than what this printer cost.  Time is money.  Not sure how this is working for others unless they have no security on their network, then maybe.

[Max3Aj]

@MNDrummer, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

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

Since you've already gone through extensive troubleshooting, here are some advanced steps to try with your HP LaserJet M234dw:

1️⃣ Check Router Settings

• Ensure WPA2-Personal (AES) is selected, not WPA2/WPA3 mixed.
• Some routers block new devices by default—check MAC filtering in router settings.
• Try disabling Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) temporarily if your router supports it.

2️⃣ Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS)

• Connect via USB and open the HP Printer Embedded Web Server (EWS).
  1. Find your printer’s IP address via HP Smart or Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Printer Properties > Web Services.
  2. Enter the IP address in a web browser.
  3. Navigate to Network settings and manually configure WiFi.

3️⃣ Manually Assign Static IP

• Sometimes, DHCP issues cause connection failures. Try:
  1. Reserve an IP address for the printer in your router settings.
  2. Enter that static IP manually in the printer via EWS.

4️⃣ Factory Reset via Control Panel

• Press & hold the Wi-Fi button and Cancel button for 10+ seconds until the printer resets.

5️⃣ Temporary Mobile Hotspot Test

• Create a temporary hotspot with the same SSID & password as your home WiFi. If the printer connects, it might be a router-side issue.

6️⃣ Check Firmware Version

• Use HP Support Assistant tool to update the firmware.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support