Diagnosis
You want to print directly from your phone to your Epson WF-2860 without routing the job through your home Wi-Fi network. This is a common need for guest printing, for when your home network is down, or for a more direct connection.
How to Fix It
Enable the printer's built-in Wi-Fi Direct feature, which turns the printer into its own wireless access point. Follow these steps:
- On the printer's control panel, press the Home button.
- Navigate to and select the Wi-Fi icon.
- Select Wi-Fi (Recommended).
- Select Change Settings.
- Select Others.
- Select Enable Wi-Fi Direct. The printer will generate a network name (SSID) and password, displaying them on its screen.
- On your phone, open Wi-Fi settings, find the printer's unique SSID, and connect to it using the displayed password.
- Once connected, use the Epson SmartPanel app or your phone's standard print function (like from Photos or a PDF) to send a print job directly.
If That Didn't Work
First, ensure your phone is connected to the printer's Wi-Fi Direct network and not your home Wi-Fi. If connection fails, restart the printer and try enabling Wi-Fi Direct again. If the printer's network doesn't appear on your phone, check that Wi-Fi Direct is still active on the printer's screen; it may time out. As an alternative, you can use the Epson Connect service: register the printer to your Epson account while it's on your home Wi-Fi, then you can print to it from your phone using the Epson Print app from anywhere with cellular data or any Wi-Fi, bypassing your home network entirely.
Heads Up
While connected to the printer via Wi-Fi Direct, your phone will lose internet access. You must finish printing and then switch your phone's Wi-Fi back to your home network to regain internet connectivity.