How to Connect an HP Printer to Wi-Fi Without a Screen (DeskJet, ENVY and Smart Tank)

Quick answer: To connect an HP printer with no screen to Wi-Fi, put it in Wi-Fi setup mode with its buttons, then finish setup in the HP app (the replacement for HP Smart). On most DeskJet 2700, 2800, 4100 and 4200 series printers, press Cancel, then hold Wireless and Cancel together for five seconds until the Wireless light blinks blue. On ENVY 6000 and 6400 models, hold the Wireless button on the back for five seconds. Then open the HP app within two hours, tap +, choose Set Up a New Printer, and pick your network.

Published November 1, 2026 · By Lauren Elward, Castle Ink

Key Takeaways

• No screen doesn't mean no setup. Screenless HP printers get their Wi-Fi name and password from the HP app, WPS or a browser page instead of a menu.
• Wi-Fi setup mode is the key step. It stays on for two hours after first power-up or after a reset, and the Wireless light blinks while it's active.
• The button combo depends on the model. Most DeskJets use Wireless + Cancel; ENVY 6000/6400 printers use the Wireless button on the back.
• Turn on Bluetooth and location on your phone or computer. HP's app uses them to find the printer during setup.
• WPS is the no-typing shortcut if your router has a WPS button.
• Print a network configuration page (Wireless + Information on many DeskJets) to see whether the printer is connected and what IP address it has.

Which HP Printers Have No Screen?

Most of HP's low-cost inkjets have a row of lighted buttons instead of a display. That includes the DeskJet 2700, 2800 and 2900 series (for example the 2755e and 2855e), the DeskJet 4100, 4200 and 4300 series (4155e, 4255e), the ENVY 6000 and 6400 series (6055e, ENVY Pro 6455e), DeskJet Plus 6000 and 6400 models, and many Smart Tank printers. Older models such as the DeskJet 2600 and 3700 series have a small icon display, but no menu you can type a password into, so they set up the same way.

Printers with a touchscreen, like many OfficeJet Pro models, don't need any of this: you pick your network from the Wireless menu. If you have a Canon, Epson or Brother printer, see our general guide to connecting any printer to Wi-Fi.

How Do I Put an HP Printer Without a Screen in Wi-Fi Setup Mode?

Use the button combination for your model, then wait for the Wireless light to blink. According to HP's Restore Wi-Fi setup mode page, this restores the network defaults and lets the HP app connect the printer again. A brand-new printer is already in setup mode for its first two hours.

Two notes. First, restoring Wi-Fi setup mode erases the saved network, so a printer that was working will drop off Wi-Fi until you finish setup. Second, if the light doesn't blink, the printer may be asleep: press Cancel (or any button) first, then try the combination again. A full factory reset is a separate, bigger step you rarely need for Wi-Fi problems.

How Do I Connect It Using the HP App?

The HP app is the easiest way to finish setup. HP now calls its printer app simply the HP app; it replaces HP Smart, though HP Smart is still offered for devices where the new app isn't available. Get it from start.hp.com or your app store, as described on HP's app setup page.

1. Put the printer in Wi-Fi setup mode (above) and place it near your router.
2. Connect your phone or computer to the Wi-Fi network you want the printer on. If your computer uses an Ethernet cable, HP says to unplug it temporarily and use Wi-Fi during setup.
3. Turn on Bluetooth, and on a phone, allow location access when the app asks. The app uses both to find the printer.
4. Open the HP app, sign in or create an HP account, and tap the plus sign (+).
5. Choose Set Up a New Printer, select your printer, and follow the prompts. The app sends your network name and password to the printer.
6. When the Wireless light stops blinking and stays solid, the printer is on your network.

Many current HP printers pair with the app over Bluetooth during setup. Some older ones broadcast a temporary HP-Setup network that the app joins instead. You don't have to choose: the app uses whichever your printer supports. If you'd rather print from a phone without the HP app afterward, see how to print from your phone.

How Do I Connect an HP Printer to Wi-Fi With the WPS Button?

If your router has a WPS button, you can connect without typing a password. HP's Wi-Fi setup page gives these steps for printers without a touchscreen:

1. Place the printer near the router.
2. On most screenless printers, hold the Wireless button for about five seconds until its light starts flashing. On DeskJet Plus 6000/6400, ENVY 6000/6400 and Tango printers, hold the Wireless and Power buttons on the back for three seconds.
3. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router.
4. Wait for the printer's Wireless light to stop flashing and stay on.

WPS has to be turned on in the router's settings, and some internet providers ship routers with it off. Some setups ask for a WPS PIN instead of the push button; our guide to the WPS PIN on a printer explains where to find it. After WPS connects the printer, add it in the HP app or your computer's printer settings so you can print to it.

Can I Set Up the Printer From a Web Browser Instead?

Yes. When the app can't find the printer, you can connect to the printer directly and run its built-in Wireless Setup Wizard. HP describes this method on its Wi-Fi setup page:

1. Restore Wi-Fi setup mode so the Wireless light blinks.
2. On your computer or phone, open the list of Wi-Fi networks and join the one named HP-Setup followed by your printer's name. This connection is temporary.
3. Open a browser and go to 192.168.223.1. If you see a privacy warning, choose the option to continue to the page.
4. When the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS) opens, enter the PIN from the label inside the cartridge access area.
5. Click Network > Wireless > Wireless Setup Wizard > Next, choose your Wi-Fi network and type its password.
6. Reconnect your device to your home Wi-Fi. Disconnect any VPN before you look for the printer.

If the EWS asks for a password you don't know, the PIN label inside the cartridge door is the first thing to try.

Can I Use a USB Cable to Set Up Wireless?

A USB cable is a good fallback when wireless setup keeps failing. Many HP printers can be installed over USB with the HP app or driver, and you can print by cable while you sort out the network, then switch to Wi-Fi later from the app. Most budget HP printers don't come with a cable, so check that you have the right one: our printer USB cable guide covers which type you need.

No router at all, or on a hotel or campus guest network? Use Wi-Fi Direct, which connects your device straight to the printer. HP explains it in its Wi-Fi Direct guide. On many DeskJets, a Printer Information Page (press the Information button) lists the Wi-Fi Direct name and password.

How Do I Connect My HP Printer to a New Router or Wi-Fi Network?

Restore Wi-Fi setup mode, then set the printer up again in the HP app. A screenless printer remembers only one network, and there's no menu to change it, so a new router, a new internet provider or a changed Wi-Fi password all mean starting setup over.

1. Restore Wi-Fi setup mode with your model's button combination.
2. Connect your phone or computer to the new network.
3. In the HP app, tap + and choose Set Up a New Printer, even though the printer isn't new. Remove the old printer tile if it shows as offline.
4. On a computer, delete the old printer entry from Windows or macOS printer settings and add it again if jobs still go nowhere.

If the printer connects and then keeps dropping, see why your printer keeps going offline.

How Do I Print a Network Configuration Page Without a Screen?

On HP DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers, load paper and press the Wireless and Information buttons at the same time. HP's self-test pages document says this prints both a Wireless Network Test Report and a Network Configuration Page. Other models use different combinations, so check your user guide if that doesn't work.

The pages tell you:

• Whether wireless is connected and the network name (SSID) it joined.
• The printer's IP address, which you can type into a browser to open its settings. More in how to find your printer's IP address.
• Signal strength and test results, such as a wrong password or a network that wasn't found.

Holding Cancel for three seconds prints a Printer Status Report on the same models, which is useful if the network pages won't print.

Does It Need 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

Use 2.4 GHz if you have the choice. Many current HP printers support both bands, but older and some budget models connect only on 2.4 GHz, and 2.4 GHz reaches farther through walls. Check your model's specifications to be sure.

Problems come up when a router puts both bands under one network name (often called band steering or Smart Connect). If setup keeps failing, try these in order:

1. Move the printer closer to the router for setup.
2. In the router's app, temporarily give the 2.4 GHz band its own name, connect your phone to it, and run setup again.
3. Make sure the network uses WPA2 or WPA2/WPA3 mixed security. Some older printers can't join WPA3-only networks.
4. Avoid guest networks, which often block devices from seeing each other.

Why Won't My HP Printer Connect to Wi-Fi?

Most failures come down to the setup window closing, the phone being on a different network, or the router blocking the printer. Work through this list:

• Setup mode timed out. The two-hour window closed. Restore Wi-Fi setup mode and run the app again.
• Bluetooth or location is off on your phone, so the app can't see the printer.
• Your phone is on a VPN, a guest network or mobile data. Connect it to the same home Wi-Fi you want the printer on.
• Wrong password. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive. The Wireless Network Test Report will say if authentication failed.
• Weak signal. Move the printer within about 10 feet of the router for setup, then move it back.
• It connects but won't print. That's a computer-side problem; see why won't my printer connect to my computer.

Still stuck? Our full checklist, HP printer not connecting to Wi-Fi: 11 fixes, goes deeper into router settings, firmware and HP's diagnostic tool.

Which Ink Do These Screenless HP Printers Use?

Most of them use HP 67 cartridges. That covers the DeskJet 2700, 2800 and 4100 series and the ENVY 6000 and 6400 series sold in the US. Older DeskJet 2600 and 3700 models use HP 65, and some ENVY Photo models use HP 64. Confirm with our pages on what ink the DeskJet 2700 uses and what ink the ENVY 6000 uses.

Since these printers have no screen to show ink levels, check them in the HP app (see how to check ink levels on an HP printer). Standard cartridges in this class hold very little ink, so XL sizes usually cost less per page; HP 67 vs. 67XL does the math. Castle Ink's Remanufactured for HP 67XL black and the HP 67XL black and tri-color 2-pack fit the DeskJet 2700/4100 and ENVY 6000/6400 families, and the Remanufactured for HP 65XL combo fits the 2600 and 3700 series. For anything else, use Find Ink by Printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Your Printer Stocked

Once your printer is back online, don't let an empty cartridge be the next thing that stops it. Castle Ink has supplied remanufactured ink cartridges and compatible toner since 2005, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Order by 4 PM ET Monday through Friday and it ships the same day, with free shipping over $50.

• HP ink cartridges and HP toner
• Brother toner cartridges
• Canon ink cartridges
• Epson ink cartridges

Setting up a different brand? See how to connect a printer to Wi-Fi for Canon, Epson and Brother steps.

Sources

• HP Support: Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer
• HP Support: HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network)
• HP Support: HP printer setup (HP app)
• HP Support: HP DeskJet 2700, 4100, 4800 printers: Printing self-test pages
• HP Support: Set up a Wi-Fi Direct connection
• ManualsNet: HP DeskJet 2700 series user guide (WPS and report buttons)

About the author: Lauren Elward writes Castle Ink's printer help guides, drawing on more than 20 years of family experience in printers, ink and toner.