WPS push-button setup should take seconds: start WPS on the printer, press the button on the router, and the two exchange Wi-Fi details automatically. When it fails, the printer usually reports a timeout or that no access point was found. Often WPS is turned off on the router, the router uses a security mode WPS can't work with, or the timing slipped. This guide checks each, and shows dependable alternatives when your router doesn't support WPS at all.
What you might be seeing
- The printer says no access point was found or the session timed out
- The router's WPS light doesn't change when you press the button
- The printer reports that another session is already in progress
- WPS worked with an old router but not with the new one
Common causes
- WPS disabled
- Many routers ship with WPS off, or switch it off after a firmware update.
- Incompatible security
- WPS doesn't work on WPA3-only networks or with old WEP and TKIP settings.
- Missed timing
- Each WPS session lasts about two minutes, and both devices must be active within it.
- Mesh or extender confusion
- Pressing WPS on a satellite or extender may pair the printer with the wrong network, or nothing.
- Overlapping sessions
- If another device started WPS nearby, the router can abort the session.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
On some routers the WPS button doubles as a reset button when held for longer, which would erase the router's settings, so press it briefly. Avoid the WPS PIN method, which has known security weaknesses.
Check that the router supports WPS and has it on
Look for a WPS button on the router, or one marked with two arrows forming a circle. Some routers offer WPS only in their app or settings page. Sign in and look under the wireless or security settings for WPS; if it's off, turn on push-button WPS for the setup. Some mesh systems and provider routers don't support WPS at all.
Start WPS on the printer, then the router
On the printer, open the wireless menu and choose WPS or Push Button, or follow the manual's button sequence on models without a screen. Within two minutes, press the router's WPS button briefly, usually for one to three seconds, or start WPS from its app. Starting at the printer gives you the full window to reach the router. A steady Wi-Fi light or a success message confirms it worked.
Bring the printer closer to the router
WPS sends its handshake over the same Wi-Fi signal, so a weak link can make it time out. For setup, place the printer within a few meters of the router, ideally with no walls between them. If moving it is awkward, start WPS from the router's app. You can return the printer to its usual spot afterward.
Check the router's security mode
WPS works reliably with WPA2-Personal using AES. Some routers also allow it in WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode, but WPA3 only disables it, as do WEP and TKIP-only settings. In the router's wireless settings, choose WPA2/WPA3 mixed or WPA2-Personal (AES), save and wait for the wireless to restart. Then try the WPS sequence again.
Press WPS on the main unit, not a satellite
In a mesh system or a setup with a range extender, use the WPS button on the main unit connected to your modem, unless that system's instructions say otherwise. A session started on an extender may attach the printer to the extender's separate network, where computers can't find it. If the mesh system has no WPS, skip to the password method.
Clear stuck sessions and try again
If the printer says a session is already in progress, or the router's WPS light keeps blinking, wait about two minutes for it to time out, or cancel WPS on the printer. Restart the router and printer, make sure no other device is attempting WPS, and repeat once. Repeated failures after a clean restart point to compatibility rather than timing.
Connect with the password instead
WPS is a convenience, not a requirement. Use the printer's wireless setup wizard to choose your network and type the password, or let the manufacturer's official app send the details from your phone. Neither method depends on WPS support in the router. If you switched WPS on only for this setup, turn it off again in the router's settings afterward.
How to keep it from happening again
- Turn WPS on only for setup and off again afterward
- Keep a note of your Wi-Fi password for printers without a screen
- Press router buttons briefly unless the manual says otherwise
- Use WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode if older devices need to join
Common questions
Is WPS safe to use?
The push-button method is reasonably safe because it only works for a short window after someone physically presses the button. The PIN method has known weaknesses and is turned off on many routers. If you're concerned, enable WPS just for setup and disable it afterward; the printer keeps the details it received.
My router has no WPS button. How else can I connect?
Use the printer's own wireless setup wizard and type your password, or use the manufacturer's official app, which typically connects to the printer temporarily and sends your Wi-Fi details from your phone. For printers without a screen, a temporary USB connection to a computer running the manufacturer's setup software also works.
Why does WPS connect, but the printer still won't print?
WPS only joins the printer to the network; each computer still needs a printer entry pointing to it. Add it on each computer: in Windows through Printers & scanners, and on a Mac through System Settings › Printers & Scanners. If WPS paired it with an extender's separate network, check the network name on its configuration report.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.