HP Smart Not Finding Your Printer? Step-by-Step Fixes

Updated October 16, 2026 - by the hpsmart.cc editorial team

"Searching for printers..." that never ends is one of the most common reasons people give up on HP Smart, or on the HP app that has replaced it. The good news is that the cause is almost always one of a handful of network or setup issues you can check yourself in a few minutes. Work through the steps below in order: they start with the quickest checks and end with the options that take longer. The steps apply to both HP Smart and the HP app, because both find printers the same way.

Why the app cannot see your printer

The app does not search the internet for your printer. It looks for it on your local network, or, during first-time setup, over Bluetooth or a temporary direct Wi-Fi connection that the printer broadcasts. HP's own printer setup guide describes this process. So when the app shows nothing, it usually means one of these is true:

The printer and your phone or computer are on different networks (for example, phone on a guest network or on mobile data).
The printer is not connected to Wi-Fi at all, or it lost the connection after a router change or password change.
Something on the network or device is blocking discovery: a VPN, a firewall, or a router feature that isolates devices from each other.
The app is missing a permission it needs to search the local network or use Bluetooth.
The printer is a new one that is not in setup mode any more, so the app cannot find it to send the Wi-Fi details.

Step 1: Confirm everything is on the same network

HP's first recommendation for a printer the app cannot find is to make sure your phone or computer and the printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check the Wi-Fi name on your phone or computer, then check the printer: most printers with a screen show the network name in their wireless settings, and many models without a screen can print a network configuration page from their buttons (your printer's manual on HP Customer Support lists the exact button combination for your model).

If your router broadcasts separate names for its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, connect your phone or computer to the same name the printer uses while you set up. Turn off mobile data on your phone during the search so it does not quietly drop off Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Restart the printer, router and device

It sounds basic, but HP lists it as a standard fix because it clears stuck network sessions. Turn the printer off, restart the router, and restart the phone or computer. Wait until the router is fully back online and the printer shows its wireless light as connected, then open the app again and add the printer.

Step 3: Turn off VPN and check firewall settings

A VPN routes your traffic away from your home network, so the app looks for the printer in the wrong place. HP's setup guide recommends temporarily turning a VPN off during setup. On a Windows or Mac computer, also check that your firewall or security software allows the HP app to communicate on private networks. Make sure your home Wi-Fi is marked as a private network in Windows rather than a public one, since discovery is more restricted on public networks.

Step 4: Check app permissions on your phone

iPhone and iPad: in Settings, find the HP app and make sure Local Network and Bluetooth access are turned on. Without local network access, iOS stops the app from seeing devices on your Wi-Fi.
Android: in Settings, open Apps, select the HP app and check that the Nearby devices and Location permissions are allowed, since Android uses them for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning. Also make sure Bluetooth is turned on during first-time setup.

HP's guide also suggests updating the app to the latest version, signing out and back in, and on mobile, clearing the app cache (or reinstalling it on a computer) if the app itself is misbehaving.

Step 5: Put a new printer back into setup mode

A brand-new printer announces itself for setup for a limited time after it is first turned on. If you started setup earlier and stopped, the printer may have left that mode, and the app will no longer find it. Most HP printers can be returned to Wi-Fi setup mode by restoring their network settings, either from the control panel or with a button combination specific to your model. Look up "restore network settings" or "Wi-Fi setup mode" for your exact model on HP Customer Support, then start the add-printer process again in the app straight away.

Step 6: Connect the printer to Wi-Fi without the app

If the app still cannot hand over your Wi-Fi details, put the printer on the network first and let the app find it afterwards. HP documents two common ways:

Control panel: on printers with a touchscreen, open the wireless settings, choose your network name and type the password.
WPS: if both the router and printer support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, press the WPS button on the router, then press and hold the Wi-Fi button on the printer within two minutes, as HP describes.

Once the printer's wireless light shows a steady connection, open HP Smart or the HP app and add the printer again. It should now appear in the list of printers on your network.

Step 7: Use a wired or computer-based option

USB: HP notes that you can connect with a USB cable, install through the app or your operating system's prompts, and later convert the printer to wireless in the app's printer settings.
Ethernet: on models with a network port, plug the printer into the router; the app or the operating system should then discover it automatically.
HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows): HP's free diagnostic tool for Windows looks for common discovery, queue and driver problems. Download it only from HP's own support site.
Add by IP address: on networks where discovery is restricted (for example, office networks or separate guest networks), HP suggests adding the printer by its IP address from your computer's printer settings.

Quick checklist

Symptom	Most likely cause	What to try
App finds nothing at all	Different networks, VPN or missing permission	Steps 1, 3 and 4
New printer never appears during setup	Printer left setup mode or Bluetooth is off	Steps 4 and 5
Printer worked before, now missing	Router, password or network change	Steps 2 and 6
Found on phone but not on Windows PC	Firewall or public network profile	Step 3, then HP Print and Scan Doctor
Office or guest network	Device isolation or restricted discovery	Step 7, add by IP address

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is HP Smart not finding my printer?

Most often the printer and your device are on different networks, a VPN or firewall is blocking discovery, or the app lacks local network or Bluetooth permission. Confirm the same Wi-Fi network first, then work through the other checks.

Why is HP Smart printer setup stuck?

A setup that hangs usually means the app lost contact with the printer while sending the Wi-Fi details. Restart the printer, router and device, return the printer to Wi-Fi setup mode, and start setup again with the device close to the printer.

Can I set up my HP printer without the app?

Yes. You can connect the printer to Wi-Fi from its control panel or with WPS, and computers can add it from their own printer settings. HP also notes that iPhone and iPad can print with AirPrint once the printer is on the same network.

Does the HP app find printers differently from HP Smart?

No. Both look for the printer on your local network, or over Bluetooth and a temporary direct connection during first-time setup, so the same fixes apply to both apps.

Where can I get official help if none of this works?

Use HP Customer Support at support.hp.com, which has model-specific instructions, or the support section inside the HP app. This site is an independent guide and does not provide support services.