My printer has successfully connected to the Wi-Fi, but printer isn’t found by smart devices

[Cwmorgan]

HP Color Laser Jet Pro MFP M281fdw —

my printer is successfully connected to our Wi-Fi, but when I try to print wirelessly from smart devices, I get a message that says printer not found. If I reset the router and modem, it will work but soon after return to the same issue.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Cwmorgan 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw is connecting to your Wi-Fi, but you're facing intermittent issues where it works briefly and then the printer is not found again by your smart devices. This issue could be caused by several factors related to the router settings, printer configuration, or network issues.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you resolve the issue:

1. Check Printer’s Network Connection

• Verify the Printer's Wi-Fi Connection:
  • On your printer’s display screen, go to Settings > Network Setup > Wireless Settings and confirm that it is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
  • If the printer is connected to the Wi-Fi but it’s not found on your smart devices, it could be due to an intermittent Wi-Fi connection or network issue.

2. Ensure Devices Are on the Same Network

• Ensure that both your printer and the smart devices (phones, tablets, etc.) are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you have multiple Wi-Fi networks (e.g., a 2.4GHz and 5GHz network), ensure both devices are on the same band (either both on the 2.4GHz or both on the 5GHz).
• Some smart devices or printers may have issues communicating between different frequency bands (2.4GHz vs. 5GHz), so try connecting both devices to the same frequency band.

3. Check Router Settings

• Disable AP Isolation: Some routers have a feature called AP Isolation (Access Point Isolation) that prevents devices on the same network from communicating with each other. Check your router settings and ensure that AP Isolation is turned off.
  • Log into your router’s web interface by entering the router’s IP address into a web browser (e.g., 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
  • Navigate to the Wireless Settings and disable AP Isolation (or "Client Isolation").
• Enable Multicast and UPnP: Make sure your router has UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and Multicast enabled, as these protocols help devices discover each other on the network.
  • Check these settings in your router's web interface.

4. Update Printer Firmware

• It’s possible that a firmware update for your printer could fix connectivity or wireless discovery issues.
  • Visit the HP Support Website and check if there’s a firmware update available for your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw.
  • Follow the instructions on HP's website to update your printer’s firmware.

I hope this helps.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.