8028e Keeps Dropping from my wireless network

[MichaelS211]

My printer will not stay connected to the network for more than a minute or 2.  This is a new problem, it worked reliably for a year or 2.  

If I reboot the router and printer the printer will connect and print what is in the queue.  But when I try to print a new doc I see "The printer is not responding."  I did get it to connect for long enough to use HP Smart to verify the firmware is up to date.

If I reboot the printer it will then print jobs in the queue and new jobs for a few minutes but soon returns to printer not responding mode.

The blue light indicating the wifi connection status remains solid blue.

I'm running MacOS Sequoia 15.5 on one laptop and Windows current version on another with the same result.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @MichaelS211 

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

Thanks for laying out the details so clearly— that helps a lot. Since your HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e shows a solid blue Wi-Fi light but still drops off the network after a few minutes, we’re likely dealing with a deeper connectivity issue that goes beyond basic setup. 

Let’s tackle this step by step:

Step-by-Step Fixes

 

1. Assign a Static IP to the Printer

This prevents IP conflicts and keeps the printer reachable:

• On the printer’s touchscreen, go to Settings > Network Setup > Wireless Settings > Advanced Settings > IP Settings.
• Choose Manual and assign an IP outside your router’s DHCP range (e.g., if your router uses 192.168.1.2–192.168.1.100, use 192.168.1.150).
• Save and restart the printer.

2. Update Router Firmware

Even if the printer’s firmware is current, your router might need an update:

• Log into your router’s admin page (usually via 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
• Check for firmware updates and apply them.
• Restart the router after updating.

3. Disable IPv6 on the Printer

Some HP printers struggle with IPv6:

• Go to Settings > Network Setup > Advanced Settings > IPv6.
• Disable it and restart the printer.

4. Check for Dual-Band Conflicts

If your router uses both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands:

• Ensure the printer is connected to the 2.4GHz band (more stable for printers).
• Give each band a unique SSID to avoid confusion.

5. Reset Network Settings on the Printer

This clears any lingering misconfigurations:

• On the printer, go to Settings > Network Setup > Restore Network Settings.
• Reconnect to Wi-Fi manually afterward.

6. Reinstall Printer on macOS

Sometimes the Mac holds onto stale printer profiles:

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
• Remove the HP printer.
• Re-add it using IP printing with the static IP you assigned earlier.

Try pinging the printer from your Mac:

• Open Terminal and type: ping [printer IP address]
• If the ping drops after a few minutes, it confirms the printer is losing network visibility.

Let me know how it goes after trying these. If it’s still acting up, we can dig into router logs or explore deeper diagnostics. 

You’ve got the persistence — I’ve got the tools. Let’s fix this together.

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

[MichaelS211]

Thanks for the help.  Took me awhile to find time to deal with this.  I have an older set of Google wifi mesh routers.  Was not able to get to the admin for them until I went thru a process of deleting the entire mesh network and devices, readded the devices, and rebuilt the network, all using the Google Home app on my Android.  I used a new network name.  Google help did a great job of talking me thru this as there apparently is no documentation about how to make this work with routers as old as mine, 5+ years at least.

Once I did this I had to go into the printers setup and add it to the new network.  As soon as I did that the printer stayed connected to the new net and works fine.  Been 24 hours now and it is still fine, where it was dropping before multiple time a day.

Thanks again, hope this "recipe" is useful.  

[Hawks_Eye]

@MichaelS211 

Thanks so much for sharing your solution — that's genuinely helpful!

I'm really glad it’s working now — and thanks again for sharing the process. Definitely a useful “recipe” for others facing the same frustration. 

Please mark this post as 'Accepted Solution' to help others find the answer.

If you ever run into issues again or want to optimize printing (e.g., static IPs, AirPrint, etc.), feel free to reach out.

Stay fantastic, and have an amazing day ahead! 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye