The two ways to connect an HP printer to your phone
You can connect an HP printer to your phone in two ways: through your home WiFi network, or through Bluetooth if your printer has it. WiFi is more reliable and works from anywhere in your home. Bluetooth is faster to set up but only works within about 30 feet of the printer and drains your phone's battery faster.
Most people use WiFi because it lets you print from your phone while sitting on the couch, and the printer doesn't have to be right next to you. You'll need the HP Smart app, which is free and available for both iPhone and Android phones.
Before you start, make sure your printer is turned on and plugged in. If you're using WiFi, your printer and phone both need to be connected to the same network — usually your home WiFi.
Key Takeaways
- read the HP Smart app on your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, then open it and let it search for your printer on your WiFi network.
- Your printer must be on the same WiFi network as your phone for the connection to work; check your printer's screen or settings to confirm which network it's connected to.
- Once the app finds your printer, it will ask you to confirm the connection — you may see a code on your printer screen that you need to enter in the app.
- After setup, you can print from your phone by opening any document or photo, tapping the share or print button, and selecting your HP printer from the list.
read and open the HP Smart app
Go to your phone's app store — the Apple App Store if you have an iPhone, or Google Play Store if you have an Android phone. Search for "HP Smart" and read the free app. Once it's installed, open the app and sign in with an HP account, or create one if you don't have one yet. You can use your email address to create an account.
The app will ask for permission to access your phone's location and WiFi network. You need to allow both of these so the app can find your printer. Don't worry — the app only uses this information to locate your printer on your home network.
Make sure your printer is on your WiFi network
Your printer needs to be connected to the same WiFi network as your phone. Most HP printers have a small screen on the front or top. Look at that screen and find the WiFi symbol — it usually looks like curved lines or a fan shape. If you see an X through it, your printer is not connected to WiFi yet.
To connect your printer to WiFi, press the WiFi button on the printer itself, or go into the printer's settings menu using its screen. The printer will show you a list of available networks. Find your home WiFi network name (also called the SSID) and select it. The printer will ask you to enter your WiFi password — use the same password you use when connecting your phone to WiFi at home.
Once your printer is connected, the WiFi symbol on its screen should stop showing an X. Write down your WiFi network name and password if you don't have them memorized — you may need them during setup.
Search for your printer in the HP Smart app
Open the HP Smart app on your phone. You should see a button that says "Add Printer" or a plus sign. Tap it. The app will search for any HP printers on your WiFi network. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds.
When the app finds your printer, it will show the model number and name. Tap on your printer to select it. The app may ask you to confirm the connection by entering a code — if so, look at your printer's screen, find the code displayed there, and type it into your phone. This step makes sure you're connecting to your own printer and not someone else's.
Once you confirm, the app will finish setting up the connection. You should see a message saying your printer is ready to use. If the app doesn't find your printer, make sure both your phone and printer are on the same WiFi network, then try the search again.
Print from your phone after setup
Now that your printer is connected, you can print from any app on your phone. Open a document, photo, or email that you want to print. Look for a share button — it usually looks like three dots, an arrow pointing out of a box, or the word "Share." Tap it.
Scroll through the options until you see "Print" or a printer icon. Tap it. Your phone will show a list of available printers. Select your HP printer from the list. You can choose how many copies you want and which pages to print, then tap "Print" to send the job to your printer.
Your printer should start printing within a few seconds. If nothing happens, make sure your printer is turned on and still connected to WiFi. You can check the HP Smart app to see if your printer is listed as "Ready."
Troubleshooting when your printer won't connect
If your printer doesn't appear in the HP Smart app search, the most common reason is that it's not on the same WiFi network as your phone. Check your printer's screen again and confirm the WiFi symbol is not showing an X. If it is, reconnect your printer to WiFi using the steps above.
If your printer is connected to WiFi but the app still can't find it, restart both your printer and your phone. Turn off your printer completely, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Do the same with your phone. Then open the HP Smart app again and search for your printer.
If you're still having trouble, check that you're using the correct WiFi network. Some homes have two networks — one labeled with "5G" or "5GHz" and one without. HP printers often work better on the regular network without the 5G label. Try connecting your printer to that network instead.
Using Bluetooth if WiFi isn't available
If you don't have WiFi or prefer not to use it, some HP printers support Bluetooth. Check your printer's manual or the HP website to see if your model has Bluetooth. If it does, you can pair it directly with your phone without needing a WiFi network.
To set up Bluetooth, open the HP Smart app and look for a Bluetooth option instead of WiFi. The app will search for nearby printers. When it finds yours, tap it to pair. Your phone may ask you to confirm the pairing — tap "Yes" or "Confirm." Once paired, you can print the same way as with WiFi, but only from within about 30 feet of the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print to my HP printer from outside my home?
Yes, if you set up remote printing in the HP Smart app. You'll need to sign into your HP account and enable the feature in the app settings. This lets you print from anywhere you have internet, even when you're away from home. Your printer must stay connected to your home WiFi for this to work.
What if I have more than one HP printer?
The HP Smart app can connect to multiple printers. Add each one separately using the "Add Printer" button. When you print, the app will show all your connected printers and let you choose which one to use. You can set one as your default printer so it's selected automatically.
Do I need an HP account to use the app?
You need an HP account to read and use the HP Smart app, but creating one is free and takes less than a minute. You can use any email address. An account also lets you use features like remote printing and cloud storage integration.
Why does my printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?
This usually happens if your printer is too far from your WiFi router or if there's interference from other devices. Try moving your printer closer to the router, or move the router closer to the printer. If that doesn't work, restart both your printer and your WiFi router by turning them off for 30 seconds.
Can I print wirelessly if my HP printer is older?
Older HP printers may not have built-in WiFi. If yours doesn't, you can still print wirelessly by connecting your printer to a WiFi-enabled print server, or by using a USB connection to a computer that's on your network. Check your printer's manual to see what options are available for your model.