Printer not connected

[indylou]

I was printing something yesterday with no issues.  When I tried to print the next item, I couldn't.  Nothing happened.  Now, my printer is showing as being "not connected".  I have tried to connect with the Bluetooth, but am not even sure what this means.  My wi-fi seems to be working fine, and I am able to get online.  I've tried several troubleshooting suggestions with no luck.  Do I need to remove and then reinstall the printer?  Why can't the printer connect to the Bluetooth?  I click the connect button, and it will ask for a password, or PIN number.  I've entered the PIN number from the router, and it says it's incorrect.  I've tried to use password, and it says it's incorrect as well.  How do I connect to the Bluetooth without this information?

TIA

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @indylou 

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

I can imagine how confusing and frustrating it feels when the printer suddenly shows “not connected” after working fine the day before. Thank you for already trying several troubleshooting steps—that shows great persistence. 

Let’s clear up the Bluetooth part first and then walk through how to get the printer back online.

Understanding Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi

• Most HP printers use Wi-Fi for printing. Bluetooth is only used for setup or discovery, not for actual printing.
• That’s why entering your router’s PIN or password doesn’t work—Bluetooth doesn’t connect through your router. Printing relies on Wi-Fi.

Confirm Wi-Fi Connection on Printer

• On the printer’s control panel, check the wireless icon.
• Print a Network Configuration Page to confirm the printer has a valid IP address.
• If the printer is not connected, run the Wireless Setup Wizard and reconnect it to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

Check Computer Settings

• On your Windows computer, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Make sure your printer is listed and set as the default.
• If it shows “offline” or “not connected,” right-click and select “Remove device.”

Re-add the Printer

• Open the HP App on your computer.
• Select “Add Printer” and follow the steps to reconnect it to Wi-Fi.
• Ensure you select the correct SSID and enter the Wi-Fi password (not the router PIN).

Test Printing

• Once re-added, print a test page from the HP App.
• If the test page prints successfully, your connection is restored.

Optional: Assign a Static IP

• To prevent future drops, you can reserve a static IP for the printer in your router settings.
• This ensures the printer always uses the same address and avoids confusion when reconnecting.

You’ve already done the right thing by checking your Wi-Fi and trying to reconnect. The key here is to ignore Bluetooth for printing and focus on reconnecting through Wi-Fi. Removing and reinstalling the printer in the HP App often clears up the “not connected” status.

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

[indylou]

Thanks so much for the reply, Hawks_Eye!  My printer decided to work as quickly as it quit working.  No idea what I did to make it work, but at least it's working!  Thanks so much for explaining the Bluetooth for me.  I had no idea exactly what Bluetooth was, or why it was saying it wasn't connected.  It still isn't connected to the printer, (at least that's what it says!), so your explanation makes sense.  

My printer showed the Wi-fi icon all along, which had me confused.  It also would print test pages.  Yet, it wouldn't print else that I would try to print.  A lot of your explanations was beyond this tech challenged person!  I'm sure it helped a lot of other people though!  For instance, I have no idea what an SSID is, nor how to assign a static IP.  

I so appreciate your help in this!

[Hawks_Eye]

You're very welcome, and thank you for the kind words! I'm truly glad to hear your printer is back in action—even if it decided to fix itself mysteriously. That can be both a relief and a head-scratcher!

You’re definitely not alone in finding some of the tech terms a bit overwhelming. Let me simplify a couple of those for you, just in case they pop up again:

• SSID: That’s simply the name of your Wi-Fi network. When your printer or phone asks “Which network do you want to connect to?”, the list it shows—those are SSIDs.
   
• Static IP: Think of it like giving your printer a permanent address on your Wi-Fi so your computer always knows where to find it. Without it, the printer’s “address” might change when it reconnects, which can confuse your computer.

And you're absolutely right—Bluetooth can be misleading. It’s like a handshake tool for setup, not the actual path your documents travel when printing.

If the issue ever returns, you now have a solid set of steps to fall back on. And if anything feels too technical, just say the word—I’ll always break it down into easy, step-by-step guidance.

You’ve done a great job navigating this, and your persistence paid off. If you ever need help again, I’m right here.

Cheers!

Hawks_Eye