How to Fix HP Printer Network Printer Not Found After Restart?

When your HP printer disappears from the network after restarting your computer or router, it can interrupt your workflow and cause unnecessary frustration. This issue is common with wireless printers and is usually related to network configuration, driver settings, or connection problems.

Why HP Printer Is Not Found After Restart?

There are several reasons why your HP network printer may not appear after restarting your PC or router:

Printer not reconnecting to Wi-Fi automatically
Router assigning a new IP address
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers
Firewall blocking printer communication
HP printer services not running
Incorrect printer setup configuration

Understanding the root cause helps you apply the right solution quickly.

Check HP Printer Network Connection

Before performing advanced troubleshooting, ensure your HP printer is properly connected to the Wi-Fi network:

Check if the wireless light on the printer is solid blue.
Open the printer’s control panel.
Navigate to Network Settings.
Confirm it is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

If disconnected, reconnect using the Wireless Setup Wizard from the printer’s display panel.

Restart Router, Printer, and Computer

Power cycling often resolves temporary network glitches:

Turn off the printer.
Restart your Wi-Fi router and wait until fully rebooted.
Restart your computer.
Turn the printer back on.

This allows the printer to obtain a fresh IP address and reconnect properly.

Set HP Printer to Static IP Address

One major cause of this issue is dynamic IP assignment. When your router restarts, it may assign a new IP address to the printer, making Windows unable to detect it.

To fix this:

Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer.
Note the current IP address.
Open a browser and enter the IP address.
Access printer network settings.
Assign a manual (static) IP address.

This ensures your printer remains discoverable even after restarts.

Remove and Reinstall HP Printer Driver

If the printer still doesn’t appear:

Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
Remove the existing HP printer.
Restart your computer.
Download and install the latest HP printer driver.
Add the printer again manually using TCP/IP address if needed.

Reinstalling the driver refreshes printer communication settings.

Update HP Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers often cause detection failures after system updates or restarts.

To update:

Open Device Manager
Locate Print Queues
Right-click your HP printer
Select Update Driver

Alternatively, install the latest driver package from official HP support resources.

Keeping drivers updated ensures better compatibility with Windows updates and network changes.

HP Printer Login and Account Setup (HP Smart)

Using HP Smart software can help manage and detect your printer more effectively.

Steps:

Install HP Smart on your PC.
Open the app.
Sign up or log in with your HP account.
Click “Add Printer.”
Follow on-screen setup instructions.

HP Smart automatically detects network printers and resolves many connection issues.

Check Windows Printer Services

Sometimes printer services stop running after restart.

Press Windows + R
Type services.msc
Locate Print Spooler
Ensure it is Running
Restart the service if necessary

This ensures Windows can communicate with your printer.

Disable Firewall Temporarily

Firewalls or antivirus programs may block printer discovery.

Temporarily disable firewall
Try adding the printer again
If detected, add printer as an allowed device in firewall settings

Always re-enable security software after testing.

HP Printer Not Working After Restart – Advanced Troubleshooting

If basic fixes don’t work:

Reset printer network settings
Reconnect printer to Wi-Fi
Run Windows Printer Troubleshooter
Ensure both PC and printer are on same network band (2.4GHz recommended)
Check for firmware updates

Firmware updates improve network stability and fix bugs.

Download and Install HP Printer Software Properly

To avoid detection issues:

Remove old HP software completely
Restart your computer
Install full-feature HP driver package
Connect printer only when prompted
Complete setup process

Proper installation prevents recurring network problems.

HP Printer Customer Support and Service Options

If the printer still shows “Network Printer Not Found” after restart:

Contact HP Customer Support
Request remote troubleshooting
Schedule service if hardware issue suspected
Check warranty coverage

Support teams can guide you through advanced diagnostics or replace faulty network components if needed.

Prevent HP Printer Network Issues in Future

To avoid future problems:

Use static IP configuration
Keep printer firmware updated
Update Windows regularly
Avoid frequent router resets
Keep printer within strong Wi-Fi range

Consistent maintenance improves long-term reliability.

Conclusion

If your HP printer network printer is not found after restart, the issue is usually related to network settings, IP address changes, outdated drivers, or Windows services. By reconnecting the printer to Wi-Fi, setting a static IP, reinstalling drivers, updating firmware, and using HP Smart for setup, you can restore proper connectivity.