Wired ethernet connection possibility

[Lesterr]

My Deskjet 8015e printer does not have an ethernet plugin. but does have a usb connection. If I connect to a router using a usb to ethernet adapter will the printer connect over the internet?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Lesterr,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your printer!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

The HP Deskjet 8015e printer does not come with a dedicated Ethernet port. To achieve a wired Ethernet connection using a USB to Ethernet adapter, certain compatibility criteria must be met. The printer's firmware and drivers need to support network communication over such adapters, which might not be guaranteed.

Here is a general guide on how you might try connecting your Deskjet 8015e printer over the internet using a USB to Ethernet adapter:

Check Adapter Compatibility: Ensure that the USB to Ethernet adapter is compatible with your printer model. This information can usually be found on the adapter’s packaging or product description.

Connect the Adapter: Plug the USB to Ethernet adapter into the USB port of the Deskjet 8015e printer.

Connect to Router: Insert the Ethernet cable into the adapter and connect the other end to an available Ethernet port on your router.

Check Printer Settings: Access the printer settings to check if it recognizes the network connection. This might involve navigating through the printer’s control panel.

Install Any Necessary Drivers: If the printer requires specific drivers for the adapter, you may need to install these on your computer. Check the printer’s support page or the adapter’s documentation for any additional software requirements.

Compatibility: Not all printers support network communication through USB to Ethernet adapters. HP Deskjet models typically do not support this form of connection inherently.

Alternative Methods: Consider using wireless connectivity if your printer has Wi-Fi capabilities or connecting the printer to a computer and sharing it over the network.

Due to the limitations mentioned, the most reliable method would generally involve using the wireless capabilities of the printer for internet connections.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Lesterr]

Thank you Kuroi for your well thought out and detailed response to my query. I agree with everything you went through in your response.

I currently have the printer connected wirelessly to my home network via a Netgear Orbi router that I have been using for years. The 8015E printer replaced my old HP Deskjet Pro model that I used wirelessly without issue for 8 years but felt it was time to upgrade.

My main concern was that since the model 8015E does not have an ethernet port does the printer have the necessary silicone and supporting firmware to support the ethernet protocol through the usb connection and does the firmware have the capability to recognize the data received via the usb port as an ip packet and is it able to extract the appropriate information and have it print properly.

The issue I currently have is that the printer is shown as offline every morning and before I can use the printer I have to open the HP Smart App and run the diagnose & Fix procedure before the printer will be recognized by my laptop (running Win11).

After trying many recommended solutions I though maybe if I could have a wired connection via a usb to ethernet adapter & the computer (HP Envy x360) would automatically detect the printer on the network & I wouldn't have to do the additional step using HP Smart. I gather from your post that the printer does not have the capability I was hoping for. Thank you for looking at this though.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@Lesterr, Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share the detailed background and technical considerations.

@Kuroi_Kenshi is away at the moment, I will be assist you with this query. 
 

You're absolutely right in your reasoning—while it’s a creative and technically thoughtful approach, unfortunately, the HP DeskJet 8015e does not have the embedded silicon (chipset) or firmware stack required to support Ethernet communication via a USB to Ethernet adapter. 
The USB port on the 8015e is designed exclusively for USB host-to-PC communication and does not support USB OTG or USB-Ethernet class drivers that would be needed to interpret Ethernet/IP traffic.

In short, even with a USB to Ethernet adapter connected, the printer will not recognize it as a network interface or treat incoming data as IP-based communication—it will simply not register the connection at all.

 Regarding Your Printer Showing as Offline:

What you're experiencing with the printer showing as offline each morning is a known frustration, especially on mesh networks like your Netgear Orbi. 
Several factors may contribute to this:

Dynamic IP changes on the network after overnight idle states

The printer entering deep sleep mode and not properly waking for broadcast pings

Network isolation settings on mesh networks that can prevent devices from seeing each other consistently

Here are a few suggestions that might help make the wireless experience more seamless:

Assign a Static IP to the printer via your router’s admin settings. This prevents DHCP from assigning a new IP to the printer daily, which can break the connection.

Disable IPv6 on the printer and router if it's not needed—it can sometimes interfere with local discovery.

Use the HP Smart App to set up "Always Ready" or similar power options, so the printer doesn't enter deep sleep. This feature varies by firmware version, but it's worth checking in the Embedded Web Server (EWS).

Wi-Fi Direct fallback: While not ideal for network printing, enabling Wi-Fi Direct can offer a temporary direct link from your laptop to the printer in case the wireless network fails.
 

If these adjustments don’t help, another reliable method (as you also noted) is to connect the printer via USB to a PC, then enable printer sharing from Windows settings, allowing other devices on the network to access it through that computer.

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support

[Lesterr]

Thank you Max3Ai for confirming my suspicions. Your answer was very direct and to the point and saved me a lot of time and frustration. I appreciate you taking the time to answer. I also appreciate the additional information you provided and will experiment with those approaches when time permits. Of course the option of wifi direct is not an option for me and neither is connecting to my laptop with a usb cable. I make considerable use of the portablity feature of my laptop , which is the reason I do not have desktop computers. Thanks again for taking the time to provide the additional information.

[Max3Aj]

My pleasure, @Lesterr 🙂
A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Regards, 

Max3Aj