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Choose the connection that matches what you need
| Method | What connects to what | Best for | Internet access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone hotspot | The printer joins the phone’s hotspot network. | When the printer needs to use the phone’s network. Support depends on the printer model. | May provide network or internet access, subject to hotspot settings and plan; support is not established for every HP printer. |
| Wi‑Fi Direct | Your phone or tablet joins the printer’s own wireless network. | Printing directly from a nearby device without a router. | HP says Wi‑Fi Direct sends print jobs without internet access; it is not a general-purpose internet connection. |
HP Support says, “For most HP printers released after 2014, Wi-Fi Direct is a connection option that does not require an internet connection to send print jobs wirelessly to the printer.” See HP’s Wi‑Fi Direct setup and printing instructions.
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Print directly with Wi‑Fi Direct
Before starting, turn on the printer and load paper. Find its Wi‑Fi Direct network name and password in the HP app’s printer settings or on the printer’s touchscreen, if your model displays them. The network name commonly begins with DIRECT; confirm it belongs to your printer, especially where nearby printers appear in the list.
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- Open the item you want to print and choose Print.
- In the printer list, select your printer’s matching
DIRECT-named network printer. HP’s Android print-service guidance notes that a Wi‑Fi Direct option may appear as aDIRECT-xx-HPname, alongside the ordinary network printer name. - Enter the Wi‑Fi Direct password if prompted. If the printer requests confirmation, press the indicated button on the printer.
- Wait for the connection, then submit the print job. HP also documents printing through its Print Service Plugin for Android.
iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Wi‑Fi, select the printer’s Wi‑Fi Direct network, and enter its password if asked.
- Open the document or photo, choose Print, select the printer, and choose AirPrint if prompted.
- When printing is complete, return to Wi‑Fi settings and reconnect to your previous Wi‑Fi network if needed.
For device-specific connection details, consult HP’s Wi‑Fi Direct instructions.
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Connect the printer to your phone’s hotspot
This is a different arrangement from Wi‑Fi Direct: the printer must join the hotspot’s network. HP’s general wireless setup guidance covers configuring a printer through the HP app, but the controls and whether the printer can join a phone hotspot depend on the exact model. The available guidance does not establish universal compatibility or universal hotspot band and security requirements.
- Identify the exact HP printer model and consult its model-specific wireless setup instructions. HP’s wireless network setup guidance provides general context.
- If the model supports joining a phone hotspot, use the model’s setup process to select the hotspot’s network name (SSID) and enter its password.
- Follow the printer’s on-screen or model-specific instructions to finish setup. Do not assume that every HP printer can connect to every phone hotspot.
Troubleshoot Wi‑Fi Direct connection problems
- The printer does not appear: Check that Wi‑Fi Direct is enabled and that you are selecting the network belonging to your printer. Nearby printers can have similar names.
- The password fails: Use the password displayed by the printer or provided in the HP app’s printer settings, where available.
- The connection drops or will not complete: Restart the printer and phone or tablet, then reconnect to the printer’s Wi‑Fi Direct network.
- You need internet or online printer features: Wi‑Fi Direct is for direct printing, not full network or internet access. Online functions or remote printing may require the printer to join a network that has internet access.
Older printers may use HP Wireless Direct
HP Wireless Direct is legacy terminology for certain printer models from late 2011 to mid-2014, not a universal name for current HP printers. If your older model offers Wireless Direct, use the instructions for that feature rather than assuming newer Wi‑Fi Direct steps apply. After printing, you may need to reconnect your phone or computer to its regular Wi‑Fi network. See HP’s guidance for Wireless Direct on older printers.
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