15 Perfect Ways To Troubleshoot Printer Wireless Connection on A Laptop Or Computer

In a Windows computer, it’s quite common to have printer-related issues. Additionally, if you are using a wireless printer connected to your Windows 10/8/7 computer or laptop, you can’t deny that it falls into a lot of connection problems.

In this case, there is no single reason which causes such connection issues. You have to try out various solutions to make your printer work again.

Below, we have listed some of the steps you could try to troubleshoot the printer. Depending upon the issues, any of the following solutions could help you get your printer function again.

Reset Printer

Resetting your printer is one of the easiest and best ways to fix all printer connection-related issues. 

Most users try this step in the last because they don’t want to set up all the printing settings again.

Our advice will be to reset your printer if you are facing a connection-related problem. 

It can save you a lot of time and effort, and it is one of the best methods to solve all software-related problems. 

So, here is how to reset your printer:

1. The best way to perform a reset would be by reading the manual, but here are the common steps to reset almost all types of printers. Resetting your printer could vary depending upon the model and brand.
2. To reset the printer, turn it off.
3. Disconnect from the power source for 30 seconds and reconnect it after that.
4. Now press the power button for 10-20 seconds which will turn a yellow triangle light on.
5. Now release the resume button, and a green light will blink, which will reset the printer.

You can reset an HP printer by using these steps. Below, we have also listed the process to reset a printer directly by using your PC.

1. Click on the Start button and then search Control Panel. Select the first result from the search.
2. On the Control Panel, click on Hardware and Sound >> Devices and Printers.
3. You can see all the printers you have connected to your computer in the past on the next page.
4. From here, select the printer you want to reset.
5. Right-click, and under the Printer Utility, some printers have an option to reset them.

Update Router Firmware

If resetting the printer did not work out for you. The next step you can try out is to update the router firmware. 

Router with outdated firmware can cause many issues and vulnerabilities in your network, so it is always best to keep your router up to date.

1. Connect the router to your computer using an Ethernet cable.
2. Go to the admin panel and check if any update is available. Optionally, you can check the manufacturer’s website for the latest update.
3. After downloading the update from the admin panel, restart the router once and check if the issue persists.

Disable VPN

Using a VPN on your computer to print the documents can cause a connection issue as it can restrict you from connecting to the printer. 

Further, it can restrict the printer from connecting to your computer. It is the most common reason why your printer is having a bad time.

To fix this issue, you can simply disable the VPN connection on your computer and reconnect the computer to the printer. The printer should resume working again.

Restart the Printer and Router

In some cases, these issues can be easily fixed just by restarting your router and the printer. 

By resetting the router, you can reset the IP address, which in most cases will fix if it is a network-related issue. 

Here is how to restart your printer:

• Unplug the power cord and plug it back in again after 30 seconds.
• Click on the power button and let it shut down.
• Wait for 20 seconds and again click on the power button to restart the printer.

Restart Router: 

1. Unplug the router from the power source.
2. Wait for 30 seconds.
3. Plug the router into the power source again.
4. Wait for at least 1-2 minutes, and the router will restart itself.
5. Connect it with your mobile and check if it’s working or not.

Verify Router Settings

Sometimes your router doesn’t recognize the printer, which can lead to connection issues. You may face issues while wirelessly connecting your computer to the printer. 

This error generally occurs when your router settings have been misconfigured or corrupted in some cases if you are unable to connect to your printer via the router.

The first thing to try out is to restart your router. In most situations, the router will be fixed, but if it doesn’t, you can perform a router reset which is highly likely to solve the issue. 

Furthermore, you may need to set your router to a fixed wireless channel. You have to go to router settings, and then under Advanced Settings, you can set the wireless channel.

Printer Troubleshooter

If your router does not have any and working fine. Then you have to try out the printer settings and configurations. 

The first thing in the series you can do is run the printer troubleshooter.

1. Click on the Start button and search for Control Panel.
2. Open Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound >> Devices and Printers.
3. On this page, you can see the list of printers.
4. Select the printer which you would like to troubleshoot, right-click and click on troubleshoot.
5. The printer will then fix all the printer software-related problems.

Set the Current Printer To Default

Sometimes your Wi-Fi printer setup itself as the default one. In this case, you will have to set the current printer to default. 

This generally happens because your Wi-Fi printer installs the software, which has a virtual printer, so when you print a file. The printer saves the file instead of printing it.

1. Click on the Start button and then search for the control panel.
2. On the next page, click on Hardware and Sound and then Device and Printers.
3. Select the printer and right-click on it, then select the Set as default printer.
4. Click Yes to confirm the settings.

Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

In many cases, your printer drivers are outdated, or the drivers you are using are incorrect, which can misconfigure the settings for your printer and causes multiple printer issues.

1. Click on the Start button and then search for Control Panel.
2. Click on Program and Features.
3. Next, click on Uninstall a Program.
4. On this page, you can find the drivers with your printer brand name. For instance, if you have a Canon printer, you can find the driver’s name as Canon.
5. Just right-click on it and click on uninstall.
6. After the printer’s driver is uninstalled, make a quick restart and then again download the printer drivers from the manufacturer’s official website.
7. Also, you can check for Windows update from the settings. If there is an update in the Windows operating system, it will most likely fix the issue.

See Our Detail Guide: How To Uninstall And Reinstall Printer Drivers In Windows 10? (Full Guide)

Remove and Add Printer Again

The next step in the series is to remove and add the printer again to your computer. This will reset the configuration, which may solve the issue.

1. Click on Start and search for Settings.
2. Click on Devices and then go to Printers and Scanners.
3. On this page, find out your printer and click on Remove Device.
4. Now, you have to reinstall the printer again.
5. Click on Start and then go to settings.
6. Again, navigate to Devices >> Printers and Scanners.
7. Click on Add a Printer or Scanner on the top.
8. Next, a list of devices will appear. From here, you can select the printer you want to add.
9. The printer will then be added to your device.

Place Near the Router

If you have a Wi-Fi printer and your router is sitting too far from the printer, it is most likely to be not catching the Wi-Fi signals, which may un-stabilize the connection, and you can face such an issue. 

To fix this issue, you can either place your printer close to the router or keep the router close to the printer to catch the network and make the connection strength better.

Connect the Printer To The Router Directly

In some cases, as in the previous one, the IP address can fluctuate in a range because the device can stop functioning. 

You can directly connect to the router instead of connecting to an extender, repeater to fix this issue. 

Additionally, you can directly put the ethernet cable into the printer if your printer has Ethernet support.

1. Connect the ethernet cable to the printer.
2. Connect another end of the cable to the router.
3. Turn the printer on.
4. Print a configuration page from Printer settings.
5. Next, go to your computer and install the printer software.
6. Connect the computer to the printer and check if it’s working or not.

Establish A Wireless Connection by Connecting Directly To A PC

You can directly connect your PC to the printer via a wireless connection. This can be done with the Wi-Fi Direct support in your printer. 

You can check on your manufacturer’s website if your printer has Wi-Fi Direct support or not.

1. Turn on your printer, or if it is already on, press the Power button to wake it.
2. On your computer, select Start, type Printers, and scanners, and then select it from the results.
3. Select Add a printer or scanner. If displayed, select Show Wi-Fi Direct printers.
4. Select your printer with Direct in the name from the list of detected printers, and then select Add device.
5. If prompted to enter a WPS pin, you must enter it within 90 seconds.
6. Return to your printer and write down the 8-digit pin displayed on the printer control panel or a printout.
7. Enter the pin, and then select Next.
8. Windows completes the installation, and the printer is added to the list of available printers.

Change Wi-Fi Network Name (SSID)

Changing the SSID or Wi-Fi network can solve the connectivity relates problem. If you have multiple routers at home with the same or similar SSID like “Home” or “Home-Internet,” you have to change one of those SSIDs to a different name. This will fix the connectivity-related errors.

• Login to the router’s admin panel.
• Go to the SSID section and change SSID and password.
• Update and save changes.
• Restart the router.

Verify Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall security is specially designed to protect the computer from virus and malware attacks. 

However, sometimes it blocked the network settings for printing. The Firewall becomes overprotective and starts blocking the printing network, which can cause these issues.

Your computer’s firewall settings vary from device to device, so they cannot be the same for all. But to fix these issues. You will have to add the network to Trusted Zone.

1. Go to Control Panel and click on Network and Internet Connections.
2. Click on Windows Firewall, and in the Exceptions section, select the File and Printer Sharing check box and click on OK.
3. Restart your computer and check if the issues persist.

Create Printer Static IP Address

In some cases, your router does not have a static IP address that can set different IP addresses that continually keep fluctuating. 

Due to this, your device can also start not responding. So, you have to set a static IP address in this situation.

• Find out the router IP address and then log in to the admin panel. Optionally, you can use the router manual to set a static IP.
• Next, go to settings and then LAN >> IP Address Allocation.
• To set a static IP or a fixed IP address, you have set the option: Private from the pool: IPRange.
• Next, from the drop drown menu, choose a static IP address. Make sure not to pick a fixed IP that another device has already taken on the same network.
• Save the settings and restart the router.

More From Printer Guide

9 Things You Should Know About Printer Memory

This Is How To Connect Wireless Printer To Mac

How To Clean And Maintain A Printer (Beginners Guide)

9 Common Printer Printing Issue (Solved) 

Is Refilling The Ink Cartridge A Good Idea? (Read Before You Refill)