Your printer used to connect without a second thought. Now the Deco app shows no new devices, your laptop's print queue says "Offline," or the printer's own WiFi setup just keeps spinning. The TP-Link Deco BE85 is a fast Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, but a few of its default settings can trip up older printers in ways that aren't obvious until you know exactly where to look.
The quickest fix to try first: open the Deco app, check that Wi-Fi security is set to WPA2 only (not WPA2/WPA3 transitional), and move the printer within ten feet of the main Deco unit for its initial setup. Run the printer's network setup wizard while your phone is also connected to the Deco's main network. If that gets it, you're done. If not, the rest of this guide covers the common culprits.
What's Blocking Your Printer from the Deco BE85
The Deco BE85 broadcasts a single SSID and uses band steering by default. Most printers only support 2.4 GHz, and some older models can't handle WPA3 at all, even in mixed mode. Here are the usual reasons printers fail to connect:
- WPA2/WPA3 transitional mode: the factory default is mixed. Many printers built before 2020 don't speak WPA3 and get confused when the router advertises it.
- Band steering sending your phone to 5 GHz: during setup, your phone needs to be on the same 2.4 GHz band the printer is trying to join. The Deco's steering can make that invisible.
- mDNS/Bonjour not propagating across mesh nodes: AirPrint and similar discovery protocols rely on mDNS, and mesh networks sometimes fail to relay those packets between satellites.
- Printer and phone on different networks: if you're using the Deco's guest network, it's isolated from the main network, so you can't discover the printer.
- WiFi password with tricky characters: older printer screens can't input symbols like apostrophes or underscores easily.
- Outdated printer firmware: printers that haven't been updated in years may not support modern Wi-Fi authentication methods.
- Printer's IP address changed after a reboot: without a DHCP reservation, the printer's address can shift, breaking discovery.
Set the Deco BE85 to WPA2 Only
Even though the Deco BE85 defaults to WPA2/WPA3 transitional, some printers still balk at the WPA3 handshake attempt. The fix is to lock the security to WPA2 only. Open the Deco app, tap More (bottom right), then Wi-Fi Settings. Under Security, change it to WPA2-PSK. The network will briefly drop while the change applies. Once it's back up, try the printer setup again.
You can switch back to transitional later if you want, after the printer is paired. Most modern phones and laptops handle WPA3 fine, but your printer won't re-negotiate once connected.
Bring the Printer Close to the Main Deco
The initial WiFi handshake on a printer is much more sensitive to signal strength than everyday operation. If you're trying to set it up two rooms away from the main Deco unit (the one connected to your modem), the pairing might fail because the printer can't hear the response clearly. Move the printer into the same room as the main Deco, run the setup, then move it back to its permanent spot afterward.
This single step resolves a surprising number of "printer not found" cases.
Use the Printer Manufacturer's App, Not the Deco App
Many printers come with their own mobile app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint, Brother iPrint&Scan). These apps handle the band-steering issue automatically, they know the printer needs 2.4 GHz and they tell your phone to switch bands if necessary. The Deco app can manage the network, but it's not designed to guide printer pairing.
Download the correct app for your printer brand, make sure your phone is on the Deco's main network (not guest), and follow the in-app WiFi setup. This bypasses the "phone on 5 GHz, printer on 2.4 GHz" problem entirely.
Update the Printer's Firmware (Even If It's Working on Another Network)
Printer manufacturers release firmware updates that add support for newer Wi-Fi security standards. If your printer worked on an old router but can't see the Deco BE85, a firmware update is the most likely permanent fix. Go to the manufacturer's support site, find your printer model, and download the latest firmware. If you can't connect wirelessly, use a USB cable to transfer the update to the printer.
After updating, retry the WiFi setup. This often fixes printers that are only a few years old but shipped before WPA3 transitional became common.
Force Your Phone to 2.4 GHz Temporarily
If the printer setup app still can't find the printer, you may need to force your phone onto the 2.4 GHz band temporarily. The Deco BE85 doesn't let you split bands in the Deco app, but you can work around it by disabling Wi-Fi on your phone, turning it back on, and standing right next to the printer. The Deco may steer your phone to 2.4 GHz if the signal from 5 GHz is weak enough near the printer.
Alternatively, temporarily rename your 2.4 GHz band using a separate SSID option if your Deco setup allows guest network with 2.4 GHz only. The Deco app's guest network can be set to 2.4 GHz mode, use that as a temporary network for the printer setup, then switch it back.
Restart Discovery by Toggling Wi-Fi on Your Device
If the printer is actually connected to the network but just not showing up in AirPrint or your print dialog, the issue is mDNS discovery, not the connection itself. On an iPhone or iPad, toggle Wi-Fi off and back on. On a Mac, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, remove the printer if it's listed, and add it again. This forces your device to re-broadcast a discovery request.
You can also restart the Deco app to refresh its device list.
Power Cycle the Main Deco Unit
If mDNS packets are getting lost between mesh nodes, a simple reboot of the main Deco can reset the mesh's internal routing. Unplug the main Deco (the one connected to your modem), wait 60 seconds, and plug it back in. Leave the satellites alone, they'll reconnect automatically. Give the mesh about three minutes to stabilize before trying printer discovery again.
If you have a large mesh with multiple satellites, check that your printer is connected to the node closest to it. The Deco app shows which node each device is linked to under Devices. If your printer is far from the main unit, consider moving it closer or adding another satellite, but that's less common for printers.
Check You're Both on the Main Network
If you're using a guest network on the Deco, devices on it are isolated from the main network. Your printer must be on the main network, and your phone or computer must be on the same main network. Open the Deco app, tap Devices, and verify which network each device shows. If the printer shows up under Guest, remove it and re-pair it to the main network.
Assign a Static IP to the Printer
Once the printer is connected and working, give it a fixed IP address so it doesn't disappear after a router reboot. In the Deco app, go to More > Advanced > DHCP Server (or Reservations depending on firmware version). Find your printer in the connected devices list, tap it, and select Reserve IP. This keeps AirPrint discovery stable over time.
Reset Only the Printer's Network Settings
If your printer has been through multiple failed connection attempts, its internal WiFi memory might be corrupt. Most printers have a menu option to reset just the network settings, look for "Restore Network Defaults," "Reset LAN," or "Clear WiFi Settings." Do not factory reset the whole printer unless you're sure you can reconfigure scanning and other settings afterward. After the network reset, run the printer's WiFi setup from scratch while it's near the main Deco unit.
