Quick answer
Skip WPS entirely. Use the printer's LCD menu to connect to your Wi-Fi network manually by selecting the SSID and typing the password. Takes 2 minutes, works 100% of the time.
Why WPS fails
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is supposed to make things easy: press a button on the router, press a button on the printer, and they talk. What's actually happening here is a timing problem. The router only listens for WPS requests for about 2 minutes after you press the button. The printer, especially old models from 2015-2019, takes 30-60 seconds just to boot up its WPS mode. By the time the printer starts scanning, the router has already given up. On top of that, many routers (like TP-Link Archer series or Netgear Nighthawks) disable WPS by default because of security flaws like the PIN brute-force attack from 2011. So pressing the button does nothing if WPS is turned off in the router settings.
I've seen this on HP OfficeJet 3830, Canon PIXMA MG3620, and Epson WorkForce WF-2760. Same story every time.
Step-by-step fix (manual setup)
- Find your Wi-Fi name and password. Look at the sticker on your router, or log into the router admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). You need the exact SSID (case-sensitive) and password. Write them down.
- Power on the printer. Wait for it to finish its startup churn — 2 minutes usually. Hit the Home button if it has one, or the Settings gear icon.
- Open the network setup menu. On most printers, it's under 'Settings' > 'Network' > 'Wireless Setup Wizard'. On HP printers, tap the wireless icon then 'Wireless Settings'. On Canon, press 'Setup' then 'Wireless LAN Setup'. On Epson, press 'Home' then 'Wi-Fi Setup'.
- Choose your network. The printer scans for Wi-Fi networks. Pick yours from the list. If you don't see it, move the printer closer to the router and rescan. Some 2.4 GHz networks hide the SSID — you can type it manually in 'Manual Entry'.
- Enter the password. Use the printer's keypad or on-screen keyboard. Be patient with the arrow keys. Case matters: 'MyWiFi99' is different from 'mywifi99'.
- Confirm and wait. The printer tries to connect. Takes 10-30 seconds. It shows a 'Connected' message or green Wi-Fi icon. If it fails, go to 'Alternative fixes' below.
Alternative fixes when manual setup fails
1. Check if the router uses 5 GHz only
Many cheap printers (sub-100 USD) only support 2.4 GHz. If your router is set to 5 GHz only, the printer won't see it. Fix: log into router settings and enable 2.4 GHz, or create a separate 2.4 GHz guest network with a simple name like 'Guest24'. Then connect the printer to that.
2. Use the WPS PIN method (if your printer has one)
Some printers show an 8-digit PIN during WPS setup. You enter this PIN into your router's admin page. On a TP-Link router, log in, go to 'Wireless' > 'WPS' > 'Add Device', and type the PIN. This bypasses the button timing problem. The PIN method is slower but more reliable. If your router has WPS disabled, enable it temporarily from the admin page, do the PIN entry, then disable WPS again for security.
3. Factory reset the printer's network settings
If the printer has connected to a different network before, it might cling to old settings. On HP printers: press the Wireless icon and Information button (i) together for 5 seconds. Wait for the 'Network Reset' message. Then restart the manual setup from scratch. On Canon: hold the 'Stop' button for 10 seconds to reset network settings. On Epson: go to 'Settings' > 'Restore Default Settings' > 'Network Settings'.
4. Update printer firmware
Firmware bugs break connectivity. Go to the printer manufacturer's support site, search for your model, and download the latest firmware. Put it on a USB stick, plug it into the printer's USB port, and follow the update prompts. Firmware updates often fix the exact timing issue that makes WPS fail.
Prevention tip
Turn off WPS on your router permanently. It's a security hole — any attacker within range can brute-force the PIN in hours using tools like Reaver. Manual setup is slower the first time but safer and more reliable. Also, name your Wi-Fi network something simple and avoid spaces or special characters. Printers handle letters and numbers better.
If you move the printer to a different room later, you'll have to redo the manual setup. That's the only downside. Keep the Wi-Fi password sticker on the printer itself to save time.
Why this happens on some routers but not others
The WPS protocol has two modes: Push Button (PBC) and PIN. Push Button is the most common failure point because it relies on both devices being ready within 120 seconds. Old printers (2010-2015) are slow to boot WPS — they can take 60 seconds just to show the menu. Newer routers tend to abort the session after 30 seconds of no response. The PIN method doesn't have this race condition because the router initiates the connection, not the printer. That's why the PIN method works more often.
Some routers, like the Google Nest Wi-Fi or Eero mesh systems, don't have a physical WPS button at all. They only support WPS through the app. Those systems are designed for phone-based setup, not printer WPS. In that case, manual setup is your only option.
Bottom line: WPS is a convenience feature that fails exactly when you need it. Manual setup takes a few minutes, requires zero timing luck, and always works. Use it.