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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If the router has one shared network for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, for example Home_WiFi<\/strong>, the printer may not be detected. In this case, it is recommended to temporarily separate the networks in the router settings:<\/p>\n To set up the printer, connect the computer or phone specifically to the 2.4 GHz network.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For Windows 10 and Windows 11, it is convenient to use the official HP Easy Start installer for the HP DeskJet 2800 series:<\/p>\n Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Download drivers only from the official HP website or through an official HP link. Do not use websites with unverified drivers.<\/p>\n Before reinstalling the driver, do the following:<\/p>\n After that, run the installer again and try to find the printer.<\/p>\n If HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart does not see the printer, first put the printer into Wi-Fi setup mode.<\/p>\n On the printer control panel, find:<\/p>\n Follow these steps:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n After downloading the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe<\/strong> file, start the installation.<\/p>\n On the first screen, you may see this question:<\/p>\n Do you want to help improve HP software by sharing usage data?<\/strong><\/p>\n Click No<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Declining data sharing does not prevent driver installation. For an ordinary user, it is safer not to allow additional usage information to be sent.<\/p>\n During installation, this screen may appear:<\/p>\n Download HP Easy Start to activate available printer features<\/strong><\/p>\n There is a Download HP Easy Start<\/strong> button on this screen. If you have already launched the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe<\/strong> file, you do not need to click this button.<\/p>\n Click the link in the lower-left corner:<\/p>\n Continue with current software<\/strong><\/p>\n This is an important step. It lets you continue the installation with the already running program, without downloading anything else from the internet.<\/p>\n On the Welcome to HP Easy Start<\/strong> screen, click Continue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The screen may say:<\/p>\n Wireless Network Setup Using a USB Connection<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow these steps:<\/p>\n After that, the printer should work over Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n If the program says that the printer is already connected to the network, you can click The printer is already connected to Wi-Fi<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n If HP Easy Start does not find the printer automatically, this screen may appear:<\/p>\n Printer not found \u2014 let\u2019s try another way!<\/strong><\/p>\n This screen usually has the following options:<\/p>\n If you want to connect the printer to Wi-Fi, select Wireless network<\/strong> and click Continue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If Wi-Fi setup does not work but you urgently need to print from one computer, select USB cable<\/strong> and click Continue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Important:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Sometimes the printer is already connected to the router, but HP Easy Start, HP app, or HP Smart cannot find it automatically.<\/p>\n Check the following:<\/p>\n If the HP Easy Start window has a Search by IP address<\/strong> button, you can try adding the printer by IP address.<\/p>\n To find the printer\u2019s IP address:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n This method is suitable only if the printer is already connected to Wi-Fi and has an IP address.<\/p>\n After adding the printer by IP address, check printing with a test page.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Follow these steps:<\/p>\n The old network settings stored in the printer memory will no longer be used.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In this situation, use the official installer package:<\/p>\n Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n During installation:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Do not confuse a regular Wi-Fi connection with Wi-Fi Direct.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n If you accidentally connected to a network named something like DIRECT-HP…<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n Choose a USB connection if:<\/p>\n 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\u2019s USB port.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n HP DeskJet 2800 does not connect to a 5 GHz network. Use a 2.4 GHz network.<\/p>\n If the blue Wi-Fi light is not blinking, reset setup mode using the Wireless<\/strong> and Cancel<\/strong> buttons.<\/p>\n VPN may interfere with installation and printer discovery. Turn off VPN during setup.<\/p>\n Turn on Wi-Fi on the computer during setup. If necessary, temporarily disconnect the Ethernet cable.<\/p>\n If you have already launched the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe<\/strong> file, click Continue with current software<\/strong> when you are offered to download HP Easy Start.<\/p>\n Remove old HP DeskJet 2800 series copies in Printers & scanners<\/strong>, restart the computer, and install the printer again.<\/p>\n If HP DeskJet 2800 does not connect to Wi-Fi, follow this order:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n\n
Download the Official HP Easy Start Installer<\/h2>\n
Method 1. Check the Simple Causes<\/h2>\n
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Method 2. Reset Wi-Fi Setup Mode on the Printer<\/h2>\n
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Method 3. Run HP Easy Start and Decline Data Collection<\/h2>\n
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Method 4. Continue Installation with the Current Software<\/h2>\n
Method 5. Accept the License Agreement<\/h2>\n
Method 6. Connect the Printer to Wi-Fi Using a Temporary USB Cable<\/h2>\n
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Method 7. If the Program Says \u201cPrinter Not Found \u2014 Let\u2019s Try Another Way!\u201d<\/h2>\n
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Method 8. If the Printer Is Already Connected to Wi-Fi but the Program Does Not See It<\/h2>\n
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Method 9. Remove Old Printer Copies in Windows<\/h2>\n
Windows 11<\/h3>\n
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Windows 10<\/h3>\n
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Method 10. Add the Printer in Windows Manually by IP Address<\/h2>\n
Windows 11<\/h3>\n
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Windows 10<\/h3>\n
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Method 11. If You Changed the Router, Internet Provider, or Wi-Fi Password<\/h2>\n
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Method 12. If HP app or HP Smart Does Not Work<\/h2>\n
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How Wi-Fi Differs from Wi-Fi Direct<\/h2>\n
When It Is Better to Choose USB Instead of Wi-Fi<\/h2>\n
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Common Setup Mistakes<\/h2>\n
Mistake 1. The User Selects a 5 GHz Network<\/h3>\n
Mistake 2. The Printer Is Not in Wi-Fi Setup Mode<\/h3>\n
Mistake 3. VPN Is Enabled<\/h3>\n
Mistake 4. The Computer Is Connected by Ethernet and Wi-Fi Is Off<\/h3>\n
Mistake 5. The User Clicks \u201cDownload HP Easy Start\u201d Instead of \u201cContinue with current software\u201d<\/h3>\n
Mistake 6. Old Printer Copies Remain in Windows<\/h3>\n
Short Step-by-Step Checklist<\/h2>\n
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