HP DeskJet 2800 Does Not Connect to Wi-Fi: What to Do If HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart Cannot Find the Printer

Last Updated on 30.06.2026 by DriverNew

This guide will help if an HP DeskJet 2800 series MFP does not connect to Wi-Fi, HP Easy Start cannot find the printer, HP app or HP Smart shows an error, and Windows 10 or Windows 11 cannot add the device.

This article applies to the following models: HP DeskJet 2820, HP DeskJet 2821, HP DeskJet 2822, HP DeskJet 2823, HP DeskJet 2828, HP DeskJet 2829, HP DeskJet 2820e, HP DeskJet 2821e, HP DeskJet 2822e, HP DeskJet 2823e, HP DeskJet 2842e, HP DeskJet 2852e, HP DeskJet 2855e, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2874, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2875, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2876, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2877, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2878, and HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2879.

In most cases, the problem is not caused by a printer failure. Usually, the cause is Wi-Fi settings, the wrong printer connection mode, HP app behavior, or the computer being unable to communicate with the printer over the network.

What You Need to Know Before Setup

The HP DeskJet 2800 MFP supports Wi-Fi only on the 2.4 GHz band. If the router works only on the 5 GHz band, the printer will not connect to that network.

If the router has one shared network for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, for example Home_WiFi, the printer may not be detected. In this case, it is recommended to temporarily separate the networks in the router settings:

• Home_WiFi_2.4 — for the printer;
• Home_WiFi_5G — for other devices.

To set up the printer, connect the computer or phone specifically to the 2.4 GHz network.

Also prepare the Wi-Fi password in advance. It must be entered exactly: with the correct uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and keyboard layout.

Download the Official HP Easy Start Installer

For Windows 10 and Windows 11, it is convenient to use the official HP Easy Start installer for the HP DeskJet 2800 series:

Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe

This file is useful when HP app does not install, Microsoft Store is unavailable, the program requires an HP account, or it cannot connect to HP servers.

Download drivers only from the official HP website or through an official HP link. Do not use websites with unverified drivers.

Method 1. Check the Simple Causes

Before reinstalling the driver, do the following:

1. Turn on the printer and wait 1–2 minutes.
2. Restart the router.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Place the printer closer to the router and the computer. During setup, it is better for the printer to be in the same room.
5. Turn off VPN on the computer. After setup is complete, you can turn VPN back on.
6. If the computer is connected to the internet with an Ethernet cable, temporarily turn on Wi-Fi on the computer. If necessary, temporarily disconnect the Ethernet cable.
7. If setup is performed from a phone, turn on Bluetooth and Location Services.
8. Make sure the computer or phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network that you want to connect the printer to.
9. Do not use a guest Wi-Fi network if device isolation is enabled on it. On such a network, the computer may not see the printer.

After that, run the installer again and try to find the printer.

Method 2. Reset Wi-Fi Setup Mode on the Printer

If HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart does not see the printer, first put the printer into Wi-Fi setup mode.

On the printer control panel, find:

• the Wireless button with the Wi-Fi symbol;
• the Cancel button with the X symbol.

Follow these steps:

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Press the Wireless and Cancel buttons at the same time.
3. Hold the buttons for about 5 seconds.
4. When the Power button briefly blinks, release the buttons.
5. Wait about 1 minute.
6. The wireless light should blink blue.

If the blue Wi-Fi light is blinking, the printer is in setup mode. Now close HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart, open the program again, and repeat the printer search.

If the blue Wi-Fi light is solid, the printer is already connected to a wireless network. In this case, check that the computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If the Wi-Fi light is off, the printer is not connected to a wireless network. Reset Wi-Fi setup mode again and repeat the connection.

Method 3. Run HP Easy Start and Decline Data Collection

After downloading the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe file, start the installation.

1. Find the downloaded file on the computer.
2. Double-click it.
3. If Windows asks for permission to run it, click Yes.
4. Wait for the HP DeskJet 2800 series window to open.

On the first screen, you may see this question:

Do you want to help improve HP software by sharing usage data?

Click No.

Declining data sharing does not prevent driver installation. For an ordinary user, it is safer not to allow additional usage information to be sent.

Method 4. Continue Installation with the Current Software

During installation, this screen may appear:

Download HP Easy Start to activate available printer features

There is a Download HP Easy Start button on this screen. If you have already launched the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe file, you do not need to click this button.

Click the link in the lower-left corner:

Continue with current software

This is an important step. It lets you continue the installation with the already running program, without downloading anything else from the internet.

Method 5. Accept the License Agreement

On the Welcome to HP Easy Start screen, click Continue.

By continuing the installation, you accept the End User License Agreement. This screen may also indicate that the printer will be used as the default printer.

Method 6. Connect the Printer to Wi-Fi Using a Temporary USB Cable

HP Easy Start may offer wireless network setup using a USB connection. This is a normal setup method. The USB cable is used temporarily to send your Wi-Fi network settings to the printer.

The screen may say:

Wireless Network Setup Using a USB Connection

Follow these steps:

1. Take a USB printer cable.
2. Connect the square end of the USB cable to the back of the printer.
3. Connect the flat end of the USB cable to a free USB port on the computer.
4. Wait until the program detects the printer.
5. Follow the HP Easy Start instructions.
6. Select your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
7. Enter the Wi-Fi password.
8. Wait for setup to complete.
9. When the program asks you to remove the USB cable, disconnect it.

After that, the printer should work over Wi-Fi.

If the program says that the printer is already connected to the network, you can click The printer is already connected to Wi-Fi. Choose this option only if the blue Wi-Fi light on the printer is solid and you are sure that the printer is connected to your network.

Method 7. If the Program Says “Printer Not Found — Let’s Try Another Way!”

If HP Easy Start does not find the printer automatically, this screen may appear:

Printer not found — let’s try another way!

This screen usually has the following options:

• Wireless network
• USB cable

If you want to connect the printer to Wi-Fi, select Wireless network and click Continue.

If Wi-Fi setup does not work but you urgently need to print from one computer, select USB cable and click Continue.

Important: when connected only by USB, the printer may not use HP web services, such as ePrint and HP Instant Ink. For normal printing and scanning from a computer, a USB connection is usually enough.

Method 8. If the Printer Is Already Connected to Wi-Fi but the Program Does Not See It

Sometimes the printer is already connected to the router, but HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart cannot find it automatically.

Check the following:

1. The blue Wi-Fi light on the printer should be solid.
2. The computer should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. VPN should be turned off.
4. The computer should not be connected to a guest network.
5. The router should not block communication between devices on the network.

If the HP Easy Start window has a Search by IP address button, you can try adding the printer by IP address.

To find the printer’s IP address:

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Press the Information button or the button with the i symbol on the printer control panel.
3. The printer will print a page with status and settings information.
4. Find the printer’s IP address on the page.
5. In HP Easy Start, click Search by IP address.
6. Enter the printer’s IP address.
7. Continue the installation.

If there is no IP address, the printer is not yet connected to the router. In this case, reset Wi-Fi again and set up the connection from the beginning.

Method 9. Remove Old Printer Copies in Windows

If you have already tried to install the printer several times, old or damaged device copies may remain in Windows. Because of this, a new installation may not work correctly.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Find all devices named HP DeskJet 2800 series or with a similar name.
5. Open each unnecessary device and click Remove.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Start the installation again through HP Easy Start.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Find all devices named HP DeskJet 2800 series or with a similar name.
5. Remove unnecessary printer copies.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Start the installation again through HP Easy Start.

Method 10. Add the Printer in Windows Manually by IP Address

This method is suitable only if the printer is already connected to Wi-Fi and has an IP address.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Click Add device.
5. If the required printer does not appear, click Add manually.
6. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
7. Enter the printer’s IP address.
8. Follow the Windows instructions.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Click Add a printer or scanner.
5. If the printer is not found, click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
6. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
7. Enter the printer’s IP address.
8. Follow the Windows instructions.

After adding the printer by IP address, check printing with a test page.

Method 11. If You Changed the Router, Internet Provider, or Wi-Fi Password

If the printer worked before but stopped connecting after changing the router, internet provider, or Wi-Fi password, you need to connect it to the network again.

Follow these steps:

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Press the Wireless and Cancel buttons at the same time.
3. Hold the buttons for about 5 seconds.
4. Wait until the wireless light starts blinking blue.
5. Open HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart.
6. Add the printer again.
7. Select the new 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
8. Enter the new Wi-Fi password.

The old network settings stored in the printer memory will no longer be used.

Method 12. If HP app or HP Smart Does Not Work

In some cases, HP app or HP Smart does not start, does not install from Microsoft Store, requires an HP account, or cannot connect to HP servers.

In this situation, use the official installer package:

Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe

During installation:

1. When asked about sending data, click No.
2. If you are offered to download HP Easy Start, click Continue with current software.
3. For Wi-Fi, select a wireless connection.
4. If Wi-Fi cannot be set up, temporarily use a USB connection.

HP app may be useful for HP+, Instant Ink, cloud features, remote printing, and device management through an HP account. However, for ordinary print and scan driver installation in Windows 10 or Windows 11, HP Easy Start is often more convenient.

How Wi-Fi Differs from Wi-Fi Direct

Do not confuse a regular Wi-Fi connection with Wi-Fi Direct.

A regular Wi-Fi connection means that the printer is connected to your router. In this case, a computer, laptop, or phone can find the printer on the home network.

Wi-Fi Direct is a direct connection to the printer without a router. It can be used as a temporary option, but for normal home setup, it is better to connect the printer to the router.

If you accidentally connected to a network named something like DIRECT-HP…, it may be a Wi-Fi Direct network. For normal setup, connect the computer back to your home 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and repeat the installation.

When It Is Better to Choose USB Instead of Wi-Fi

Choose a USB connection if:

• HP Easy Start cannot find the printer over Wi-Fi;
• the router works unreliably;
• you do not have access to the router settings;
• you need to quickly set up printing from one computer;
• HP app does not work or does not install;
• there is no stable access to HP servers.

For a USB connection, use a regular USB printer cable. The square end connects to the back of the printer, and the flat end connects to the computer’s USB port.

If you have a model with HP+ or Instant Ink, keep in mind that some features may require internet access, an HP account, and a network connection for the printer.

Common Setup Mistakes

Mistake 1. The User Selects a 5 GHz Network

HP DeskJet 2800 does not connect to a 5 GHz network. Use a 2.4 GHz network.

Mistake 2. The Printer Is Not in Wi-Fi Setup Mode

If the blue Wi-Fi light is not blinking, reset setup mode using the Wireless and Cancel buttons.

Mistake 3. VPN Is Enabled

VPN may interfere with installation and printer discovery. Turn off VPN during setup.

Mistake 4. The Computer Is Connected by Ethernet and Wi-Fi Is Off

Turn on Wi-Fi on the computer during setup. If necessary, temporarily disconnect the Ethernet cable.

Mistake 5. The User Clicks “Download HP Easy Start” Instead of “Continue with current software”

If you have already launched the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe file, click Continue with current software when you are offered to download HP Easy Start.

Mistake 6. Old Printer Copies Remain in Windows

Remove old HP DeskJet 2800 series copies in Printers & scanners, restart the computer, and install the printer again.

Short Step-by-Step Checklist

If HP DeskJet 2800 does not connect to Wi-Fi, follow this order:

1. Make sure a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network is being used.
2. Turn off VPN.
3. Turn on Wi-Fi on the computer.
4. Place the printer closer to the router.
5. Reset Wi-Fi setup mode using the Wireless and Cancel buttons.
6. Wait until the blue Wi-Fi light starts blinking.
7. Download and run HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe.
8. On the data collection screen, click No.
9. If you are offered to download HP Easy Start, click Continue with current software.
10. Set up Wi-Fi through the program.
11. If Wi-Fi cannot be set up, install the printer by USB.

In most cases, after resetting Wi-Fi setup mode, selecting a 2.4 GHz network, and installing through HP Easy Start, the printer starts being detected and connects to Windows 10 or Windows 11.