Printer not always available

[dfsmetsfan]

My printer is connected to printer via wifi. It is always on and on my personal, at home network. There is no other printer on the network. Sometimes it prints just fine. Other times ( a lot) it tells me the printer is not available. This happens when I try to print from my Android tablet.

When I am on my computer, many times it's offline! It should never be offline because it's on all the time and nothing is printing or in the queue. I have turned it off and waited and turned it back on to no avail. 

Should it not always be online and available since it's on wifi and the wifi is also always on? The router/modem is on the same table as the printer do distance is not an issue. I never know when it's going to work and when it's not. Can anyone help?

Software is properly loaded, I recently reinstalled Windows and all programs. This is extremely annoying and frustrating.

Thanks in advance

Donna

[Garp_senchau · Accepted solution]

@dfsmetsfan, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like this printer has put you through the wringer, and I totally get the frustration. Let’s get this sorted once and for all.

First, unplug the printer completely, turn off your laptop and router, wait one minute, then power everything back on. 

Next, let’s remove any old settings that could be causing problems. On your laptop, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, and select Remove device. Then, go to Device Manager, under Print queues, and uninstall any drivers related to your printer. Now, reinstall it using HP Smart, this is the easiest way to ensure your printer is properly set up.

If the printer still doesn’t show up or keeps going offline, check your Wi-Fi network and make sure it’s connected to the same network as your laptop and phone. If possible, assign the printer a static IP address in your router settings so it doesn’t keep "disappearing."

If all else fails, try a factory reset on the printer (found in the settings menu) and start fresh. I know this has been a headache, but you shouldn’t have to throw it out. Let's get it working and make that printer earn its keep! 😊

Also, refer to these helpful guides (these are for your reference):

Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer | HP® Support

HP printer is offline or unavailable | HP® Support

HP Printers - Printer isn't available error (Android) | HP® Support

HP printer not found by the HP Smart app or operating system | HP® Support

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Problem solved? 🎉 Awesome! Mark this as the Accepted Solution to help the next person find their way faster. 🧭 And if it was helpful, click 'yes'—you’ll make someone’s search journey that much easier (and give this reply some well-deserved street cred 🏅)

Regards,

[dfsmetsfan]

Thank you so much. I will give this a try tomorrow. I really appreciate your assistance. I will let you know how it goes.

Donna

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @dfsmetsfan,

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could help. Take your time, and feel free to reach out if you run into any issues. Good luck, and I’ll be here if you need anything else! Let me know how it goes!