Switch between wifi and ethernet on M283

[Pbuzzard]

I have a scanner application on my desktop that requires a direct ethernet connection to the printer.  The manual tells me that I cannot use Wi-Fi when ethernet is in use, so I only use ethernet when I'm using tat app and then I disconnect it when done.  

My problem is that the Wi-fi no longer functions (using Android phones) after I have disconnected.  I have rebooted both the phones and printer but that didn't help.  I then tried the HP Smart app and it eventually starts working.  I'm not sure what I did to make this happen.  

To make this even messier, there are occasions when the switch back to Wi-fi happens without intervention.

Please advise.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Pbuzzard,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The HP M283 series printers indeed prioritize the ethernet connection when it's plugged in, disabling Wi-Fi. This can cause some disruption when switching between connection methods. Here are some tips to manage the Wi-Fi issue after disconnecting ethernet:

1. Automatic Wi-Fi Re-enable on M283 (if available):

• Check your printer settings (through the control panel or web interface) to see if there's an option to automatically re-enable Wi-Fi when the ethernet cable is disconnected. This might be under "Network" or "Wireless" settings.
• If such an option exists, enabling it would streamline the process after disconnecting ethernet.

2. Manual Wi-Fi Setup on Phones:

• Since the HP Smart app eventually reconnects your phones, you can try manually setting up the Wi-Fi connection on your Android phones after disconnecting ethernet.
• This involves forgetting the current "DIRECT" connection (which might be causing issues) and searching for the regular Wi-Fi network name of your printer.
• Enter the Wi-Fi password for your printer (the one you use for your home Wi-Fi network) during setup.

3. HP Smart App for Wi-Fi Reconnection:

• As you've experienced, the HP Smart app seems to resolve the Wi-Fi connectivity issue eventually.
• Consider using the app as a primary method to reconnect to the printer's Wi-Fi after disconnecting ethernet.

4. Power Cycling (Might Help Occasionally):

• While not a permanent solution, sometimes a power cycle can help resolve temporary glitches.
• Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
• This can sometimes refresh the network settings and might restore Wi-Fi connectivity.

Understanding the Disruption:

The core issue is that the M283 prioritizes ethernet, disabling Wi-Fi. When you disconnect the cable, the printer might take a while to automatically switch back and configure Wi-Fi. This can lead to the temporary Wi-Fi unavailability you're experiencing.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571 

HP Support