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How to Setup a Wireless Printer on a New Mesh Network

Published on April 12, 2026 • 4 min read

Wireless Router Dashboard

Upgrading your home Wi-Fi to a modern mesh network (like Eero, Google Nest, or Orbi) is fantastic for speed and eliminating dead zones. But if you have an older wireless printer, you’ve probably discovered they don't always play nice.

The problem is simple: Most modern mesh routers broadcast a single Wi-Fi name (SSID) that combines both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Your laptop easily connects to the fast 5GHz band. However, the vast majority of wireless printers only have cheaper 2.4GHz Wi-Fi chips built inside them.

When you try to connect the printer using your phone or laptop (which is on 5GHz), the setup app fails because it expects the device to be on the same frequency band. Here is our step-by-step checklist to force your device onto the correct frequency without pulling your hair out.

Method 1: Use Your Router's "Temporary 2.4GHz" Mode

Because this issue is so prevalent with smart home devices and printers, many mesh router apps (specifically Eero and Asus) have built a temporary toggle switch.

  1. Open your mesh router's mobile app on your smartphone.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Troubleshooting (or Advanced Settings).
  3. Look for an option labeled "Pause 5GHz" or "Temporary 2.4GHz Mode".
  4. Activate this feature. Your router will temporarily shut down the 5GHz band (usually for 15 minutes), forcing your phone down to the 2.4GHz band.
  5. Immediately open your printer setup app (HP Smart, Canon Print, etc.) and complete the wireless setup process.
  6. Once setup is complete, the app will turn 5GHz back on automatically. The printer is now bonded to the 2.4GHz network and will work perfectly even when your phone returns to 5GHz.

Method 2: Separate the Wi-Fi Bands (If Supported)

Some Internet Service Provider (ISP) routers and standard mesh networks (like certain TP-Link or Netgear models) allow you to permanently separate the bands into two different names. This is the most reliable long-term fix, though it clutters your Wi-Fi list slightly.

  1. Log into your router's admin panel via a web browser (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1 into the address bar).
  2. Navigate to the Wireless Settings or WLAN section.
  3. Look for a setting to disable "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering". Turn this feature Off.
  4. You should now see separate entry fields for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Leave the 2.4GHz name as your normal Wi-Fi name (e.g., "HomeNetwork").
  5. Rename the 5GHz network by adding a suffix (e.g., "HomeNetwork_5G"). Save the settings and let the router reboot.
  6. Connect your smartphone to the original 2.4GHz network, run the printer setup, and it will succeed instantly. Afterward, you can connect your laptops and phones to the faster "_5G" network.

Method 3: The "Distance Walk" Trick

If your router doesn't allow you to pause 5GHz or split the bands (common with Google Nest or Comcast xFi pods), you can use physics to your advantage.

The 5GHz band is very fast but cannot travel far or penetrate walls well. The 2.4GHz band is slower but travels much further. You can force your phone onto 2.4GHz simply by walking far enough away from the router.

  • Take your smartphone and start walking away from the primary router node. Go outside or into the furthest room of the house.
  • Keep checking your phone's Wi-Fi settings. When the signal bars drop to 2 bars, your phone has almost certainly auto-switched to the 2.4GHz band to maintain the connection.
  • Without walking back closer, open the printer app and run the setup. Since your phone is now on 2.4GHz at a distance, it will successfully pair the printer!