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How to Troubleshoot A Wireless Color Printer Not Connecting?

17 minutes read

Troubleshooting a wireless color printer not connecting involves several steps to identify and resolve the issue. First, ensure that the printer is powered on and properly connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your device. Check the printer's display panel or settings to confirm it is connected to the correct wireless network and verify that the Wi-Fi signal is strong enough. Next, restart both the printer and the router, as a simple reboot can often resolve connectivity issues. Ensure that the printer's firmware is up to date, as manufacturers release updates to improve performance and resolve bugs. Additionally, update the printer driver on your computer or mobile device to the latest version available. Disable any firewall or security software temporarily to check if they are blocking the printer connection. Confirm that the printer is within range of the Wi-Fi network and that there are no physical obstructions causing interference. Make sure the printer is set as the default printer on your computer and check for any error messages on the printer's display or your device. Finally, consult the printer's manual or the manufacturer's website for specific troubleshooting steps related to your model, as different printers may have unique configurations or issues.

Best Wireless Color Printers of February 2025

1
HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, ADF, Duplex Printing, Best-for-Home Office, 3 Months of Instant Ink included (40Q35A)

Rating is 5 out of 5

HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, ADF, Duplex Printing, Best-for-Home Office, 3 Months of Instant Ink included (40Q35A)

  • FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The OfficeJet Pro 8135e is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 10 ppm color, 20 ppm black.
  • UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, fax, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tray.
  • WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.
  • HP APP – Print, scan, copy, or fax right from your smartphone with the easiest-to-use print app.
Buy It Now
2
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e All-in-One Printer, Color, Printer-for-Small Medium Business, Print, Copy, scan, fax,Touchscreen; Smart Advance Scan, 3 months of Instant Ink included

Rating is 4.9 out of 5

HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e All-in-One Printer, Color, Printer-for-Small Medium Business, Print, Copy, scan, fax,Touchscreen; Smart Advance Scan, 3 months of Instant Ink included

  • FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The OfficeJet Pro 9125e is perfect for offices printing professional-quality color documents like presentations, brochures and flyers. Print speeds up to 18 ppm color, 22 ppm black.
  • UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, copy, fax, auto 2-sided printing and scanning, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray
  • WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
  • HP APP – Print, scan, copy, or fax right from your smartphone with the easiest-to-use print app
Buy It Now
3
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer with 2 years of ink included,Print, scan, copy, Best-for-home, Refillable ink tank (1F3Y0A)

Rating is 4.8 out of 5

HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer with 2 years of ink included,Print, scan, copy, Best-for-home, Refillable ink tank (1F3Y0A)

  • FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Smart Tank 5101 is perfect for families printing a variety of color documents in high volumes. Print up to 12 pages per minute black and 5 pages per minute color.
  • FULLY LOADED WITH SAVINGS – Best for low-cost, high-volume printing—2 years of HP Ink included; get up to 6,000 color or black pages right out of the box
  • KEY FEATURES – Print, copy and scan, plus borderless prints, mobile and wireless printing
  • BEST EVERYDAY PRINT QUALITY – HP tank printers deliver crisp text and frame-worthy photos with vivid, true-to-life colors for consistently impressive prints
  • EASIEST-TO-USE TANK PRINTERS – Quick setup, easy print and scan, reliable Wi-Fi and an app that makes it all easy
  • HP APP – Print, scan, copy or fax right from your smartphone with the easiest-to-use print app
  • WORRY-FREE Wi-Fi – Stay connected with self-healing Wi-Fi that automatically detects and resolves connection issues
Buy It Now
4
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - Black, Medium

Rating is 4.7 out of 5

Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - Black, Medium

  • Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
  • Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color (3)
  • Stress-Free Printing — Up to 2 years of ink in the box (4) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
  • High-Capacity Ink Tanks — Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
  • Zero Cartridge Waste — By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
  • Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat Free technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
Buy It Now
5
Epson EcoTank ET-2803 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan, Copy and AirPrint Support

Rating is 4.6 out of 5

Epson EcoTank ET-2803 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan, Copy and AirPrint Support

  • Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
  • Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color (3)
  • Stress-Free Printing — Up to 2 years of ink in the box (4) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
  • High-Capacity Ink Tanks ― Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
  • Zero Cartridge Waste ― By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
  • Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat Free technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
  • Built-In Scanner & Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
Buy It Now
6
HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, Copy, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home, 3 Months of Instant Ink Included (714N5A)

Rating is 4.5 out of 5

HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, Copy, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home, 3 Months of Instant Ink Included (714N5A)

  • FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Envy 6555e is perfect for homes printing everyday color documents like homework and borderless photos. Print speeds up to 7 ppm color, 10 ppm black.
  • KEY FEATURES – Color print, copy and scan, plus auto 2-sided printing, a 35-sheet auto document feeder and a 100-sheet input tray.
  • HP'S MOST INTUITIVE COLOR TOUCHSCREEN – Smoothly navigate your printer with the easy-to-use 2.4" touchscreen.
  • WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.
  • TRUE-TO-SCREEN TECH – Print documents and photos that look as vibrant as they do on your screen with HP's P3 technology.
  • HP APP – Print, scan, copy, or fax right from your smartphone with the easiest-to-use print app.
Buy It Now
7
HP OfficeJet 8015e Wireless Color All-in-One Printer, 6 months of Instant Ink included

Rating is 4.4 out of 5

HP OfficeJet 8015e Wireless Color All-in-One Printer, 6 months of Instant Ink included

  • 6 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK INCLUDED WITH HP+ – Print up to 700 pages a month and get ink delivered only when you need it. After 6 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled, and you'll save up to 50% on ink
  • INCLUDES HP+ SMART FEATURES – Activate HP+ to get advanced features for mobile printing, security, automatic updates and more. HP+ only works with an HP account, internet connection and Original HP Ink for the life of the printer
  • BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOME OFFICES – Print professional-quality color documents like forms, reports, brochures and presentations
  • KEY FEATURES – Fast color print, copy and scan, plus 2-sided printing, mobile and wireless printing, and an auto document feeder
  • FAST PRINT SPEEDS – Print up to 18 pages per minute in black and 10 pages per minute in color
  • DUAL BAND WI-FI – Self-healing Wi-FiTM automatically detects and resolves connection issues
  • HP SMART APP – Print, scan and copy from your phone—from anywhere. Get additional advanced features with HP+
Buy It Now


How to troubleshoot printer driver conflicts?

Troubleshooting printer driver conflicts can be a systematic process to identify and resolve conflicts or issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

  1. Identify the Symptoms: Determine what problems you are experiencing with the printer, such as frequent crashes, print jobs not completing, or error messages.
  2. Check Printer Connections: Ensure that the printer is properly connected to your computer or network. Verify that all cables are securely plugged in, and check for any wireless connection issues if applicable.
  3. Update Printer Drivers: Visit the printer manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers for your printer model. Update the driver through the Device Manager on Windows, or use the System Preferences on macOS.
  4. Uninstall Conflicting Drivers: Go to Device Manager (Windows) or Printer & Scanners in System Preferences (macOS). Remove any duplicate or unnecessary printer drivers.
  5. Reinstall the Printer Driver: Remove the existing printer driver and reinstall it using the latest version downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
  6. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and updates, as these might include fixes for printer compatibility issues.
  7. Use the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows): Access the built-in printer troubleshooter through Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Printer to automatically identify and fix common issues.
  8. Examine Recent Changes: Consider whether you have installed any new software or updates that might conflict with the printer driver. If so, try uninstalling or rolling them back.
  9. Disable or Adjust Security Software: Check if any security software, such as firewalls or antivirus programs, might be interfering with the printer software. Temporarily disable them to test printing functionality.
  10. Review Event Logs: Check the Event Viewer (Windows) or Console (macOS) for system logs that might provide more insight into the error or conflict.
  11. Test on Another system: If possible, test the printer with another computer to determine if the issue is specific to your current setup.
  12. Contact Manufacturer Support: If issues persist, contact the printer manufacturer’s support for further assistance or additional troubleshooting steps.
  13. Consider Alternative Drivers: Some printers may work with generic or older driver versions. Test these as a temporary workaround.


By following these steps, you should be able to effectively troubleshoot and resolve most printer driver conflicts. Remember to back up important data before removing or altering system configurations.


How to check if the printer is compatible with the operating system?

To check if a printer is compatible with your operating system, you can follow these steps:

  1. Check the Manufacturer's Website: Visit the support or product page of the printer manufacturer's website. Look for compatibility information or a list of supported operating systems for your specific printer model.
  2. Review the Printer's Manual: Consult the user manual or quick start guide that came with the printer, as it often contains compatibility information.
  3. Check System Requirements: Look at the system requirements on the printer's packaging or product listing, as this information can indicate compatibility with different operating system versions.
  4. Driver Availability: Ensure that there are drivers available for your operating system. The manufacturer's website usually provides downloadable drivers. Check if they offer drivers for your OS version. Drivers might also be available through the operating system’s own update service.
  5. Operating System’s Compatibility Center: Some operating systems have a compatibility center (like Microsoft's Windows Compatibility Center) where you can search for devices and check their compatibility status.
  6. Community and Support Forums: Check online forums or support communities related to the printer or operating system. Users often share experiences and solutions regarding compatibility issues.
  7. Contact Support: If you're still unsure, contact the printer manufacturer's customer support. They can provide definitive information about compatibility and potentially guide you on how to get the printer working with your system.
  8. Test the Printer: If possible, try connecting the printer to your computer and see if it is recognized. The operating system might automatically detect the printer and install necessary drivers if it’s compatible.


By following these steps, you should be able to determine whether a printer is compatible with your operating system. Remember that even if a printer is not directly compatible, there may be third-party solutions or workarounds to get it functioning.


How to fix a printer offline issue?

Fixing a printer that's showing as offline can often be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. Here's a general guide to help you get your printer back online:

  1. Check the Connection: Wired Connection: Ensure that the USB or Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the printer and the computer. Try using a different cable or port if necessary. Wireless Connection: Ensure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. Restart the router if needed.
  2. Restart Devices: Turn off your printer and unplug it for about a minute. Also, restart your computer and, if applicable, your router. Then, turn everything back on.
  3. Set Printer as Default: Go to your computer's "Devices and Printers" or "Printers & Scanners" settings. Right-click on your printer and select "Set as default printer."
  4. Clear Print Queue: Open "Devices and Printers" again and double-click on your printer to view the print queue. Cancel any pending documents by selecting them and clicking on "Cancel."
  5. Check Printer Status: Ensure that the printer is not set to "Use Printer Offline" mode. Right-click on your printer in "Devices and Printers" and look for this option.
  6. Update/Reinstall Printer Drivers: Visit the manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers for your printer model. You can also try removing the printer from your system and reinstalling it.
  7. Run the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows): Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Troubleshoot." Find and run the printer troubleshooter to automatically detect and fix issues.
  8. Check for Updates: Make sure your operating system is up to date, as updates can contain fixes for compatibility issues with printers.
  9. Firewall/Software Conflicts: Temporarily disable any firewall or security software that might be blocking the printer connection.
  10. Contact Support: If none of the above steps work, consider reaching out to the printer manufacturer's support for further assistance.


Each situation can have its unique aspects, so not all steps may apply. Adjust the steps according to your specific setup and model.

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