HPDrivers.net

An HP printer can ask for a Wi-Fi password, a WPS PIN, a Wi-Fi Direct password or a printer PIN, and they are four different things. The most common mistake is typing the wrong one into the wrong prompt. This guide shows what each one is and where HP says to find it, starting with the HP printer WPS PIN, which is the one people confuse most.

Wi-Fi network password: from the router, not the printer

This is the password for your home or office network. HP says to look for it on the router label, next to the network name (SSID). It may be called Wi-Fi Password, Network Key or Wireless Security Key. If the label does not help, check the paperwork from your internet provider.

On a Windows PC that is already connected, open Wi-Fi Settings, then Change adapter options under Related settings. Right-click your network, click Status, then Wireless Properties. On the Security tab, tick Show characters. If you changed the router or its password, HP has a separate article on reconnecting the printer after a router or network change.

WPS PIN: shown during setup, with a time limit

You may see a WPS PIN prompt on the computer when you set up the printer on a wireless network. HP says to look for the PIN on the printer control panel or on the information sheet that printed during setup, then enter it and click Next. For most models you have about 90 seconds before it expires.

If the PIN does not work, HP lists these options:

• Restart your computer and run the printer setup again to generate a new PIN.
• Use a different driver or method from HP’s downloads page. See our install guide.
• Install the HP app from 123.hp.com or your app store and connect the printer that way.

Wi-Fi Direct password: for the DIRECT network

Wi-Fi Direct lets a device print without your router. HP says it is available on most printers released after 2014. The printer has its own network, whose name starts with DIRECT followed by your model name. Its password is not your router password.

HP gives these places to find the name and password:

• HP app: click the printer, open Advanced Settings, click the Network tab, then Wi-Fi Direct Setup. Enter the printer PIN if prompted.
• Touchscreen printers: touch the Wi-Fi Direct icon on the control panel.
• Printers without a touchscreen: press the Information button to print an Information Report. On some models, press and hold the Wi-Fi Direct button for 3 seconds.

The WPS PIN appears here too. When you add a Wi-Fi Direct printer in Windows (Add a printer or scanner, then Show Wi-Fi Direct printers), a PIN prints or shows on the printer after you click Add device. HP says to enter it within 90 seconds. If it expires, close Printers & Scanners and start again. If Windows then says “Driver is unavailable,” HP points to 123.hp.com for the print driver.

Printer PIN: from the label

This PIN protects the printer’s settings. HP says it is typically on a label inside the cartridge access area or the printer door. The HP app may ask for it before showing Wi-Fi Direct details or checking for firmware updates.

Change the Wi-Fi Direct password

1. Connect your computer to the printer by Wi-Fi Direct, or to the same network. HP says the printer web page (EWS) cannot be opened over USB.
2. For a Wi-Fi Direct connection, type 192.168.223.1 into the browser address bar, not a search engine, and press Enter.
3. If asked to log in, enter the printer PIN from the label. For HP LaserJets, the username is admin.
4. Click Network, choose Wi-Fi Direct, click Status, then Edit Settings.
5. Set a custom password, or click Generate for a random one.

HP recommends turning Wi-Fi Direct off when you are not using it and choosing the Manual or Advanced connection method, so a password is needed. Our HP app guide shows where Advanced Settings sits.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WPS PIN the same as the Wi-Fi password?

No. The WPS PIN comes from the printer during setup and expires quickly. The Wi-Fi password belongs to your router.

Where is the default Wi-Fi Direct password?

It depends on the model, so we do not list one. Use the control panel, the information report, or the HP app as above.

Can I print without a router?

Yes, on printers that support Wi-Fi Direct. HP says it does not need an internet connection to send print jobs to the printer.

Sources: HP Support, “Find the wireless network password or PIN to connect an HP printer” and “HP printer setup (Wi-Fi Direct).” Menu names vary by model.

When an HP printer shows offline while its wireless light says it is connected, Windows and the printer disagree about where to find each other. The printer may be fine. HP’s guidance for an HP printer offline status starts with the network and then moves to the Windows printer settings. This guide follows that order, so you check the cheap things first.

Why the printer says it is connected but Windows says offline

The wireless light only tells you that the printer is on the network. Windows keeps its own record of how to reach the printer, and that record can point to the wrong place or be blocked. HP notes that the printer and the device must be on the same network, and that Windows can block traffic from devices when the network profile is set to Public.

If your phone prints but your PC does not, the printer is probably working and the fault is on the PC side. That is our reading, not an HP statement, but it is a good reason to start with Windows settings.

Step 1: Restart everything in order

1. Press the power button to turn off the printer. If it does not turn off, unplug it.
2. Turn off the computer or phone you print from.
3. Restart the router.
4. Reconnect the printer power cord if needed, then turn the printer on. HP recommends plugging it directly into a wall outlet.
5. Turn the computer on and try to print.

Step 2: Check the network

• Open the list of networks on the PC and confirm it is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. HP says not to connect to DIRECT-xx-HP followed by your printer model.
• On the printer, check the wireless light. Solid blue means connected. If it is off or blinking, the printer is not connected. Move it within 8 m (26 ft) of the router and check again.
• A printer cannot connect over a public or guest network that needs a login or a confirmation page, such as at a school or hotel.
• If a USB cable is plugged into the printer, unplug it so Wi-Fi stays enabled.

Set the network profile to Private

HP says a Public network profile can make Windows block traffic from devices. Change it only on a trusted home or office network. Click the network icon on the right side of the taskbar, click Properties under your network name, and choose Private.

Step 3: Fix the printer settings in Windows

1. Open Printers & scanners. Make sure Let Windows manage my default printer is not checked.
2. Click your printer and choose Manage, then Set as default. If several entries have your printer’s name, pick the one that is idle or online.
3. If it is still offline, select the printer and choose Remove device, then Yes. With the printer on, click Add a printer or scanner to add it again.

Step 4: Use Diagnose & Fix in the HP app

Open the HP app, click your printer, and choose Diagnose & Fix. Click Start, wait for the analysis, and do not close the app while it runs. You can also remove the printer from the app (Remove from app at the bottom of the printer page) and add it again. This is HP’s replacement for the retired Print and Scan Doctor. See HP App Replaces HP Smart for how the app works.

Step 5: Advanced options

Create a Standard TCP/IP port

HP’s steps start by printing a Network Configuration Report. In the HP app, click the printer image, then Printer Reports under Tools. On a touchscreen printer, open the Wireless or Network Settings menu. Then:

1. Find the printer address in the 802.11 Wireless section of the report. HP’s steps use the IPv6 address, which starts with fe80.
2. In Printers & scanners, click your printer, then Printer properties.
3. On the Ports tab, click Add Port, choose Standard TCP/IP Port, and click New Port.
4. Type the address, click Next, select the new port, and click OK.

HP warns that you might see two printers afterwards. Do not remove or uninstall either one.

Set a manual IP address

On the same report, note the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and the Embedded Web Server URL. Open that URL in a browser, go to Network > Wireless > IPv4 Configuration, choose Manual IP, and enter the values (or use Suggest a Manual IP Address). Click Apply.

Update the firmware

HP lists a firmware update as an advanced step. Do not turn the printer off during an update, because HP warns this can permanently damage it. If the problem started after a driver change rather than a network change, our guide to “Driver is unavailable” may fit better.

If the printer is reachable but scanning still fails, see our guide to an HP printer not scanning while it still prints.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my HP printer say offline when it is on Wi-Fi?

The printer may be on the network while Windows is looking elsewhere, for example on another network, a blocked profile, or a duplicate printer entry.

Should I give the printer a fixed IP address?

HP lists a manual IP as an advanced option. It is worth trying if the printer goes offline again after working for a while.

Do I need a new driver?

Not at first. HP’s steps begin with restarts, network checks and printer settings. For driver choices see our install guide.

Source: HP Support, “HP printer is offline or unavailable.” Menu names can differ between printer models and Windows versions.

An HP printer that is not scanning but still prints usually has a problem in the scan path only: the scan service in Windows, the connection, or the software that talks to the scanner. HP lists messages such as “Scanner not found,” “An error occurred communicating with the scanner or scanning device,” and “Scan to computer is currently unavailable.” This guide follows HP’s own Windows steps in a practical order.

Why your HP printer is not scanning while printing works

Printing and scanning use different parts of Windows. A print job only needs the printer driver. A scan also needs the scan service (WIA) and an app that can reach the scanner. So a printer can be online for printing and still be unreachable for scanning. Test the scan after every step below, as HP advises, so you know which step fixed it.

Step 1: Scan from the printer driver

HP suggests this first when the HP app or another app fails. It tells you whether the scanner itself responds.

1. Make sure the printer is on and ready, and load the page you want to scan.
2. In Windows, search for Control Panel and open it, then click Devices and Printers.
3. Find your printer and check that it is online. HP describes this as a green circle with a check mark on its icon.
4. Right-click the printer driver and choose Start scan.
5. Make any changes you want, click Preview, drag the boundary lines around the area, and click Scan.
6. Click Next, type a name, and click Import. HP says scans are saved in your Pictures folder, in a folder named by date.

If this scan works, keep using it as a workaround and move on to the app question further down. If it fails, go to Step 2.

Step 2: Check the Windows Image Acquisition service

HP explains that WIA allows communication between the computer and the scanner, and that scan jobs can fail when it is off or not running correctly.

1. In Windows, search for View local services and open it.
2. Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) and read its Status and Startup Type.
3. If the status is Started or Running and the Startup Type is Automatic, WIA is fine. Go to Step 3.
4. If it is Disabled or the status is blank, right-click the service, choose Properties, set Startup type to Automatic on the General tab, and click Start.

If the Start button is grayed out, HP says to go back to the Services list and make sure these services are running and set to Automatic: DCOM Server Process Launcher, Remote Procedure Call, RPC Endpoint Mapper, and Shell Hardware Detection. Then try to start WIA again.

Step 3: Check how the printer is connected

HP’s offline-printer page lists the connection checks that also apply to scanning. For a Wi-Fi printer, make sure the PC is on the same network as the printer and that the printer’s wireless light is solid blue. Do not connect the PC to the printer’s own DIRECT network by mistake. A guest or public network that asks you to log in can also block the connection.

For USB, HP says to use a cable no longer than 3 m (9 ft 10 in) and to plug it straight into the computer, not into a hub. Replace the cable if it looks damaged.

Step 4: Replace the driver with the HP app

If the scanner is still not found, HP’s next step is to remove the printer software and set the printer up again with the HP app.

1. Disconnect any USB cable from the printer.
2. Search for Add or remove programs and look for your printer name. If you find it, click it and choose Uninstall. If not, open Printers & scanners, click your printer, and choose Remove device.
3. Click Yes if a User Account Control message appears, follow the prompts, and restart the computer.
4. Go to 123.hp.com or your app store, install the HP app, and follow the steps to connect the printer.

HP says installing the HP app also installs the drivers your printer needs. We explain this change in HP App Replaces HP Smart. HP’s page also lists the HP app’s Diagnose & Fix tool, which replaced the retired Print and Scan Doctor (our page on the replacement).

If you also need the full driver package

Some older printers and some office setups still work best with HP’s full software package for the exact model. Our guide to installing an HP printer driver explains how to pick it. hpdrivers.net is an independent website, and our model pages link to HP’s own downloads.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my HP printer print but not scan?

Printing needs only the printer driver. Scanning also needs the WIA service and a working connection to the scanner. If either is off, printing can continue while scanning fails.

Does it matter whether I use USB or Wi-Fi?

Yes. HP gives different checks for each. For USB, use a cable under 3 m, directly in the PC. For Wi-Fi, use the same network on the PC and the printer.

Can I use another app to scan?

If the scan from the printer driver in Control Panel works, you can keep scanning that way while you sort out the app. HP lists this as its first step.

Sources: HP Support, “HP printers – Scanner not found or connected (Windows, macOS)” and “HP printer is offline or unavailable”. Menu names can differ slightly between Windows versions and printer models.