I cannot connect a printer that is a separate network even if it registered on the cloud

[GuySapir]

I cannot connect a printer that is a separate network even if it registered on the cloud.
I see it on hpsmart on the internet as connected but offline on the app.
I can send e-mail to it and print but can't use it directly

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @GuySapir 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying that out so clearly. What you’re describing is a classic case of cloud visibility without local network access—your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw is online in HP Smart’s cloud dashboard, but your Windows 11 device can’t reach it directly because they’re on separate networks.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Reconnect the Printer to Your Current Network

To use the printer directly from your PC, it must be on the same local network.

• On the printer’s control panel, go to:
  Setup > Network Setup > Wireless Setup Wizard
• Select your current Wi-Fi network and enter the password
• Wait for the blue wireless light to turn solid (not blinking)

 

2. Assign a Static IP 

This prevents future disconnections after router reboots.

• Once connected, print a Network Configuration Page to get the IP address
• Enter the IP into a browser to open the Embedded Web Server (EWS)
• Go to Network > IPv4 Configuration > Manual IP
• Set a static IP and DNS (e.g., 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4)

3. Re-add the Printer in HP Smart

• Open HP Smart on your PC
• Remove the old printer profile
• Click the + icon to add the printer again
• It should now appear as online and available

4. Use Direct IP Printing (If Needed)

If HP Smart still doesn’t detect it:

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
• Click Add device > Add manually
• Choose Add a printer using TCP/IP address
• Enter the static IP you set earlier

Let me know what you observe after trying these steps. 

You’re clearly doing everything right—just a few more adjustments and you’ll be printing directly again.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[GuySapir]

Thank you for detailed answer.

The issue is that you say that "To use the printer directly from your PC, it must be on the same local network."
This is exactly the problem I want to solve.
I was under the impression that if the printer can have a cloud address I could connect to it from every network that is connected to internet even if it is not on the same local network.
Am I incorrect?
Thank you
Guy

[Hawks_Eye]

@GuySapir 

You're absolutely thinking along the right lines, and your expectation is not wrong at all—it's just that today’s consumer-level printer tech hasn’t fully caught up to that vision yet.

Cloud Registration ≠ Full Remote Access
When a printer is registered to the cloud (like with HP Smart), you can:

• Monitor its status remotely
• Use cloud-specific features (like email-to-print or app-based printing)
• Send jobs from a mobile device using HP’s cloud relay

But that doesn’t automatically make it a universally addressable endpoint from any computer or app unless special protocols are in place. Windows printing, for example, doesn’t natively support routing print jobs through HP’s cloud server to the printer—it still expects the printer to be accessible via LAN or a known IP.

Why this limitation exists:

• Security risks of exposing devices directly to the internet
• Lack of standardized cloud-printing APIs for desktop OSes
• HP’s cloud model is designed around mediated remote printing, not direct PC-to-cloud routing

The silver lining:
HP Smart lets you print from anywhere if you’re using the HP Smart app or cloud services like email-to-print. It’s like sending your file to HP’s cloud, which then tells the printer what to do. Think of it more like a remote command center than a direct pipeline.

🛠️ Possible workarounds you can explore:

• VPN setup to place your PC “virtually” on the same network
• Remote desktop printing from a device on the printer’s network
• Advanced enterprise solutions like Universal Print by Microsoft, which does support cloud-to-device printing (though it's typically used in business environments)

You’re definitely asking the kind of question that pushes tech forward. If you'd like help setting up one of the workarounds or exploring a hybrid solution, I'm all in. Let’s make printing as borderless as your imagination.

Thanks,

Hawks_Eye