connecting my M203dw Laser Jet to wifi after plugging it in using us

[MartyW1]

connected my LJ M203dw using USB connection.  trying to connect to wifi.  If I disconnect the USB, the printer shows up as being "offline"

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @MartyW1 

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

Thank you for explaining the situation clearly. It’s genuinely frustrating when a printer works over USB but refuses to stay online once disconnected. The HP LaserJet Pro M203dw does support wireless printing, but it requires a proper network setup independent of the USB connection. Let’s walk through the correct method to get your printer connected to Wi-Fi and functioning reliably.

 

Step 1: Prepare the Printer

Make sure the printer is powered on and in a ready state.

Place it close to your Wi-Fi router during setup to ensure a stable signal.

 

Step 2: Restore Network Settings

Resetting the printer’s network settings ensures a clean wireless setup.

On the printer control panel, press and hold the Wireless button until the attention light starts blinking.

Release the button — this restores the network defaults.

 

Step 3: Use the HP Smart App (Recommended)

On your computer or mobile device, download and install the HP Smart app:
HP Smart – Download

Open HP Smart and click + to add your printer.

Follow the on-screen steps to connect your M203dw to your Wi-Fi network.

Enter your Wi-Fi password when prompted.

Once connected, the printer will be available wirelessly and no longer show “offline” when USB is disconnected.

 

Step 4: Remove Old USB Driver (Optional but helps)

On Windows, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

Right-click your M203dw USB printer and remove it.

Then, re-add the printer via Wi-Fi through HP Smart or Add a Printer in Windows.

 

Step 5: Print a Network Test Page (To Confirm)

On the printer control panel, press and hold the Information (i) button.

A configuration page prints, showing the Wi-Fi connection status and IP address.

If it lists an IP address, your printer is now successfully connected to Wi-Fi.

Here’s a helpful HP article you can follow for step-by-step instructions:
HP LaserJet Pro M203dw – Wireless Setup

Would you like me to also give you the steps to connect it using the printer’s built-in Wi-Fi Direct feature (in case you prefer printing without going through your router)?

You're clearly doing everything right—just need the printer to sync up with your network.

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