printer won't connect

[lysbar]

printer just stopped working.  won't load preview won't connect to network.  worked for a year.  me and microsoft tech have tried everything to no avail.  tech said to contact hp.  VERY FRUSTRATED.  8138e officejet pro

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @lysbar,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

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

I understand your HP OfficeJet Pro 8138e printer just stopped working and won’t connect to the network or load previews, even though it worked for a year and troubleshooting with Microsoft hasn’t helped. Let’s go through steps to troubleshoot this.

Power cycle printer and network
Turn off the printer, unplug it for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on.
Restart your router as well to refresh network connections.

Check Wi-Fi connection
Ensure the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
Use the printer’s control panel to view network status or print a network configuration page.

Use HP Smart app to reconnect
Open HP Smart, remove the printer if listed, and add it again using the wireless setup wizard.
Make sure to select the correct network and enter the Wi-Fi password carefully.

Reset printer network settings
On the printer:
Settings → Printer Maintenance → Restore Network Defaults (or similar).
Reconnect to Wi-Fi after reset. This clears old network conflicts.

Check firmware and driver updates
Even if drivers were previously updated, check HP’s website for latest firmware for the 8138e.
Install using USB connection if wireless updates fail.

Try a different device
Use a phone or another computer to see if the printer is reachable.
This helps determine if the issue is with the printer or your primary PC.

Assign a static IP
If the printer keeps dropping off the network, assign a static IP via the router or printer settings.
Update the printer port on your computer to match this IP.

Test USB connection temporarily
Connect the printer via USB to verify it prints.
If it works via USB but not Wi-Fi, the problem is likely a network/communication issue.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,