Need to Reset Everyday for Connection

[PrinterAli]

Our printer has always connected automatically just fine. We haven't changed anything on it. Over the last month, the connection has gotten worse and worse to the point that we are having to hard reset it every single day sometimes a couple times a day just to get it to print. Everything says it's connected. Network says connected, printer is in Ready. All wifi is connected. It just won't print and leaves things in the queue. What's wrong with it?

[Nal_NR]

Hi @PrinterAli,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

It sounds like your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 is experiencing intermittent connection issues, despite showing that it is connected and "Ready." Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Restart Printer, Router, and Computer

Sometimes a full restart of all network devices can clear out any connection problems:

• Restart the Printer: Turn it off, unplug it for 1-2 minutes, then plug it back in and power it on.
• Restart Your Router: Turn off your router for about 30 seconds and then turn it back on.
• Restart Your Computer: If printing from a computer, restart it and try printing again once the printer reconnects.

2. Reconfigure Wireless Settings

It’s possible that the printer’s connection to your network is weakening or fluctuating over time. Reconfiguring the wireless settings may stabilize the connection.

• On the printer, forget the Wi-Fi network.
• Reconnect to the Wi-Fi network:
  1. From the printer control panel, go to Wireless Settings.
  2. Select Wi-Fi Setup Wizard and follow the instructions to reconnect it to your network.

3. Assign a Static IP Address

Assigning a static IP to the printer can help avoid IP conflicts or network fluctuations that may cause communication issues.

• Assign Static IP via the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS):
  1. On your computer, find the printer’s IP address by printing a Network Configuration Report from the printer’s control panel.
  2. Type the IP address into your browser to access the printer's Embedded Web Server.
  3. Navigate to Network Settings, find IPv4 Configuration, and choose Manual IP.
  4. Assign an IP address outside your router’s DHCP range (e.g., if your router assigns IPs from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.100, choose 192.168.1.200).

4. Update Printer Firmware

Outdated printer firmware may cause connectivity issues.

• Visit the HP Support website, enter your printer model (HP OfficeJet Pro 7740), and check if there is a firmware update available. Follow the instructions to download and install it.

5. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers on your computer can prevent the print jobs from being processed correctly.

• Reinstall Drivers:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click your printer and select Remove Device.
  3. Download the latest drivers from the HP Support website and reinstall them.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post.

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

[Nal_NR]

Hi @PrinterAli ,

Please find the remaining steps below.

6. Clear Print Queue

If print jobs are stuck in the queue, clearing it can help resume printing.

• Clear Print Queue:
  1. On Windows, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click your printer, select See what’s printing, and choose Cancel All Documents.
  3. Restart your computer and printer.

7. Check Network Band

Ensure the printer is connected to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band (as many printers struggle with 5 GHz networks).

• Verify that your router is broadcasting on the 2.4 GHz band, and make sure the printer is connected to that network.

8. Disable IPv6 on the Printer

Disabling IPv6 can sometimes resolve network-related issues for certain routers and printers.

• Access the Embedded Web Server as mentioned earlier, go to Network Settings, and turn off IPv6.

9. Change Router Channel or Bandwidth Settings

Your Wi-Fi network could be crowded or suffering from interference. Changing the router’s channel could improve the printer’s connection.

• Log into your router’s settings and switch the Wi-Fi channel to a less congested one (e.g., from auto to 6 or 11).
• Also, check if the router's bandwidth is set to 20 MHz instead of 40 MHz, which may help stabilize connections.

10. Perform a Factory Reset on the Printer

If none of the above works, performing a factory reset on the printer may help.

• Reset Printer to Default:
  1. From the printer’s control panel, go to Settings > Restore Factory Defaults.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.
  3. Reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi network and try printing again.

11. Use an Ethernet Connection (If Possible)

If the Wi-Fi connection continues to cause problems, consider connecting the printer directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. Wired connections are generally more stable than wireless ones.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the connection issues with your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 and restore its normal printing functionality.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

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