Reconnecting a Printer After a New Router or Wi-Fi Password

01Key takeaway

After a Wi-Fi password change or a new router, the printer is still trying to join the old network, so it shows as offline everywhere. Fix it at the printer first: run its wireless setup again and enter the new network name and password. Then check each computer still points at the right printer, removing and re-adding it if needed.

02Terms used in this guide

• SSID: the name of your Wi-Fi network.
• Wireless setup wizard: the printer menu that searches for networks and asks for a password.
• Network reset (restore network settings): a printer option that clears saved Wi-Fi details so you can start fresh. It doesn’t affect your documents or computer.
• IP address: the printer’s address on your network. A new router often gives it a different one.
• Router: the box that creates your Wi-Fi network, often supplied by your internet provider.

03Why the printer stopped working

Your phone and laptop asked you for the new password, or you typed it in when the router changed. Printers usually don’t ask. They keep trying the saved network name and password, fail, and drop off the network. Even if you kept the same network name, a new password or a new router with different security settings is enough to break the connection. A new router may also hand out different IP addresses, which confuses computers that remembered the old one.

The same thing happens if your internet provider replaces the router during a service upgrade, or if someone resets the router to its factory settings, which restores the network name and password printed on its label. In each case the fix is the same: tell the printer about the network as it is now.

Common signs: “Offline” in Windows or macOS, a wireless light that blinks instead of staying on, or a network status page showing “not connected”.

04Rejoin the network at the printer

1. Print a network status page from the printer’s settings menu (if it has one). Note what it says now; it confirms the printer isn’t connected.
2. Optionally restore network settings. If the printer keeps trying the old network, use its option to restore or reset network settings. The name varies by model; the manual shows where it is. This clears only the network details.
3. Run the wireless setup wizard. Choose your network from the list and enter the new password carefully, checking capitals and symbols.
4. For printers without a screen, use the manufacturer’s app or software, which can send the new details to the printer. Some models need to be put into setup mode first, often by holding a button; the manual describes how. A few older models need a temporary USB connection during setup.
5. Print another network status page. It should now show “connected”, the new network name and an IP address.

Did the printer connect? If yes, move on to your computers. If not, see our main guide to connecting a printer to Wi-Fi for band and signal checks.

05Reconnect your computers and phones

Once the printer is back on the network, devices often find it again on their own. If not:

To remove and re-add a printer in Windows, open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove, then add it again. On a Mac, select the printer in Printers & Scanners, remove it, then use the add button. Our guide to adding a printer in Windows and macOS has the full steps.

06A few tips for next time

• Plan a password change. Before changing your Wi-Fi password, make a list of devices that will need updating, including printers, smart speakers and TVs.
• Keep the same network name. If you replace your router, giving the new one the same name and password as the old one can let many devices, including some printers, reconnect automatically. Use strong WPA2 or WPA3 security either way.
• Consider a reserved address. Some routers let you reserve an IP address for the printer, so it keeps the same address. Your router’s manual or app explains whether this is available.
• Keep the password private. Never share your Wi-Fi password with anyone offering unsolicited printer help.

07When to get more help

If the printer can’t see the new network at all, check whether the new router uses only 5 GHz or a Wi-Fi mode the printer doesn’t support; the router’s settings or your internet provider can help with that. If the printer sees the network but won’t join with the correct password, contact the manufacturer’s support with the model number and network status page. For problems that affect every device, contact your internet provider or router manufacturer.

08Common questions

Will resetting network settings erase anything else?

A network reset clears saved network details, and sometimes the printer’s network name or web page password. It doesn’t delete documents on your computer. Check the manual to see exactly what your model resets.

Why does my printer still show offline after reconnecting?

Your computer may be using an old printer entry or address. Remove the printer from the computer and add it again. Our printer offline guide has more checks.

Do I have to reinstall the driver?

Usually not. Re-adding the printer reuses the existing driver. If printing still fails, install current software from the manufacturer’s support site.

Can I update the printer’s Wi-Fi password from my computer?

Sometimes, through the manufacturer’s software or the printer’s web page, but only while the printer is still connected. Once it has lost the network, you usually need to update it at the printer or through setup mode.