Set up a Wi-Fi printer without WPS or USB — HP, Epson & Brother (Win/Mac/iOS/Android)

Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Android Devices, Computers, Printers, Networking, Office Equipment

How to connect a printer to Wi-Fi without WPS or USB (manual SSID/password, app setup, Wi-Fi Direct/EWS)

Technician

Hey! Need to set up a Wi-Fi printer without WPS or USB? No problem — this is exactly how to connect printer to Wi-Fi without WPS or a cable. We’ll use the printer’s panel, the vendor app, or Wi-Fi Direct + Embedded Web Server (EWS). Which brand/model — HP (DeskJet/ENVY/OfficeJet/LaserJet), Epson (EcoTank/WorkForce/Expression), or Brother (MFC/HL/DCP)? And what phone/PC are you using (iOS/Android/Windows/macOS)?

Customer

Epson EcoTank ET series. I don’t have a USB cable and my router has no WPS. I want it on my home Wi-Fi so Windows laptops and iPhones can print (AirPrint too).

Technician

Great. Three reliable methods (no USB, no WPS) for a wifi printer setup no usb:
• Control-panel Wi-Fi setup: enter your SSID & password right on the printer.
• Vendor app provisioning: Epson Smart Panel (iOS/Android) sends Wi-Fi credentials to the printer.
• Wi-Fi Direct → EWS: join the printer’s temporary Direct network, open its Web Config page, add your home Wi-Fi there.
Before we start, confirm your Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz (most printers don’t support 5 GHz), and have the exact SSID/password ready (case-sensitive). This guidance applies to HP, Epson, Brother WiFi setup alike.

Customer

Yes, the router has 2.4 and 5 GHz with same name (band steering). I know the password. Where do I start on Epson?

Technician

Epson EcoTank — control panel setup:
1) On the printer: Home → Wi-Fi (or Network) → Wi-Fi Setup → Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
2) Pick your SSID (choose the 2.4 GHz one if the list shows both).
3) Enter the password exactly (watch out for 0/O and l/1).
4) Confirm. The Wi-Fi icon should go solid. Then print Network Status to verify IP.
If your model has only buttons, use Push/Arrow keypad to type the passphrase; it’s clunky, but works.

Customer

It connects, but sometimes drops. Our SSID is the same for 2.4/5 GHz. iPhones see the printer via AirPrint, Windows still doesn’t.

Technician

Let’s stabilize and make Windows find it:
• In the router, if possible, give the 2.4 GHz band a unique SSID (e.g., “Home-2G”). Band steering can push devices to 5 GHz and cause drops.
• Reserve the printer’s IP address via DHCP reservation (prevents IP changes).
• On Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device. If not found, choose Add manually → Add a printer using TCP/IP address, enter the printer’s IP, use IPP protocol.
• Ensure mDNS/Bonjour isn’t blocked by security software, and Windows Network Discovery is on — this helps when you add printer to Wi-Fi without cable.

Customer

What if I couldn’t reach the panel? Can I still do it without USB?

Technician

Use the mobile app (USB-free):
• Install Epson Smart Panel → + Add → Set up a new product → follow the wizard. The app temporarily connects your phone to the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct network, then sends your home SSID/password to the printer.
• For HP, use HP Smart (same idea). For Brother, use Brother iPrint&Scan or WLAN Assistant in the printer menu.
• Keep the phone near the printer, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and allow location (Android) so the app can scan SSIDs — ideal when you need a quick HP Epson Brother WiFi setup.

Customer

If the app can’t find the printer, is there a Wi-Fi Direct + web page method?

Technician

Yes — Wi-Fi Direct + Embedded Web Server works across brands when you must connect printer to Wi-Fi without WPS:
1) Enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer (prints a page with network name like DIRECT-xx-EPSON and a password).
2) On your phone/PC, join that Direct network.
3) Open the printer’s Web Config/EWS in a browser. Common IPs: 192.168.4.1 or the “Direct” IP shown on the printout.
4) In the Wireless/WLAN section, select your home SSID, enter the password, save/apply. The printer reboots and joins your Wi-Fi.
5) Reconnect your phone/PC to home Wi-Fi and add the printer by IP/AirPrint/Bonjour.

Customer

We also have a Brother laser at the office with no WPS. Same steps?

Technician

Brother HL/MFC/DCP (no WPS):
• Panel: Menu → Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard → choose SSID → enter key → OK. Then print Network Configuration page to see IP.
• No panel? Use Wi-Fi Direct + http://192.168.4.1 to open the printer’s EWS and add your Wi-Fi.
• Windows: add via TCP/IP (IPP) or the Brother installer; macOS/iOS use AirPrint. Ensure router allows mDNS and isn’t isolating clients (AP/guest isolation off). This is the same wifi printer setup no usb approach you used for Epson.

Technician

HP DeskJet/ENVY/OfficeJet/LaserJet:
• If it was previously connected elsewhere, restore Wi-Fi defaults: hold Wireless + Cancel (or use Setup → Network → Restore Network Settings).
• Open HP Smart → add printer → follow Self-Healing Wi-Fi prompts; the app provisions Wi-Fi without USB/WPS — perfect when you need to add printer to Wi-Fi without cable.
• Alternative: enable Wi-Fi Direct, join DIRECT-xx-HP, browse to the EWS (192.168.223.1 or shown IP) → Network → add SSID/password.

Customer

What common router issues block discovery? I’m on a mesh system.

Technician

Mesh & router settings for Wi-Fi printer setup without WPS:
• Prefer a dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID (or temporarily disable 5 GHz during setup).
• Turn off AP/Client Isolation, Guest network for the printer, and allow mDNS/Bonjour for AirPrint.
• If MAC filtering is on, whitelist the printer’s MAC.
• Reserve a static DHCP address for the printer.
• Captive portal networks (hotel/office guest) won’t work — use an admin network or Ethernet to a node if available.

Customer

All right. Once it’s on Wi-Fi, how do I add it on Mac and iPhone?

Technician

macOS: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer → select the printer (AirPrint/Bonjour) → Add. If it’s not listed, use IP tab: type the printer’s IP and choose IPP.
iPhone/iPad: ensure the phone is on the same Wi-Fi → in any app Share → Print → choose the printer (AirPrint).
Print a test page. If jobs hang, check firewall/VPN and confirm the printer’s IP is reachable.

Customer

That did it. It’s stable on 2.4 GHz and Windows sees it by IPP. Anything else to avoid reconnecting later?

Technician

Best practices: keep the SSID/password unchanged, reserve the IP in DHCP, keep firmware updated (printer & router), and place the printer where 2.4 GHz signal is strong. If you change Wi-Fi, use the app’s Change Network flow — no USB needed.

Customer

Perfect — connected without WPS or USB. Thanks for the thorough walkthrough!

Quick answer: the accepted Wi-Fi setup (no WPS/USB)

Accepted fix: Put the printer in Wi-Fi setup (or enable Wi-Fi Direct), use the vendor app (HP Smart / Epson Smart Panel / Brother iPrint&Scan) to provision SSID & password, or open the printer’s Embedded Web Server and add your network there. Prefer 2.4 GHz, reserve a static DHCP IP, then add the printer by AirPrint/IPP or TCP/IP on Windows/macOS. This is the simplest HP Epson Brother WiFi setup path when there’s no WPS or cable.

FAQ

Set up on Windows 11/10 (no WPS/USB)

1. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi via panel, app, or Wi-Fi Direct → EWS.
2. Note the printer’s IP address (Network Report).
3. Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device. If not listed: Add manually → TCP/IP, type the IP, choose IPP protocol.
4. Print a test page; if it stalls, allow mDNS in security software and pause VPN.

Set up on macOS / iOS (no WPS/USB)

1. Finish Wi-Fi provisioning (panel/app/EWS). Ensure the printer and Mac/iPhone share the same SSID.
2. macOS: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer → choose the printer (AirPrint). If absent, use IP tab with IPP and the printer’s IP.
3. iPhone/iPad: in any app → Share → Print → select the AirPrint printer.

Sources

• HP Support — Wireless setup with HP Smart & EWS
• Epson Support — Smart Panel app, Wi-Fi Direct & Web Config
• Brother Support — WLAN Setup Wizard, iPrint&Scan
• Apple — AirPrint basics & network requirements
• Microsoft — IPP printing in Windows

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