my hp officejet pro 9015e won't connect to wifi during setup, the blue light isn't blinking, what do i do?

Diagnosis

The absence of a blinking blue wireless light on the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e indicates that the printer has exited "Setup Mode." By default, this printer only remains in a discoverable state for two hours after it is powered on or after a factory reset. If the setup process is interrupted, or if you waited too long between plugging in the device and opening the HP Smart app, the network card enters a standby state where it no longer broadcasts its internal SSID (the temporary Wi-Fi signal used for pairing). This is a common failure point during initial configuration. The HP Smart app relies on a specific handshake protocol; if the printer is not actively broadcasting its setup signal, the app will hang at "Searching for printers" or return a "Printer not found" error. To confirm this, check the control panel display: if the wireless icon is a steady gray or has a red "X" through it without the accompanying flashing blue LED on the hardware chassis, the network interface is inactive and cannot be seen by your mobile device or PC.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must manually force the network card back into broadcast mode by resetting the network stack. Follow these precise steps:

1. On the printer's home screen, swipe down from the top of the display to reveal the Dashboard menu.
2. Tap the Gear icon (Setup) located in the top left or center of the menu.
3. Navigate to Network Setup from the list of options.
4. Scroll down to Restore Network Settings. This is critical; do not select "Restore Factory Defaults" as this will wipe your ink alignment and paper tray settings.
5. When the confirmation prompt appears asking if you want to restore the settings, tap Yes.
6. Observe the hardware: The blue wireless light on the front panel should now begin blinking. This confirms the printer is once again in Setup Mode.
7. On your smartphone or computer, completely force-close the HP Smart app. If using a PC, kill the process in Task Manager.
8. Ensure your mobile device is connected to a 2.4GHz network band (the 9015e can struggle with 5GHz "Smart Connect" bands during the initial handshake).
9. Relaunch HP Smart, select Add Printer, and follow the prompts to link the device to your Wi-Fi password.

If That Didn't Work

• Disable "Private Address" or "MAC Randomization": If you are using an iPhone or Android device, go to your Wi-Fi settings for your home network and toggle off "Private Wi-Fi Address." This feature masks your device's identity, which often prevents the HP Smart app from completing the security handshake with the 9015e.
• Perform a Hard Power Cycle: While the printer is ON, pull the power cord directly from the back of the machine. Unplug the router from the wall for 30 seconds. Plug the router back in first, wait for the internet to stabilize, then plug the printer back in. This clears the ARP cache in your router that may be blocking the printer's IP request.
• Use the Manual IP Method: If the app continues to fail, go to Network Setup > Wireless Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard on the printer screen. Select your SSID directly from the list and type your password using the on-screen keyboard. Once the blue light stays solid, the app will find the printer instantly because it is already on the network.
• Check Firewall/VPN Settings: If you are setting this up via a laptop, disable any active VPN (like NordVPN or ExpressVPN) and third-party firewalls (like Norton or McAfee). These services often block the UDP ports required for the HP Smart app to "discover" the printer on the local subnet.

Heads Up

• Avoid 5GHz-Only Networks: The OfficeJet Pro 9015e is most stable on 2.4GHz. If your router combines both into one name, the printer may disconnect randomly. Creating a separate 2.4GHz Guest network is the most reliable long-term fix.
• HP+ Activation: If you chose the "e" model (HP+), the printer will require a constant internet connection to function. If the Wi-Fi drops, the printer may stop printing entirely until the connection is restored.
• Static IP Assignment: Once connected, go to the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS) by typing its IP address into a browser and change the IP setting from DHCP to "Manual." This prevents the "Printer Offline" error that happens when the router assigns a new IP address after a power flicker.
• Firmware Updates: Immediately after a successful connection, check for firmware updates in the HP Smart app. Early versions of the 9015e firmware had known bugs regarding Wi-Fi sleep mode that caused the printer to "disappear" from the network.