// PRINTER & WI-FI HELP
Printer Won't Connect After Changing Broadband?
You've switched broadband, the new router is working, every phone and laptop is back online — and the printer is the one thing left behind. It's one of the most common problems after a provider switch, and it's almost never a broken printer. This guide walks through the fixes in order: rejoining the new Wi-Fi, the static-IP trap that strands printers, mesh and band-steering quirks, and when to reset and start clean. Rated 4.9 on Google.
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/01 — START HERE
Why the printer got left behind when the broadband changed
You've switched broadband — new provider, new router, maybe a whole mesh kit — and everything reconnected except the printer. The laptops found the new Wi-Fi, the phones are fine, but the printer is sitting there saying offline, or has vanished from the list altogether. This is one of the most common calls we take in the week after a broadband switch, and it's almost never a broken printer.
Here's what actually happened: your printer memorised the old router's network name and password, and that network no longer exists. Even a replacement hub from the same provider broadcasts a new network. Some printers were also given a fixed address on the old network, and the new router may number its network from a different range entirely — which strands the printer even after it rejoins. The steps below apply whichever provider you've moved to or from; the box changes, but the pattern doesn't. In order, we'll cover:
- Rejoining the new Wi-Fi from the printer itself
- Re-adding the printer on your computers
- The stranded fixed-IP trap
- Band steering, mesh and guest-network quirks
- When to reset the printer's network settings and start clean
At a glance
| Most common cause | The new router broadcasts a brand-new Wi-Fi network and the printer is still looking for the old one. |
|---|---|
| Is the printer broken? | Almost never — the network changed underneath it, so don’t let anyone talk you into a new printer. |
| DIY first step | Run the printer’s wireless setup, join the new network, then remove and re-add the printer on your computers. |
| Connected but not printing? | Usually a fixed IP address from the old router’s range — set it back to automatic (DHCP) and re-add the printer. |
| Handy shortcut | Give the new router the same Wi-Fi name and password as the old one and the printer usually rejoins by itself. |
| Can it be fixed remotely? | Yes — most of these are fixed in one short remote session, no fix no fee (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm). |
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/02 — THE QUICK FIXES
Rejoin the new Wi-Fi, then re-add the printer
Start on the printer itself. Somewhere in its menus is a wireless or network setup option — the exact name moves between brands and models, so look for anything called wireless setup, network settings or Wi-Fi. Run it, choose your new network name (it's printed on a sticker on the router), and type the password exactly, capitals included. Screenless printers usually join through the maker's phone app or a WPS button press instead.
Once the printer is on the new network, don't assume your computers will find it. They often keep pointing at the printer's old entry, so remove the printer and add it again — or reinstall it with the manufacturer's app, which is usually the least fiddly route.
One genuinely useful shortcut: most provider hubs let you change their Wi-Fi name and password. Set the new router to broadcast the same name and password as the old one and the printer — along with everything else in the house — usually rejoins by itself. And if it was only the password that changed rather than the whole router, our guide to a printer that stopped working after a Wi-Fi password change covers that exact case.
/03 — THE HIDDEN TRAP
Stranded on a fixed IP: the 192.168.0.x vs 192.168.1.x problem
If you've rejoined the Wi-Fi and the printer still won't talk to anything, this is usually why. Many printers — especially office models, or ones set up by an engineer — were given a fixed address on the old network, something like 192.168.1.50, so they could always be found in the same place. The catch is that your new router may number its network differently: one common range is 192.168.1.x, another is 192.168.0.x, and different makers favour different ones. A printer clinging to an address from the old range can join the new Wi-Fi, cheerfully report "connected", and still be unreachable — it's on the right network with the wrong postcode.
Two clues point to this: the printer's own test page prints fine while jobs from the computer never arrive, and the printer's address doesn't match the pattern of everything else on the network (most printers can print a network configuration page that shows it). The fix is to open the printer's network settings and put the address back to automatic — often labelled DHCP — or give it a new fixed address inside the new router's range. Then re-add the printer on your computers, because they'll likely still be aiming at the old address too.
/04 — MODERN HUBS
Band steering, mesh systems and guest networks
New broadband often means a genuinely different kind of network, not just a different box. Most modern hubs and mesh systems broadcast one network name covering both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, then quietly decide which band each device uses — a feature usually called band steering or smart connect. Most printers cope, but some older models only speak 2.4GHz and can fail repeatedly during setup if the hub keeps nudging them towards 5GHz. Setting the printer up close to the hub helps, and some routers let you split the bands into separately named networks while you get it joined — the option varies by hub, so don't worry if yours doesn't offer it.
If you've gone from a single router to a mesh system, make sure the printer joined the mesh network and that the old router isn't still plugged in broadcasting its ghost — our mesh Wi-Fi setup guide walks through getting every device onto the right network. And check the printer isn't on a guest network: guest networks deliberately wall devices off from each other, which is excellent for visitors and terrible for printing. For anything network-wide that's still misbehaving after the switch, our Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide covers the broader checks.
/05 — HONEST ADVICE
When to reset — and when to stop fighting it yourself
If the rejoin, the re-add and the address check haven't sorted it, reset the printer's network settings and start clean. Most printers have an option to restore network defaults — separate from a full factory reset — which wipes only the saved Wi-Fi details and puts the printer back into setup mode. The name and location vary by brand, so look in the printer's network or setup menu. After the reset, run the wireless setup as if the printer were brand new, then re-add it on each computer.
A word of honesty: this problem almost never means you need a new printer, so don't let anyone talk you into one over a broadband switch. The machine is fine; it's just been left behind by a network that changed underneath it. The only time we'd say stop fighting is when a very old printer no longer has working software for your version of Windows or macOS — and even then it's the drivers, not the broadband, making that decision.
If you've been round the loop twice and it's still sulking, that's exactly what we're for. We fix most of these in a short remote session, no fix no fee — see our printer support service or call 01202 775566.
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// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Why won't my printer connect after I switched broadband providers?
Because your new router broadcasts a brand-new Wi-Fi network, and your printer is still looking for the old one. Printers memorise one network name and password, and when the old router goes, that network vanishes — even a replacement hub from the same provider creates a new network unless you rename it to match. The usual fix is to run the printer's wireless setup, join the new network, then re-add the printer on your computers. If it joins the Wi-Fi but still won't print, check whether it was given a fixed IP address on the old network, which strands it even after rejoining.
Do I have to set up my printer again every time I get a new router?
Usually yes — unless you give the new router the same Wi-Fi name and password as the old one. Most provider hubs let you change both in their settings or app; set them to match the old details and the printer, along with everything else in the house, normally rejoins by itself. Otherwise it's a one-off job per router: run the printer's wireless setup, choose the new network, enter the password carefully, and re-add the printer on each computer. It's tedious rather than technical, and once done it stays done until the next router change.
Why does my printer say it's connected but nothing will print?
That usually means an address mismatch: the printer has joined the Wi-Fi but is holding an IP address from your old router's range, so your computers can't reach it. It also happens when a computer's printer entry is still pinned to the printer's old address. Set the printer's address back to automatic — often labelled DHCP — in its network settings, or give it a fixed address in the new router's range, then remove and re-add the printer on your computers. A printer sitting on a guest network shows the same symptom, because guest networks deliberately isolate devices from each other.
How do I reset my printer's network settings without wiping everything?
Look for an option called something like restore network defaults or reset network settings — on most printers it's separate from a full factory reset and only clears the saved Wi-Fi details. Menu names move between brands and models, so check the network or setup section of the printer's own menus, or the maker's phone app. After the reset the printer behaves as though it has never been on Wi-Fi: run the wireless setup, join the new network, and re-add it on your computers. If you can't find the option, the manual for your exact model will name it.
Should I just buy a new printer if it won't connect to my new broadband?
No — this is almost never a printer fault, and a new printer would need the same setup on the new network anyway. The printer stopped working because the network changed underneath it, not because it broke. The honest exception is a very old printer with no working software for your current version of Windows or macOS — that's worth weighing up, but it's a drivers problem, and a broadband switch alone isn't a reason to spend money. If you're stuck, a short remote session usually sorts it, and we don't charge if we can't fix it.
Printer still refusing to join the new network?
We fix most of these in one short remote session — and if we can't fix it, you don't pay. Call 01202 775566.
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