A new HP LaserJet printer arrived in the office recently. After plugging it on to the office network, the setup was easy, but I couldn’t find a way to stop the printer broadcasting a wireless network name.
Several hours of testing, failing, resetting and re-testing led me to HP’s Support Forum. I found some instructions from a user who worked out how to disable the network. It’s not logical or obvious.
First, make sure you don’t have a USB cable attached to the printer. Go to the web configuration page and select Networking > Wi-Fi Direct Setup, and turn WiFi Direct on.
Then, set the connection method to Advanced, and check “Do not broadcast the Wi-Fi Direct Name”. Click Apply, restart the printer, then go back in to the configuration page and turn Wi-Fi Direct off.
I don’t know why this isn’t an obvious option, but HP might fix it in a later release of the printer’s firmware.