How to Setup My HP Wireless Printer​? (Full Guide)

[tomas beasley]

HP Printers are simple to setup because many models include a smart control panel or touchscreen that walks you through each step. I have used HP printers for years, and as a printer specialist, I enjoy helping readers get their devices running. In this post, I am going to show you how to setup an HP wireless printer on both a smartphone and a computer, explain what to check before you begin, and offer clear steps to follow. Whether you prefer the HP Smart app or your computer’s built-in settings, I’ll take you through the complete process step by step.

Step 1: Turn on Your HP Printer

It’s very important that your printer is switched on from the power supply. Make sure the printer’s power cable is securely plugged into the wall socket and that the ‘HP Printer’s Power light is blinking’. Make sure the power cord isn’t loosely connected to the power outlet.

Step 2: Put the Printer in Setup Mode

When the printer is ON, put it in setup mode so it can connect to a network or device. Note that the steps may vary by printer model. My printer doesn’t have a touchscreen, so I’ll use its control panel. Follow these steps to enter setup mode:

1. Press and hold the Cancel button (with a red cross sign) and the Wireless button (with a Wi-Fi symbol).

1. Keep pressing the buttons until you see the power light blinking.
2. Release the buttons once the power light starts flashing, and the wireless button will flash in blue.

This indicates that your HP printer is ready to be setup on a device.

Step 3: Open the HP Smart App on Your Phone

I am using a smartphone to setup my printer. If the HP Smart app isn’t installed on your phone, you can get it from the Google Play Store. After that, follow these steps.

Note: Make sure that your mobile phone is connected to the internet before installing the HP app.

1. Open the app on the smartphone, and click on the plus button to search for your printer.
2. Tap “Get Started” under the “Set up a new printer” option.

1. Select your HP printer series, enter the password for your wireless network, and then click Continue.
2. Now, press the flashing information button on the printer screen to move forward with the setup process.
3. Click Continue once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi.

Finally, the HP Smart App will display HP+; you can join it or skip. Also, you can print a test page to check the wireless connection.

How to Add HP Wireless Printer to a Computer?

Setting up an HP wireless printer on a smartphone is convenient, but if you prefer not to use a smartphone, a computer is a viable alternative. Also, you can use the HP Smart App on a computer. Here are the two best methods to setup your printer.

Method 1: Using the HP Smart App

1. Visit support.hp.com on a browser on a Windows computer and download and install the HP Smart app.
2. Open the app and sign in or log in to your HP account when asked.
3. Go to the app, and click the plus icon to add a new printer.
4. The app will start detecting your printer.
5. Select your printer and enter your Wi-Fi password to proceed.

Method 2: With Computer’s Control Panel

1. Click the Windows button on your computer’s taskbar and type “Control Panel” in the search field.

1. Click “Add a device” under the Hardware and Sound option.
2. Select Printers & Scanners, and click the Add Device option to add a printer or scanner.

Lastly, you can take a test print to finalize the connection. Both methods work equally well for setting up an HP printer, yielding similar results.

However, using the HP Smart App offers various benefits, such as built-in cloud services (including Google Drive), troubleshooting tools, and more, which you won’t find in the computer’s control panel.

How to Download & Install HP Printer Drivers on a Computer?

Downloading and installing printer drivers on a computer is essential to ensure it functions properly. Printer drivers are the software that help the printer communicate with the computer. Even if you’re using the HP Smart app, installing printer drivers is still recommended.

However, note that this software is not required for smartphones. Here are the steps to download and install them.

Step 1: Download Drivers

1. Navigate to support.hp.com, and select Software & Drivers.
2. Select Printer as the product type, and then type your printer’s name in the search box.
3. The computer will automatically detect your operating system. If not, select it manually.
4. Click the Download button next to the printer driver package.

Allow the printer driver file to download completely to your computer’s Downloads folder.

Step 2: Install Drivers

1. When the printer drivers are downloaded to the Downloads folder, navigate to that folder.
2. Double-click on the folder and allow the software file to run on the computer.
3. Let the installation process finish.

That’s it for downloading and installing the ‘HP Printer Drivers’ on the computer. Now, you can use the printer to print anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is My HP Printer Not Connecting to Wi-Fi?

If your printer is not connecting to the Wi-Fi, your internet connection may be weak, or you have entered an incorrect wireless password. Your printer might also not be properly turned on at the main switch.

Can I Setup My HP Wireless Printer Without Installing HP Smart App?

Yes, you can setup your printer on a device without installing the HP Smart App. A Windows computer has a printer & scanner setting which you can use to add the printer. Here are the steps to use these settings:

1. Go to the Windows Start icon on your computer, and search for “Settings.”
2. Select Bluetooth & Devices and then select Printers & Scanners.
3. Click the “Add device” option and select your printer from the list.

What Are HP Printer Drivers?

Printer drivers are the software that enable a printer to communicate with a computer. In simple terms, it acts like an intermediary between the printer and the computer. It enables the printer to interpret the print commands sent by the computer. Without these drivers, the printer won’t recognize the commands you send to it.

Source: How to Setup My HP Wireless Printer