is it normal for the hp officejet pro 9015e to lose wifi connection if i try to set it up from another room?

Diagnosis

Yes, this is entirely normal and a common point of failure during the initial installation of the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e. During the setup phase, the printer does not yet have your home network credentials; instead, it broadcasts its own temporary, low-power internal Wi-Fi signal (often appearing as "HP-Setup-OfficeJet Pro 9015e"). This "Setup Mode" signal is significantly weaker than a standard router's broadcast and is designed only for a short-range "handshake" between the printer and the HP Smart app on your mobile device or laptop.

When you attempt setup from another room, the signal strength (RSSI) drops below the threshold required to maintain a stable data exchange. Because the HP Smart app must push your specific SSID and WPA2/WPA3 password to the printer's firmware, any packet loss during this transmission will cause the connection to time out or "drop," resulting in a "Printer Not Found" or "Connection Failed" error message. You can confirm this by checking your device's Wi-Fi list; if the "HP-Setup" network disappears or shows only one bar of signal when you move a few feet away, the distance is the root cause.

How to Fix It

To resolve this and ensure a permanent connection, you must perform the handshake in immediate proximity to the hardware. Follow these exact steps:

1. Reset Network Settings: On the printer's control panel, swipe down the dashboard and tap the Gear icon (Settings). Navigate to Network Setup > Restore Network Settings. This clears any partial configurations and forces the printer back into "Setup Mode," which lasts for two hours.
2. Physical Positioning: Move your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to within 3 to 5 feet of the printer. Ensure there are no large metal objects or microwave ovens between the device and the printer.
3. App Initialization: Open the HP Smart app. If the printer is listed as "Offline," remove the printer from the app by right-clicking the printer icon and selecting "Hide Printer" or "Remove," then click the "Add Printer" (plus sign) button to start a fresh discovery.
4. The Handshake: Select the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e from the list. When prompted, allow the app to access your location and Bluetooth (this helps the app find the setup signal). Enter your Wi-Fi password carefully.
5. Verification: Wait for the printer's screen to display "Connected" and for the blue wireless light on the front panel to stop blinking and remain solid. Only after this confirmation should you move your device back to the other room to test remote printing.

If That Didn't Work

• Disable 5GHz Band Temporarily: The 9015e can sometimes struggle to handshake if your router uses "Smart Connect" (merging 2.4GHz and 5GHz). Log into your router settings and temporarily disable the 5GHz band or create a separate 2.4GHz guest network. Connect the printer to the 2.4GHz band, as it has much better wall penetration and stability for printers.
• Use the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Method: If the app continues to fail, bypass it. Go to the printer's Network Setup menu and select "Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)." Choose "Push Button." Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router. This creates a direct hardware-to-hardware link that bypasses the app's discovery phase.
• Assign a Static IP Address: Once connected, the printer may "disappear" again if the router reassigns its IP via DHCP. Access the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS) by typing the printer's IP address into a browser. Go to the Network tab > IPv4 Config and change the IP assignment from "Automatic" to "Manual" to lock the address.
• Check Firewall Permissions: If using a Windows PC, ensure that the HP Smart app and "HP Print Backend" are allowed through the Windows Defender Firewall. Blocked ports often mimic a "lost connection" even when the signal is strong.

Heads Up

• Avoid USB Setup: Avoid using a USB cable for the initial setup if you intend to use Wi-Fi; this often confuses the HP Smart app and can lead to "Dual Connection" conflicts where the printer ignores wireless commands in favor of the cable.
• Firmware Updates: Immediately after a successful connection, check for firmware updates in the HP Smart app. HP frequently releases patches for the 9015e series to improve Wi-Fi stability and reconnection logic.
• Power Cycle Order: If the printer loses connection after a power outage, always boot your router first, wait 5 minutes for the internet to stabilize, and then power on the printer.
• Avoid Signal Blockers: Do not place the printer inside a wooden cabinet or directly behind a metal filing cabinet, as this can degrade the signal by as much as 50%, causing intermittent "Offline" status.