How wireless setup actually works
During setup the printer broadcasts its own temporary Wi-Fi signal. Your phone or PC connects to that signal, the HP Smart app hands over your home network name and password, and the printer then joins your network permanently. From that point on it is just another device on your Wi-Fi.
This handshake is why the printer needs to sit close to the router while you set it up. A weak signal during those first two minutes is enough to make the whole process fail halfway through.
The 2.4 GHz problem — read this before troubleshooting anything else
The Smart Tank 580 connects on the 2.4 GHz band only. It cannot see 5 GHz networks at all. Modern routers broadcast both bands under a single network name, and phones tend to prefer the faster 5 GHz one. The result is that your phone is on 5 GHz, the printer cannot find that network, and setup fails with no obvious explanation.
If setup keeps failing, this is almost always why. Temporarily move your phone onto the 2.4 GHz network (or split the bands in your router settings), run setup again, and it will usually complete first time.
Three ways to connect
- HP Smart app — the easiest and the method HP recommends. The app finds the printer and joins it to your network for you.
- WPS button — press WPS on your router, then hold the Wireless button on the printer for three seconds. No password needed.
- Wi-Fi Direct — connect your device straight to the printer with no router involved. Useful for guests or temporary printing.