How to troubleshoot and fix wireless printer connection drops

Hardware & Peripherals KB-139

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to troubleshoot and fix wireless printer connection drops. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Quick Tip: Need immediate assistance? 💻 Open a Ticket

Common Causes

Wireless printer connection drops can be frustrating, often appearing as a "Printer Offline" status or a failure to discover the device on your network. This usually occurs due to signal interference, IP address conflicts, or power-saving settings. Follow the steps below to stabilise your connection and ensure consistent printing for your home or small business office.

Quick Fix Steps

Before moving to advanced configuration, try these rapid solutions to resolve temporary glitches:

Power Cycle: Turn off your printer, unplug your router for 30 seconds, restart the router, and then turn the printer back on.
Check Signal Strength: Ensure there are no large metal objects or microwave ovens between your printer and the wireless access point.
Verify Network: Confirm that both your computer and printer are connected to the same SSID (network name).

If your printer is showing as offline but is powered on, please refer to our guide on Printer not printing / offline.

Detailed Instructions for Stability

Assign a Static IP Address

By default, routers assign dynamic IP addresses via DHCP. If the router re-assigns a new IP to your printer, your computer may lose the connection. Setting a static IP prevents this.

Print a Network Configuration Page from your printer's Settings or Reports menu to find the current IP Address and MAC Address.
Open a web browser and type the printer's IP address into the address bar to access the Embedded Web Server (EWS).
Navigate to the Network or Networking tab.
Locate the IPv4 Configuration section.
Change the setting from Automatic/DHCP to Manual/Static.
Click Apply or Save.

Disable Power Saving Mode

Some printers enter a "Deep Sleep" mode to save energy, which can cause them to drop the wireless handshake with the router.

On the printer's control panel, go to Settings > Power Management.
Look for Auto-Off or Sleep Mode.
Set the timer to the maximum allowed duration or disable Auto-Off entirely.

Troubleshooting Windows and macOS

Windows Connection Refresh

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Scroll down to Print Spooler.
Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Select your printer and click Remove, then click Add device to re-establish the connection using the static IP.

macOS Connection Refresh

Click the Apple Menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Right-click (or Control-click) the printer list on the left and select Reset printing system...
Warning: This removes all printers from your list.
Click the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... button and re-add your device via AirPrint or the manufacturer's driver.

Avoid using "Wireless Direct" or "Wi-Fi Direct" for permanent office setups. While useful for quick mobile printing, these create a separate network that will disconnect your computer from the internet while printing.

Advanced Network Considerations

2.4GHz vs 5GHz: Many older printers only support 2.4GHz bands. If your router uses "Smart Connect" (merging both bands into one name), the printer may struggle to stay connected. Consider creating a separate 2.4GHz Guest Network for peripherals.
Firmware Updates: Check the manufacturer's website or the printer's Maintenance menu for firmware updates to fix known connectivity bugs.

If you have followed these steps and your printer continues to drop its connection, please Open a Ticket so our technicians can analyse your network configuration.

Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

💻 Open a Ticket