Connecting your wireless printer

Connecting your wireless printer

1. Unpack your printer.
2. Follow the setup instructions to remove packaging.
3. Plug in the power cord, turn on the printer and install print cartridges. Allow the printer to go through its startup routine, including printing an alignment page (if applicable).
4. Choose one of the connection methods described below. If your printer supports it and you choose an Ethernet (wired) connection, connect it now and skip to installing printer software. Note: while using an Ethernet connection the printer's wireless system is disabled.

If you want to print wireless without a wireless router:

HP wireless direct and Wi-Fi Direct are features that allow your Wi-Fi capable devices (for example: smart phones, tablets, or computers) to make a wireless network connection directly to your printer without using a wireless router or access point. You connect to your printer’s HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct signal the same way you connect your Wi-Fi capable device to a new wireless network or hotspot.

From a computer, smart phone or tablet perspective, being connected to HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct looks the same as being connected to a typical wireless network which has the HP printer already connected. A print application (for smart phones and tablets) or printer software (for a computer) must be installed in order to use the printer over the HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct connection. Neither HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct can provide an internet connection for connected devices. However a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the printer may allow your mobile device to maintain a simultaneous Wi-Fi connection to the internet.

There are some key differences between HP wireless direct and Wi-Fi Direct. The table below describes some of these differences as well as similarities:

Factor	Wi-Fi Direct	HP wireless direct
Security	WPA2: required	WPA2: optional
Max # simultaneous device connections	5	5
Printer IP address (to access the EWS)	192.168.223.1	192.168.223.1
Name	DIRECT-xx*-HP-< printer model >	HP-Print-xx*-< printer model >
Wi-Fi Direct capable device can automatically detect and connect to printer	Yes: Automatic or Manual (pushbutton/ PIN)	No
Wi-Fi Direct capable device can connect to printer and maintain an internet connection	Yes	No
Devices can connect to Internet and/or each other through printer	No	No
Printer can connect to Internet through device	No	No

* - “xx” represents two unique characters to help identify the printer

How to connect to Wi-Fi Direct or HP wireless direct

Perform the following steps to connect your mobile device or computer:

1. Turn on HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct from the printer’s control panel.
2. On your mobile device or computer, ensure the Wi-Fi radio is on and then connect to HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct the same way you would for any other wireless network. Notethat the name format used by HP wireless direct and Wi-Fi Direct are different. Reference the table above.
3. If you turned HP wireless direct on with security, supply the WPA2 password when prompted by your mobile device or computer. Note that Wi-Fi Direct always uses a WPA2 passphrase and cannot be turned on without WPA2 security.
4. If you haven’t done so, install the printer software for your computer. Choose “Wireless” for the connectivity option from the printer software UI. For mobile devices, you’ll need to install the latest version of the HP printer plug-in application.

Use case 1: If you have already connected the printer over a network connection, have installed the printer software on your computer, and have been using the printer over the network, then do the following to print when connected to HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct.

1. Connect the computer to the HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct connection as previously described.
2. You can use the printer the same way you did over the network connection. No additional software installation is required. The printer can remain connected to your home network as well. However, your computer can only be connected to the printer OR your home network, not both at the same time.

Use case 2: If you have previously installed and use the printer with a USB cable or chose the “Connect Later” option from the software during installation, then do the following to use the printer over the HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct connection.

1. Connect the computer to the HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct connection as previously described.
2. Configure the settings from the printer software.
   • Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7:
     Start -> Programs -> HP -> {your printer model} -> Printer Setup & Software.
   • Windows 8 or 8.1:
     • Launch the Printer Software from the Start screen (icon for the printer model name) or from the tile named for your printer.
     • Select (click or touch) Utilities on the top of the Printer Software screen
     • Select Printer Setup & Software
     • Select Connect a new printer
3. Mac OS X:
   Open Finder and go to Applications -> HP -> {your printer model} -> Printer Setup & Software.
4. You can also insert the printer software CD which will provide the Welcome Back screen or get the Full Function software from http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/siteHome?cc=us&lc=en
5. Click “Connect new printer”.
   Important: Do not select “Convert a USB connected printer to wireless”.
6. In the Connection Options screen, select Wireless, and then click Next.
7. Select the printer from the printer’s detected screen when it is shown, and then complete the software installation.

After setting up the connection, you will see two printer icons in the printer’s folder for the HP printer. The printer icon labeled “Network” is the printer driver installed for HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct. If you no longer want to print using a USB cable connection, you can delete the HP printer icon without the “Network” label.

Use case 3: If you have already installed the printer through the HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct connection, have installed the printer software, and you want to use the printer over a wireless network with a wireless router.

1. First, connect your computer to the wireless network you want to connect the printer to.
2. Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7:
   Start -> Programs -> HP -> {your printer model} -> Printer Setup & Software. Windows 8:>
   • Launch the Printer Software from the Start screen (icon for the printer model name) or from the tile named for your printer.
   • Select (click or touch) Utilities on the top of the Printer Software screen
   • Select Printer Setup & Software
3. Mac OS X:
   Open Finder and go to Applications -> HP -> {your printer model} -> Printer Setup &aamp; Software.

Select “Reconfigure wireless settings”. For some printers you will need to temporarily connect a USB cable between the printer and computer. For other printers with large displays, you will be directed to use the front panel Wireless Setup Wizard to connect the printer to your wireless network. Once the printer is connected to your network, you can use the printer, no additional software is needed.

The following use cases apply only to Wi-Fi Direct and not to HP wireless direct.

Use case 1: To connect and print with a Wi-Fi Direct capable mobile device to the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct connection:

1. Wi-Fi Direct has to be enabled on the printer. You can set the connection mode to either Automatic or Manual.
2. Wi-Fi Direct has to be enabled on the mobile device (Android 4.4 or newer).
3. You must install the latest version of the HP print plug-in on the mobile device, version 1.0.48 or newer.
4. On the mobile device, chose a document from a print enabled application. The printer will show up automatically (Direct-xx-HP-< printer model >) on a list of available printers if the printer is within Wi-Fi range of the mobile device.
5. Chose the printer and select print. If Wi-Fi Direct mode on the printer is set to Automatic, the mobile device will automatically connect to the printer and print the document. If the Wi-Fi Direct mode on the printer is set to Manual, you will have to acknowledge the connection by touching the printer display or Wi-Fi Direct button when prompted or by entering a PIN code, provided by the printer, into the mobile device.
6. When connected in this way, the mobile device can maintain a current network connection and will continue to have an internet connection while printing.

Use case 2: To connect and print with a Windows 8.1 device to the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct connection:

1. Wi-Fi Direct has to be enabled on the printer.
2. At the Windows Start/Metro menu, click/touch the magnifying glass in the top right corner.
3. In the search field, type Devices and Printers and press Enter.
4. In the Devices and Printer window, click/touch Add a Device at the top left corner.
5. Select the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct name to be installed and click/touch the Next. Note that the Wi-Fi Direct name can be obtained from the Wi-Fi Direct menu on the printer’s front panel.
6. A PIN code will be displayed on the front panel of the printer.
7. Enter this PIN code when prompted into the Add a Device wizard on the computer and click/touch Next.
8. The printer’s print drivers will be installed and the newly installed printer icon will display in the Devices and printers window.