-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
- HP Community
- Printers
- Printing Errors or Lights & Stuck Print Jobs
- Windows, Mac, and HP Smart can't find printer

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question
09-18-2024 12:46 PM
Hello!
I have a printer that suddenly cannot be found despite having been used many times from the computers I'm using to queue the print. I have tried to add it to a MacBook Pro and a both running on Sonoma, a PC running on Windows, and HP's software itself. Initially, the printer was visible on my MacBook as a device because I'd used it before, but when I tried to print something, it said it couldn't connect. Following the advice in this forum, I removed the device from my Mac. Now, I can't find it using the IP Address or Host Name. Everything is on the same wifi network, and I've restarted all of the devices. Even HP Smart, HP Easy Start, and the HP Firmware Updater can't find it.
I'm at a loss at this point. I use this printer regularly, so I'm not sure why it has suddenly disconnected from every single device. According to the printer, it's connected to the internet and everything is functioning normally.
09-18-2024 04:53 PM
I'm guessing that when it wakes up from sleep it gets a different IP address from the router and your PCs and laptops have the old IP address so they cannot communicate.
Enable Wi-Fi direct on the printer and bypass the router entirely.
page 94 of the User Manual shows how to setup Wi-Fi direct.
Thank you for using HP products and posting to the community.
I am a community volunteer and do not work for HP. If you find
this post useful click the Yes button. If I helped solve your
problem please mark this as a solution so others can find it
09-19-2024 02:42 PM
Thank you for responding! I just checked and wifi direct was already enabled, and turning it off and back on didn't change anything - the computers still can't find the printer. So I'm not sure if that's it!
09-19-2024 06:35 PM
The 6978 only uses the 2.4ghz band. Your PCs and laptops need Wi-Fi to connect.
Get a network printout from the printer so you can get the name and password of the 2.4 Wi-Fi signal the printer puts out.
This video might be helpful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kACBXKDLtsQ&ab_channel=VinnelService
Thank you for using HP products and posting to the community.
I am a community volunteer and do not work for HP. If you find
this post useful click the Yes button. If I helped solve your
problem please mark this as a solution so others can find it