Suppose you have to print many copies, and as soon as you turn on your HP printer, you quickly realize that the printer’s name is not showing up on the network. If your work involves printing copies every day, getting into this trouble could be a nightmare. Fortunately, there are effective ways to fix the HP printer not showing up network problem, which we will be taking you through in a minute.
HP makes great-quality printers that typically last for a few years. However, there are times when the device does not work as it intended. Just like any other piece of tech, HP printers can also run into various kinds of issues.
One common issue users report is that their printer does not show up on the network. If you happen to be one of them, we know it can be frustrating. But, with the right approach and a few simple steps, you can sort it out.
Before we directly move on to the solutions, let’s take a quick look at the reasons that could be stopping HP printers from showing up on the network.
Reasons Why Your HP Printer Is Not Showing Up on the Network?
- Printer is connected to a different network: Your HP printer will not show up in the devices list if it is connected to a different network. You need to make sure that your device and the HP printer are connected to the same network.
- Dual band router shares same SSID: As mentioned by a HP support agent on the official forum, the printer may not show up or connect to the network if you have a dual-band router which has the same name/SSID for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Try changing their names and see if it works.
- Corrupted or outdated HP printer drivers: The printer may not show up on the network if the drivers have not been updated in a while. Sometimes the drivers get corrupted for a number of reasons which could also result in the same issue.
So, these were some common reasons why an HP printer won’t show up on the network. Let’s now move our focus to the troubleshooting method to get it fixed.
How to Fix an HP Printer Not Showing Up on the Network?
If you are having trouble connecting to your HP printer, these effective solutions should help. You do not have to test them all. Simply work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
Solution 1: Make Sure Your Printer and PC Are Connected to the Same Network
Your HP printer won’t show up on the network if it’s connected to a different network. For your computer to establish a connection with your HP printer, both devices should be connected to the same network.
When both devices are connected to the same network, your computer can easily discover the HP printer and connect to it. You can then send print jobs to the printer.
Solution 2: Restart Your Computer and the Printer
A minor software glitch could prevent the printer from showing up on the network. To fix these minor issues, restarting the device is all that you need.
So, restart your printer and the computer, and connect both devices to the same network. Now, you should be able to connect your HP printer to your computer and start sending print requests.
If the problem persists, you should try updating the printer drivers on your computer. More on this in the next solution.
Solution 3: Update Your HP Printer Drivers
For your HP printer to work seamlessly, the printer drivers should be updated. Otherwise, they can create problems. If you have not updated the printer drivers in a while, probably the outdated drivers are causing the problem.
Here’s are the steps to follow:
- Press Windows + X buttons together and select the Device Manager option.
- Expand the Print queues option.
- Right-click on your printer driver and select Uninstall device.
- Tap Uninstall again to confirm.
- Now, open this link in your browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
- Enter your HP printer name and select your device from the dropdown options.
- Download the required drivers and install them.
Once you have updated the printer drivers on your computer, restart the device. You should be able to connect your computer to the printer.
If none of the above methods worked out in your favor, try restoring your printer to the factory setting and then reconfigure it. Let me break it down in a step-by-step format below.
Step 1: Disconnect Your Printer and Computer From the Network
First, we have to disconnect the HP printer from the network. If your printer is connected to a router via an ether cable, remove the cable. Now, remove the ethernet cable from your computer as well (if you’re using it).
Next, we have to uninstall HP Printer Utility (if you installed it). For this, type Control Panel in the search box at the bottom and hit the Enter button. Set View by to Small icons and tap on Programs & Features. Now, scroll through the list until you see HP Printer. Right-click on it and select Uninstall to remove the software.
Step 2: Restore Your HP Printer to its Factory Settings
If your HP printer has a control panel (also called display panel), follow these steps:
- On your HP Printer open the Setup menu and go to Tools.
- Tap on the Restore Factory Default option.
For HP printers with no display panel, press and hold the Cancel button and Wi-Fi button for 10 seconds. The Wi-Fi button and power button should start blinking.
Step 3: Reconfigure Your HP Printer on the Network
Now, you have to connect your HP printer to the network again. If you already know how to do it, then go ahead. In case you didn’t remember, follow the instructions below.
If your printer has a display panel, open the Setup menu and select Restore Network Settings. On other types of HP printers, you will have to press and hold the Wireless button and Cancel button simultaneously until the power button light and wireless light starts flashing.
Now, connect your computer to the internet and install the HP Smart app. The app is also available for iPhone, Mac, and Android. Launch the app and sign in with your HP account. Now, tap on Add Printer and select your printer. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Solution 5: Change the Router Settings
Not all HP printers are compatible with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands. Older models only work with the 2.4GHz band. So, if your router has only 5GHz band enabled while your printer supports 2.4GHz band, this is the problem.
You will need to check your printer specifications to check the supported routers. However, since all printers can work with 2.4GHz band, we also recommend enabling the same on your router. Go to the router’s settings page and enable 2.4GHz network (if it’s disabled).
Do not use the same name for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This is because your computer might connect to the 5GHz network while your printer could be using the 2.4GHz network.
The bottom line is, connect your computer and the printer to the same network band.
If you have tried all above solutions but to no avail, contact HP customer support as the last resort. Mention all the steps you have taken to fix the issue to the support staff for a quick and effective solution.
Wrapping It Up
Encountering problems with HP printers can be frustrating. However, you should be able to fix the issue with the right approaches. In this guide, we took you through 6 effective ways to fix the HP printer not showing up on network issues. We are hopeful that one of them would have done the trick for you.
