The fastest way depends on your printer model and what's nearby
Most HP printers connect to phones through Wi-Fi, either directly or through your home network. The exact steps change based on whether your printer has a touchscreen, whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone, and whether your printer is older or newer. The three main routes are: connecting through the HP Smart app (works for most modern printers), using your Wi-Fi network directly, or using Bluetooth if your printer supports it.
Before you start, make sure your printer is turned on and within range of your phone. If your printer is brand new, it may still be in setup mode — check the display panel or manual to see if it needs initial configuration first.
Key Takeaways
- The HP Smart app is the simplest method for most phones and printers made in the last five years, and it works over your home Wi-Fi network.
- Your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone for the app method to work — if it's on a different network or guest network, the connection will fail.
- Older HP printers may require manual Wi-Fi setup through the printer's touchscreen or buttons before the app can find them.
- If your printer has Bluetooth, you can pair it directly to your phone without Wi-Fi, though this only works for printing, not scanning.
Connecting through the HP Smart app on any phone
read the HP Smart app from the Apple App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android). Open the app and tap the plus sign or "Add Printer" button. The app will search for printers on your Wi-Fi network.
When your printer appears in the list, tap it to select it. The app may ask you to confirm the connection on the printer itself — if so, look at your printer's touchscreen or control panel and press the checkmark or "OK" button. Once confirmed, your phone and printer are connected and you can print from any app that has a print option.
If the app does not find your printer, the most common reason is that your printer is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. Check your printer's Wi-Fi settings (usually found in the Settings or Network menu on the printer's touchscreen) and make sure it shows the same network name as your phone. If your home network has a separate guest network, both devices must be on the main network, not the guest one.
Setting up Wi-Fi on your printer if it's not connected yet
If your printer has never been connected to Wi-Fi, you'll need to do this from the printer itself before the app can find it. On the printer's touchscreen or control panel, look for a Settings or Network menu. Select "Wi-Fi Setup" or "Wireless Setup."
The printer will show a list of available networks. Find your home Wi-Fi network name (called the SSID) and select it. You'll be asked to enter your Wi-Fi password. Use the printer's keypad or touchscreen to type it in — this is the same password you use to connect your phone to Wi-Fi. Once entered, the printer will connect and you can proceed with the HP Smart app method above.
If your printer does not have a touchscreen, look for a Wi-Fi or wireless button on the physical printer. Pressing and holding this button for a few seconds usually puts the printer into pairing mode, which allows it to connect to your network. Check your printer's manual for the exact button location and how long to hold it.
Using Bluetooth if your printer supports it
Some newer HP printers have Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi. Bluetooth lets you print without being on the same Wi-Fi network, though the range is shorter (usually 30 feet or less). To pair via Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth on both your phone and printer.
On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings and look for your printer's name in the list of available devices. Tap it to pair. Your printer may ask you to confirm the pairing — if so, press "OK" or the checkmark on the printer's control panel. Once paired, you can print through the HP Smart app or through your phone's native print menu.
Bluetooth is useful if you're printing from a phone in a different room or if your Wi-Fi network is temporarily down, but Wi-Fi printing is faster and more reliable for regular use. Most people use Bluetooth only as a backup method.
Printing from your phone once connected
After your phone and printer are connected, printing is straightforward. Open any app with a document or photo you want to print — this could be your email app, Photos app, web browser, or a document app. Look for a share button (usually three dots or lines) or a print icon.
Tap "Print" or "Share" and select your HP printer from the list. You may see options to choose the number of copies, color or black-and-white, and paper size. Once you've set your preferences, tap "Print" and the job will go to your printer.
If nothing prints, check that your printer is turned on and that your phone is still connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If the printer is offline, the HP Smart app will show a warning. Restart both your phone and printer if the connection drops.
Troubleshooting when your phone won't find the printer
If the HP Smart app searches but does not find your printer, restart both devices. Turn off your printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Do the same with your phone. Then open the HP Smart app again and search.
If that does not work, check your Wi-Fi network name and password. Open your printer's network settings (on the touchscreen or through the physical menu buttons) and verify it shows the same network your phone is connected to. If your home Wi-Fi network has changed names or passwords recently, you may need to reconnect the printer manually through the printer's settings menu.
If your printer is very old (more than 10 years), it may not be compatible with the current version of the HP Smart app. Check the app's system requirements or visit HP's support website with your printer's model number to see if an older connection method is needed. Some very old printers require a separate driver or software to be installed on a computer first.
Scanning from your phone to your printer
If your HP printer has a scanner, you can use your phone to scan documents directly to it. Open the HP Smart app and look for the "Scan" option. Place your document on the printer's glass or in the automatic feeder, and tap "Scan" in the app. The scanned image will save to your phone as a PDF or image file.
Scanning requires the same Wi-Fi connection as printing — Bluetooth does not support scanning. If the scan option does not appear in the HP Smart app, your printer model may not have scanning capability, or you may need to update the app to the latest version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print to my HP printer if I'm not home?
Yes, if you set up HP ePrint. This feature lets you email documents to your printer's unique email address and it will print when the printer is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi. Set this up in the HP Smart app under printer settings. It works from anywhere, but your printer must be on and connected to your home Wi-Fi network.
Why does my printer keep disconnecting from my phone?
The most common cause is Wi-Fi interference or distance. Move your printer closer to your router or remove obstacles between them. If your phone keeps dropping the connection, restart your printer and phone, then reconnect. If the problem continues, your printer's Wi-Fi chip may be failing and may need service.
Do I need a computer to set up my HP printer with my phone?
No. Modern HP printers can be set up entirely through the HP Smart app on your phone. You only need a computer if your printer is very old or if you want to install additional drivers for specialized printing tasks.
Can multiple phones print to the same HP printer?
Yes. As long as all phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and have the HP Smart app installed, they can all print to the same printer. Each phone connects independently, so there's no limit to how many devices can use it.
What's the difference between printing over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?
Wi-Fi printing is faster and works from farther away, but requires your printer to be on your home network. Bluetooth is slower and has a shorter range (about 30 feet), but works without Wi-Fi. Use Wi-Fi for regular printing and Bluetooth only if Wi-Fi is unavailable.