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Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Senior-friendly Wi-Fi printer setup and reconnect help, “keeps asking for Wi-Fi password” loops, router/SSID changes, WPA2/WPA3 compatibility checks.

Common reasons + what to check first: saved network, router changes, WPS, and Wi-Fi security (safe checks)

Technician avatar Technician
Hi — I can help you sort this out calmly.

When a printer keeps asking for the Wi-Fi password again and again, it’s usually not “you doing it wrong.” It’s often a saved-network issue, a router change, or a security setting mismatch.

Before we touch anything risky, what printer brand/model is it (HP/Canon/Epson/Brother), and is the password prompt appearing on the printer screen, your computer, or your phone?
Customer
It’s a Canon. The printer screen keeps asking for the Wi-Fi password again. I type it, it connects, then later it asks again. I’m honestly tired of this.
Technician avatar Technician
I hear you — that’s exhausting, especially when you just want to print and move on.

Trust moment: I don’t want you pressing any “Reset network,” “Restore defaults,” or WPS buttons yet. Those can make it harder if we do them too early.

Quick questions (any order):
1) Did this start after a new router, internet provider change, or a firmware update?
2) Do you have more than one Wi-Fi name in the house (for example “HomeWiFi” and “HomeWiFi-5G”)?
3) When it’s “connected,” does printing work from your device?
Customer
It started kind of suddenly. We changed the router password a few weeks ago. We also have two names, one says 5G. Sometimes it prints, sometimes it says it can’t find the printer.
Technician avatar Technician
That explains a lot. If the router password changed, the printer may be bouncing between “saved Wi-Fi” details and the new password, especially if there are two similar network names.

Two common patterns seniors run into:
• The printer saved the old password and keeps asking again after sleep mode.
• The printer connects to one Wi-Fi name, but your phone/laptop is on the other (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz), so it “disappears.”

Safe check #1: when the printer asks for the password, does it show the exact Wi-Fi name (SSID) it’s trying to join?
Customer
Yes, it shows the name. But it’s confusing because both names look almost the same. I’m afraid I’ll pick the wrong one.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s a very normal worry. We’ll keep it simple and avoid guesswork.

Safe check #2 (no settings changes yet): look at your phone or laptop and tell me which Wi-Fi name it’s connected to right now. If your device is on “…-5G” but the printer keeps trying the non-5G name (or the other way around), that can cause repeated password prompts and “printer not found.”

Also: do you know if your router has a “guest network” turned on? Printers often struggle on guest Wi-Fi.
Customer
My phone is on the 5G one. The printer is trying the other one, I think. And yes, we do have a guest network but I don’t use it.
Technician avatar Technician
Perfect — that mismatch alone can trigger the “keeps asking for Wi-Fi password again” cycle, because the printer is trying to rejoin a network that isn’t matching what your device uses for printing.

Trust moment: I don’t want you to use WPS unless we decide it’s truly needed. WPS can connect quickly, but it can also attach the printer to the wrong band or the wrong network name without you noticing.

Quick check: when the printer successfully connects, does it stay connected until it goes to sleep, or does it drop even while you’re using it?
Customer
It usually drops later. Like the next day. Sometimes after we turn the printer off and back on.
Technician avatar Technician
That “next day” pattern often points to one of these common reasons:
• the printer saved the network, but the router changed something overnight (band steering, WPA3, or auto-channel changes)
• the printer is trying to reconnect to a similarly named Wi-Fi (2.4 vs 5 GHz) and asks for the password again
• the router is using a security mode the printer doesn’t like (for example WPA3-only on some older printers)

Safe question: do you know if your Wi-Fi security says WPA2, WPA3, or “WPA2/WPA3 mixed”? You can usually see this in the router app, but don’t change it yet.
Customer
I’m not sure. My son set it up. I can look in the router app, but I’m scared I’ll break the internet.
Technician avatar Technician
You won’t break anything just by looking. We’re only reading information for now.

Trust moment: I’m not going to walk you into deep router changes in this article. We’ll stick to safe checks and the “why,” so you don’t accidentally change a setting that affects everyone in the house.

Another safe check: is your printer close enough to the router? Weak signal can cause repeated reconnect prompts, especially after sleep.
Customer
It’s in the back room. Not super far, but there are walls. We also changed the Wi-Fi password because someone told us to.
Technician avatar Technician
Changing the password for safety is a good idea — it just means every device has to store the new one correctly.

With walls and distance, the printer may connect briefly, then drop, then ask again later. That can look like it “forgot” the password.

Safe, low-risk test (no resets): when it prompts, confirm the Wi-Fi name is the same one your phone uses. If it’s not, that’s the first clue.

Also, do you ever see a button that says WPS or a “Wi-Fi” button that you’ve pressed before?
Customer
Yes, there is a WPS button on the router and a Wi-Fi button on the printer. I pressed them once because a video said to. It worked for a while.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s very common — videos often push WPS because it’s fast.

The downside is that WPS can connect the printer without you noticing which Wi-Fi name/band it chose, and later it may fall back and ask for the password again. It can also conflict if the router changes how it “steers” devices between 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Safe approach going forward: we identify the exact network name the printer should use, confirm your device is on that same network, and avoid random reconnect methods that choose for you.
Customer
So it’s not necessarily the printer dying? I was worried it’s broken and I’ll have to buy a new one.
Technician avatar Technician
Most of the time, no — this is usually a connection/settings problem, not a hardware failure.

Hardware issues tend to show up as constant errors, loud mechanical noises, or not powering on. What you’re describing sounds like “network credentials / Wi-Fi reconnect loop.”

If you can share the exact Canon model and the Wi-Fi name it’s trying to join, an expert can tell you the safest next step for that model without wiping everything.
Customer
Thank you. I feel calmer. I’ll find the model number. I just didn’t want to press a reset and lose everything.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix for Printer keeps asking for Wi-Fi password again — why does it keep forgetting:
• Confirm the printer is joining the same Wi-Fi name (SSID) your phone/laptop uses (avoid mixing 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz networks).
• Check for recent changes: new router, changed Wi-Fi password, guest network, or a firmware update that can affect saved credentials.
• Avoid WPS “quick connect” while troubleshooting, because it may attach the printer to the wrong network/band without you noticing.
• If the printer drops after sleep, consider signal strength and distance (walls can cause reconnect loops).
• If the router uses WPA3-only, note it and get model-specific guidance before changing security or doing any reset.

Why this happens: saved Wi-Fi details, similar network names, and security mode changes

When a printer repeatedly asks for the Wi-Fi password, it often means the saved network details no longer match the router. This can happen after you change the Wi-Fi password, rename the network, switch internet providers, or add a second network name for 5 GHz.

Another common trigger is Wi-Fi security. Some older printers struggle with WPA3-only networks and do better when the router allows WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode. The key is to identify what changed first, then take the smallest, safest next step.

What to check first before resets: Wi-Fi name, guest network, and sleep reconnect

Start with the basics: make sure your phone or computer and the printer are on the same Wi-Fi name. If your device is on “…-5G” but the printer is joining the other name, printing may fail and the printer may keep prompting for credentials.

Also check if the printer is close enough to the router. A weak signal can cause disconnects after sleep, which looks like the password was “forgotten.” Try safe checks first and avoid factory resets until you confirm the model and the exact message.

Wi-Fi printer keeps asking for the password? Safe checks before you change anything

Start with the lowest-risk checks and avoid resets until you know the cause.

Confirm the printer’s Wi-Fi name matches your phone/laptop, avoid WPS while diagnosing, and note any recent router/password changes. If it drops after sleep, signal strength can be part of the problem. If the router uses WPA3-only, get model-specific guidance before changing security settings.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your printer model and home/office setup, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before changing system settings.

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Get a calm checklist: confirm SSID match, check for router/password changes, avoid WPS while diagnosing, and choose the smallest next step for your exact model.

FAQ

Why did it start suddenly, even though I didn’t change anything?

It often starts after a router restart, an internet provider change, or the printer going to sleep and trying to reconnect. Someone may have changed the Wi-Fi password or the router may have applied an automatic update. If you have two similar Wi-Fi names (like a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network), the printer can latch onto the wrong one. Start by confirming the exact Wi-Fi name shown on the printer matches your phone or computer.

Can this happen after a printer firmware update or a router update?

Yes, updates can affect how the printer stores Wi-Fi credentials or how the router handles security and device connections. Some routers switch security settings (like WPA2 to WPA3) or change how they “steer” devices between bands. That can lead to repeated password prompts even if you type the right password. Before changing anything, note what updated and which Wi-Fi name the printer is trying to join.

Is it hardware or settings if it keeps asking for the Wi-Fi password again?

This is usually a settings or network issue, not a broken printer. Hardware problems typically look like power failures, constant mechanical errors, or the printer not turning on. Repeated password prompts usually come from saved network details not matching the router, weak signal, or a security mode mismatch. Safe checks first are Wi-Fi name match, guest network avoidance, and signal strength.

Can this be fixed without service or replacing the printer?

In many cases, yes, because it’s often about the printer joining the correct Wi-Fi network consistently. You can start with low-risk checks like confirming SSID, avoiding WPS while diagnosing, and noting recent router/password changes. You do not usually need a repair shop for a password prompt loop. If the problem keeps returning, an expert can guide the smallest model-specific step without wiping your setup.

Sources

Filed under: Printer won’t print

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