What this means

When your computer cannot find your printer, your local network connection has dropped. You do not have a broken machine. The printer has power, but the two devices stopped talking to each other.

Deep sleep mode will drop a wireless connection. Changing your Wi-Fi password does the exact same thing until you update the credentials on the printer itself. Firewalls and router isolation settings also block the specific ports your computer needs to discover the hardware.

Common causes

  • Printer is connected to a different Wi-Fi band or guest network
  • Router AP isolation is enabled and blocks device communication
  • Printer IP address changed and the computer is looking at the old address
  • Computer firewall or security software is blocking network discovery ports
  • Printer entered a deep sleep mode and dropped its wireless association

What to check first

  1. 1Verify the printer and computer are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network name
  2. 2Power cycle both the printer and your wireless router

Step-by-step fix

  1. 1

    Restart Router and Printer

    Turn off your printer and unplug your wireless router. Wait thirty seconds, plug the router back in, wait for it to fully boot, and then turn the printer back on.

    Do not unplug the router if your internet service requires special authentication steps you do not know.

  2. 2

    Verify Wi-Fi Connection

    Print a network configuration page from the printer control panel to check the current network name and ensure it matches your computer network.

  3. 3

    Check Firewall Settings

    Temporarily disable third-party firewall or security software on your computer to check if it blocks network discovery. Test printing again.

    Re-enable your security software immediately after testing to keep your computer safe.

  4. 4

    Use Static IP Address

    Log into your router admin page and assign a static or reserved IP address to your printer MAC address so the computer always finds it at the same address.

  5. 5

    Run Network Troubleshooter

    Use the operating system network printer troubleshooter to automatically detect and repair connection ports.

  6. 6

    Reinstall Printer Driver

    Uninstall the printer from your computer settings and set it up again as a new network printer so it can search for the current IP address.

When to contact a professional

Call your internet service provider or an IT professional if your router uses advanced VLAN rules that block local device communication. Reach out for help if the printer wireless hardware has physically failed.