Wi-Fi Overview

There are 2 ways to allow your iPad to print from your new printer, each corresponding to one of the two highlighted buttons above:

  • The top button allows you to connect to a Wi-Fi network, such as your home or the corporate guest network.  You can use this to print if you can connect both your iPad and the printer to the same network.
  • The middle button allows your printer to create its’ own Wi-Fi signal that you can use to connect to your iPad.

If you are in a situation where you can go with the first option and connect both the iPad and the printer to the same network than feel free to do so. However, that may not be an option in the field, so these directions will cover using the Wi-Fi direct option as that will work from anywhere. If you need help connecting the printer to your home network than contact the help desk.

Using the Wi-Fi Direct Connect

To do a Wi-Fi direct connection between the iPad and the printer, start by verifying whether or not the connection is turned on. You can see this quickly by looking for the light next to the Wi-Fi direct button. If the light is turned on, as in the screen shot to the right, then you are ready to connect. If not, you can follow the directions below to turn it on.

 

 

Turning on / off Wi-Fi Direct


Hit the Wi-Fi Direct button. It will open up a screen similar to the picture above. This screen gives you the current status (mine is on) the Wi-Fi name that we will use to connect, and a couple of options at the bottom.

 

If you hit the OK button, it will close the menu and you will have to hit the Wi-Fi Direct button again to reopen it. If you hit the Settings Button to the left of the screen, it will open up the menu to the right. The picture makes it difficult to see, but the top option is what allows you to turn Wi-Fi direct either off or on. Hit the OK button to make that selection.

 

If you are turning the Wi-Fi Direct on than it will come to another screen that will remind you that regular Wi-Fi is also an option. As noted above, that will work if you are somewhere like your own home where you are able to connect your iPad and the printer to the same Wi-Fi network. However, if you in the field and carrying your printer with you, that will not always be an option. So, for now, hit the Yes button.

 

 

Once you switch it either on or off, the screen will display a message similar to what is pictured on the left. It will take a good 20 or so seconds for the actual change to take effect.

 

 

 




Connecting to your printer using Wi-Fi direct

Note: Once you do this, you will not be able to connect to the internet without either turning off your Wi-Fi and using LTE / cellular or reconnecting to a different Wi-Fi signal that has a working internet connection.

On the printer, hit the Wi-Fi direct button. It will open up a screen that is similar to what is pictured to the right.

First, verify that the Status is On. If it is not than turn it on using the instructions above.

Next note the Wi-Fi Direct Name. In my case it is “Direct-BO-HP OfficeJet 200”. Yours is likely to be different.

Finally, scroll down to see the Wi-Fi Direct Password. It is not shown here, but it is usually: 12345678

Once you know that information you can hit OK to close the menu or leave it open so that you can refer to it again. Up to you.

 

Now go over to your iPad and open up the settings app, which is pictured to the left.

 

 

 

 

Once in settings, open up the Wi-Fi menu item so that you see list of available Wi-Fi networks.

Notice in the screen shot above that “Direct-BO-HP OfficeJet 200”, the value listed on my printer is one of the choices. It if does not show up, then:

  1. Verify the printer is in range of the iPad.
  2. Verify the printer is still on
  3. Verify that Wi-Fi Direct I still turned on (if not, follow the instructions above)
  4. Try turning the iPad’s Wi-Fi off and on again. Sometimes that will pick up Wi-Fi signals that it missed before.

Select the appropriate network and you should be able to print with your iPad.