Why Is My Printer Not Connecting To Wifi After A Router Reset And How To Reconnect

After resetting your router, you might find that your printer no longer connects to the Wi-Fi network. This is a common issue affecting home offices and small businesses alike. A router reset often changes network settings such as the SSID (network name) or password, which forces all connected devices—including your printer—to re-authenticate. Since most printers don’t automatically detect these changes, they lose connectivity until manually reconfigured.

Unlike smartphones or laptops, printers lack advanced network recovery features. They rely on static configurations stored in their firmware. When the network they were paired with disappears or changes, they can’t adapt on their own. This article explains exactly why this happens and walks you through reliable, step-by-step solutions to get your printer back online quickly and securely.

Why Printers Lose Connection After a Router Reset

A router reset—whether accidental or intentional—can alter critical network parameters. These changes disrupt established device connections, especially for peripherals like printers that operate on older networking protocols.

Common causes include:

• Changed SSID or password: If you modified the network name or Wi-Fi key during setup, the printer’s stored credentials become invalid.
• DHCP address reallocation: The router may assign a new IP address to the printer, causing communication conflicts.
• Security protocol updates: Switching from WPA2 to WPA3 (or vice versa) can make the printer incompatible if it doesn’t support the new standard.
• MAC filtering enabled: Some routers activate device whitelisting after a reset, blocking unrecognized hardware unless explicitly approved.
• Firmware mismatch: Older printers may fail to reconnect due to outdated firmware unable to negotiate secure handshakes with modern routers.

“Printers are often the forgotten endpoint in home networks. They don’t prompt for updates or alert users when disconnected, making them vulnerable to configuration drift.” — David Lin, Network Infrastructure Analyst at NetSecure Labs

Tip: Always note down your Wi-Fi credentials before resetting your router. Keep them in a secure but accessible place for quick reconnection of smart devices.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reconnect Your Printer to Wi-Fi

Follow this structured process to restore your printer’s wireless connection after a router reset. These steps apply to most major brands including HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Lexmark.

1. Confirm the router is functioning properly
   Ensure your internet connection is active and other devices (e.g., phone, laptop) can access Wi-Fi. Verify the SSID and password being broadcast matches what you intend to use.
2. Power cycle the printer
   Turn off the printer completely, unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears temporary network glitches and resets internal buffers.
3. Access the printer’s control panel
   Navigate to the “Settings” or “Network” menu using the touchscreen or physical buttons. Look for options like “Wireless Setup,” “Wi-Fi Settings,” or “Network Configuration.”
4. Initiate a new Wi-Fi setup
   Select “Setup Wireless Connection” or similar. The printer will scan for available networks. Choose your updated SSID from the list.
5. Enter the new Wi-Fi password
   Use the on-screen keyboard to input the current network password carefully. Double-check capitalization and special characters.
6. Wait for confirmation
   Once connected, the printer should display a success message or show signal strength. Some models print a network configuration page automatically.
7. Test the connection
   Send a test print from your computer or mobile device. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click “Print a test page.”

Alternative Method: WPS Push Button Setup (If Supported)

If both your printer and router support WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), this method bypasses manual entry:

1. Press the WPS button on your router (usually located on the back).
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS icon or menu option on the printer.
3. Wait for automatic pairing. A solid light typically indicates success.

Note: WPS is less secure than password-based authentication and should be disabled afterward if not needed regularly.

Troubleshooting Common Reconnection Failures

Sometimes, even following the correct steps doesn’t resolve the issue. Below are frequent failure points and how to overcome them.

Printer Won’t Detect the Network

This usually occurs when the SSID is hidden or the printer is out of range.

• Ensure your Wi-Fi network is broadcasting publicly (not hidden). Check your router settings under “Wireless” or “SSID Broadcast.”
• Move the printer closer to the router temporarily during setup. Thick walls or electronic interference can weaken signals.

Authentication Errors Despite Correct Password

If the printer rejects the password repeatedly:

• Verify the password length and complexity. Some older printers struggle with passwords over 32 characters or those containing uncommon symbols.
• Temporarily switch your Wi-Fi security to WPA2-Personal (AES) instead of WPA3, which may not be supported by legacy printers.

Connected But Can’t Print

The printer shows Wi-Fi connectivity but fails to receive jobs. This suggests an IP conflict or driver issue.

• Check the printer’s IP address via its network settings. Compare it with your local subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.x). If it starts with 169.254, it’s self-assigned and offline.
• Renew the IP lease by restarting the router or assigning a static IP through the printer’s configuration.
• Reinstall or update the printer driver on your primary device. Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version compatible with your OS.

Tip: Assign a static IP address to your printer through your router’s DHCP reservation settings. This prevents future disconnections caused by IP changes.

Checklist: Regain Printer Connectivity After Router Reset

Use this checklist to systematically resolve Wi-Fi issues:

• ✅ Confirm router is online and Wi-Fi is active
• ✅ Note current SSID and password
• ✅ Power cycle both router and printer
• ✅ Access printer’s network settings menu
• ✅ Forget old network (if possible) or perform factory reset on printer
• ✅ Reconnect to Wi-Fi using updated credentials
• ✅ Test connection with a sample print job
• ✅ Update printer firmware if connection remains unstable
• ✅ Reserve a static IP for the printer in router settings
• ✅ Reinstall drivers on connected computers

Do’s and Don’ts When Reconnecting Your Printer

Do’s	Don’ts
Write down your Wi-Fi details before resetting the router	Assume the printer will reconnect automatically
Update printer firmware regularly	Use WEP encryption—it’s insecure and rarely supported
Place the printer within reasonable range of the router	Ignore error messages on the printer display
Assign a static IP to prevent address conflicts	Use long, complex passwords beyond printer compatibility
Clear old network profiles from the printer	Perform multiple reset attempts without pausing between tries

Real Example: Recovering a Home Office Printer After ISP Upgrade

Sarah, a freelance graphic designer in Portland, had her internet service upgraded by her provider. As part of the installation, the technician replaced her old router with a new gateway unit and reset all network settings. The next morning, Sarah couldn’t print client contracts—her HP LaserJet Pro MFP M428fdw showed “Offline” in Windows despite being powered on.

She first checked her laptop’s connection—working fine. Then she looked at the printer’s screen: “Wi-Fi Not Connected.” She tried restarting both devices, but the problem persisted. Remembering the router change, she accessed the printer’s settings and discovered it was still trying to join the old network name (“HomeNet”) that no longer existed.

Sarah navigated to “Network > Wireless Setup Wizard,” selected her new SSID (“Portland_Fiber_5G”), entered the password, and completed setup. Within two minutes, the printer displayed “Connected.” She printed a test page successfully and resumed her workday.

Later, she logged into her router and reserved a static IP for the printer to avoid future disruptions. She also saved the Wi-Fi credentials in her digital vault for easier recovery next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reconnect my printer without a computer?

Yes. Most modern printers allow full Wi-Fi setup directly from the control panel. You only need physical access to the printer and knowledge of your network name and password.

What if my printer doesn’t support the new Wi-Fi frequency?

Some older printers only support 2.4 GHz networks. If your new router defaults to 5 GHz, ensure it broadcasts a dual-band signal or manually enable the 2.4 GHz band in router settings.

Should I factory reset my printer if it won’t reconnect?

Only as a last resort. A factory reset erases all custom settings, including paper size preferences and saved jobs. Try simpler fixes first—re-entering Wi-Fi credentials or updating firmware often resolves the issue without data loss.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Printing Environment

Losing printer connectivity after a router reset is frustrating but entirely fixable. Understanding that printers rely on static network configurations helps explain why they don’t adapt automatically like more intelligent devices. By methodically verifying settings, re-entering credentials, and optimizing placement and IP allocation, you can restore functionality in under 15 minutes.

Going forward, treat your printer like any other critical network device. Document its IP address, keep firmware updated, and maintain a record of Wi-Fi details. These small habits prevent hours of downtime and keep your workflow uninterrupted—even after infrastructure changes.

💬 Have a printer reconnection tip that worked for you? Share your experience in the comments to help others navigate this common tech hurdle.