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How to Block Unwanted Cloud and Remote Print Features
Printer IssuesIntermediate15-30 minutes

How to Block Unwanted Cloud and Remote Print Features

Difficulty
Intermediate
Time
15-30 minutes
Category
Printer Issues

Don't want HP ePrint, Canon Cloud, or Epson Connect on your printer? Here's how to disable cloud printing features for better privacy and security.

đź’ˇWhat's Happening

Modern printers come with cloud printing features like HP ePrint, Canon Cloud Print, Epson Email Print, and Brother Web Connect. While convenient for printing from anywhere, these features can be a privacy concern—they give your printer an internet-accessible email address or web portal, potentially exposing it to unauthorized access or unwanted print jobs. If you don't use these features, or if you're concerned about security, you can disable them completely. This guide covers how to turn off cloud printing for the major printer brands.

âś“Quick Checks (Do These First)

  • Do you use cloud printing? If you never print via email or from outside your home network, you don't need these features enabled.
  • Is your printer receiving spam? Some printers with cloud printing enabled receive spam print jobs because their email address is public or was leaked.
  • Check if it's enabled: Look at your printer's display for "Web Services," "Connected Services," or a cloud icon—these indicate cloud features are active.

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Disable HP ePrint and HP Smart Services

HP ePrint gives your printer an email address for remote printing. HP Smart provides cloud connectivity for the HP mobile app.

Method A: Disable from Printer Control Panel

  1. On your HP printer's touchscreen, tap the Home button or ePrint icon (cloud/envelope symbol)
  2. Tap Web Services or ePrint Settings
  3. Select Disable Web Services or Remove Web Services
  4. Confirm that you want to disable ePrint
  5. The printer will disconnect from HP's cloud servers
  6. Your printer's email address will be deactivated

Method B: Disable via HP Embedded Web Server (EWS)

  1. Print a configuration page from your printer to find its IP address
  2. Open a web browser and type the IP address (like http://192.168.1.100)
  3. Go to the Web Services or HP ePrint tab
  4. Click Disable Web Services
  5. Optionally, also disable HP Smart integration if you see it
  6. Save changes

Method C: Disable Auto-Updates and Telemetry

  1. While in HP's EWS, go to Settings > Web Services
  2. Disable Automatic Firmware Updates if you don't want HP pushing updates
  3. Disable Product Improvement Program (telemetry/usage data collection)
  4. Disable Cartridge Policy Enforcement if you want to use third-party ink without HP blocking it

Fix 2: Disable Canon Cloud Print and Email Print

Canon printers have Canon Cloud Print and Google Cloud Print (now deprecated but might still appear in settings).

Method A: Disable from Printer Menu

  1. Press Menu or Setup on the printer's control panel
  2. Navigate to Device Settings > LAN Settings or Web Service Settings
  3. Select Cloud Print or Email Print
  4. Choose Disable or Do Not Use
  5. Save and exit

Method B: Disable via Canon Web Interface

  1. Find your printer's IP address from the network settings
  2. Type the IP into a web browser
  3. Log in (default is usually "canon" or check your manual)
  4. Go to Settings/Registration > Network > Cloud Settings
  5. Set Use Cloud to Off
  6. Disable Email Print Function if present
  7. Click OK to save

Method C: Disable Canon PRINT App Connection

  1. In the Canon web interface, go to Settings > Device Settings
  2. Look for Mobile Device Connection or Wireless Direct
  3. If you don't use the Canon PRINT mobile app, disable this as well
  4. This prevents the printer from being accessible via Canon's mobile services

Fix 3: Disable Epson Connect and Email Print

Epson printers use Epson Connect for cloud printing, which includes email printing and remote print services.

Method A: Disable from Printer Menu

  1. Press Home on the control panel
  2. Select Setup > Web Service Settings or Epson Connect Services
  3. Choose Unregister or Disable
  4. Confirm you want to disable Epson Connect
  5. Your printer will disconnect from Epson's cloud

Method B: Unregister via Epson Connect Website

  1. Go to epsonconnect.com in your web browser
  2. Log in with your Epson Connect account
  3. Find your printer in the device list
  4. Click Delete or Unregister to remove it from Epson's cloud service
  5. This deactivates your printer's email address permanently

Method C: Disable Remote Print Services

  1. Access your printer's web interface (type its IP address in a browser)
  2. Go to Epson Connect or Web Service settings
  3. Disable Remote Print, Scan to Cloud, and Email Print
  4. Save changes

Fix 4: Disable Brother Web Connect and Email Print

Brother printers offer Brother Web Connect for cloud services and app integration.

Method A: Disable from Control Panel

  1. Press Menu on the printer
  2. Navigate to Network > Web Connect or Cloud Services
  3. Select Disable or Off
  4. Save settings

Method B: Disable via Web Interface

  1. Find the printer's IP address and access it via web browser
  2. Log in (default password often "access" or "initpass")
  3. Go to Network > Protocol
  4. Disable Web Connect and any cloud-related protocols
  5. Under Security, you can also disable external access entirely

Method C: Restrict Network Access

  1. In Brother's web interface, go to Administrator > Network Security
  2. Enable Access Control or IP Filter
  3. Only allow devices on your local network (like 192.168.1.x)
  4. This prevents any external cloud connections from reaching the printer

Fix 5: Block Cloud Services at the Router Level

For maximum control, you can block your printer from accessing cloud servers entirely by using your router's firewall.

  1. Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Find your printer's IP address in the connected devices list
  3. Navigate to Firewall, Access Control, or Parental Controls
  4. Create a rule to block outbound internet access for your printer's IP
  5. Or use DNS filtering to block specific domains:
    • HP: Block *.hpconnected.com, *.hpeprint.com
    • Canon: Block *.canon.com cloud services
    • Epson: Block *.epsonconnect.com
    • Brother: Block *.brother.com cloud endpoints
  6. Save firewall rules

This approach ensures the printer can't phone home even if cloud features are accidentally re-enabled.

Fix 6: Disable Automatic Firmware Updates

Cloud-connected printers often update their firmware automatically, which can re-enable features or add new ones.

  1. Access your printer's web interface
  2. Go to Settings > Firmware Update or Maintenance
  3. Disable Automatic Updates or Check for Updates
  4. This prevents the manufacturer from pushing updates without your knowledge
  5. Note: You'll need to manually check for security updates periodically

⚠️If Nothing Worked

If cloud features keep re-enabling themselves, it might be because your printer is set to restore cloud services after a power cycle or firmware update. Some printers have persistent cloud settings that are difficult to permanently disable. In these cases, blocking the printer's internet access at the router level (Fix 5) is your most reliable option. You can also consider network segmentation—put your printer on a separate VLAN or guest network that has no internet access but can still be reached by your computers for local printing. This gives you full control while maintaining printing functionality.

đź“žWhen to Call a Pro

If you're concerned about your printer's cloud connections or suspect it's been compromised, a professional can audit your printer's network activity and security settings. They can set up VLANs, firewall rules, and monitoring to ensure your printer isn't communicating with unwanted servers. For business environments, IT professionals can implement print management systems that provide cloud-like convenience without exposing your printer to the public internet. If you need help securing your printer in a compliance-sensitive environment (medical, legal, financial), professional configuration is worth the investment.

Need Professional Help?

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Related Topics

cloudremoteprivacyHP ePrintCanon CloudEpson Connectsecurity

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