Printer not connecting? The order I'd actually check things in
Spent forty minutes fighting my printer before realizing it had silently switched to a different Wi-Fi network than my laptop. Worth checking before anything more technical.
Printer issues are frustrating mostly because the error messages are vague "cannot connect," with no detail on why. Working through this in order has saved me from a lot of guessing.
Confirm it's on the same network as your computer
This sounds almost insultingly obvious, but it's genuinely the most common cause I've personally run into. Most printers have a small screen or can print a network status page that shows the Wi-Fi name it's connected to. If your home has two networks (a main one and a separate guest or 5GHz one), it's easy for the printer and your laptop to end up on different ones without realizing.
Restart the printer fully, not just the computer
Turn the printer off at the power switch, wait about 15 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears its network connection and forces it to reconnect fresh, which fixes more stuck-connection issues than restarting the computer side does, in my experience.
Remove and re-add the printer on your computer
On Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, remove the printer, then add it back this lets Windows redetect it fresh rather than relying on a saved connection that might be outdated.
On Mac: System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select the printer, click the minus button to remove it, then click the plus button to add it again.
Check for a firmware update on the printer itself
Most printer manufacturer apps (HP Smart, Canon's app, Epson's app) will flag if there's a firmware update available, and these occasionally fix exactly this kind of connectivity bug. Worth checking before assuming the issue is on your computer's end at all.
Print spooler issues on Windows
If the printer shows as connected but jobs just sit there without printing, the print spooler service itself might be stuck. Services app (search for it in the Start menu), find "Print Spooler," right-click and Restart. This is a different problem from a connection issue but gets confused with it often, since both result in "nothing's printing."
Static IP, for anyone comfortable going slightly further
If the printer keeps losing its network connection repeatedly, even after fixing it each time, assigning it a static IP address through your router's settings stops it from getting a new address that your computer doesn't recognize. This is more involved and not necessary for most people, but worth knowing if the problem keeps coming back.
What actually got mine working
Switching my laptop to the same network the printer was already on the network mismatch I mentioned at the start. Embarrassingly simple once I found it, but not obvious at all from the error message Windows was showing.
One extra check I would make
Printers are annoyingly sensitive to network changes. A new router name, guest network, or mesh Wi-Fi setup can make the printer look broken when it just needs to join the right network again.
Quick answers
Why is my printer not connecting to Wi-Fi?
It may be on the wrong network, too far from the router, stuck with an old IP address, or blocked by printer software on the computer.
Should my printer and laptop be on the same Wi-Fi network?
Yes. Many printers will not appear if the computer is on a different network, guest Wi-Fi, or a VPN.
Does restarting the printer actually help?
It can. Restarting clears stuck jobs and forces the printer to reconnect to the network.