Printers are notoriously finicky. How to Fix HP Printer not Working on Windows 11? HP printers are the most widely used among all of the printers available of various kinds. These are perfect solution for your personal and business usage. But like every printer, even HP printers can be prone to errors.
The connectivity to the HP printer may get disrupted sometimes or it disconnects without any information. Moreover, it might not even print the file requested.
Read: How to Contact HP Instant Ink by Phone
Common Issues Regarding HP Printer Not Working on Windows
The most obvious cause could be a loose printer cable. Besides that, there are many more reasons why your HP printer may not work, which are given below:
- Faulty or outdated printer drivers: Like every other external device, your printer requires drivers to work. If these drivers become outdated or buggy, they can lead to connection problems. Don’t worry; As you walk through this guide, we have a solution to this problem!
- Unconfigured HP printer: When you attach the HP printer for the first time, the HP Smart software prompts you to answer a series of questions. If you misconfigure the settings now, it can lead to issues down the road.
- Wireless connection problem: you can often have issue with a wireless HP Printer if you have some problems with your wireless connection.
Whatever’s behind it, you can do some simple troubleshooting using a selection of free tools from HP and a couple of utilities built into Windows.
Easy Solutions For HP Printers Not Operating on Windows 11
Here are some one-time fixes you can try to fix minor printer issues:
- Check the printer cable: This might sound simple, but it is the most logical solution. Ensure the printer and computer cables are plugged into the port. Next, disconnect the cable and reconnect it properly.
- Keep your computer and printer on the same network: If you’re using a wireless printer, this tip is for you.
- Run printer troubleshooter: Open the Windows Settings app and navigate to System > Troubleshooter > Other troubleshooters. Click Run next to the printer to open the troubleshooter. After the tool detects a problem, it will attempt to fix it automatically.
Install the HP Smart App
Setting up HP Smart: HP Smart is a Windows program designed by HP that enables configuration and printer management through a single application. Scan, print, and manage HP printers from your PC.
Read: Download HP Smart App Setup
Read: Hp Smart App +1-855-233-5515
The HP Smart app will have been uninstalled, and then follow the steps below to install the HP Smart app on Windows:
- Click the HP Smart App download link to go to its Microsoft Store page.
- Click the Install button in the Microsoft Store window.
- Launch the HP Smart app and click Set up a new printer.
- Complete the on-screen instructions to set up your HP printer.
Do remember to restart your PC after setup. This ensures your system will configure properly with the application.
If you get No printer found error, go to the HP Software and Drivers webpage and download and install the necessary drivers for your given printer.
It is mainly poor printer configuration that causes damage. Therefore, we expect that a new setup will assist you in fixing the HP printer not working issues.
Use the HP Print and Scan Doctor Tool
Still, facing issues with your HP printer? Another useful troubleshooting tool HP has is the HP Print and Scan Doctor utility.
HP print and scan doctor HP print and scan doctor is the ultimate tool to troubleshoot your HP Printers pertaining to printing and scanning issues. And this is distinct from the built in Windows printer troubleshooter, so don’t skip over it!
Sound interesting, first you need to download the tool from HP Support website. Once downloaded, run the executable file and click on Start to begin the troubleshooting tests.
When it comes down to diagnosing the problem to implementing the solution, he does the whole shooting match. As a result, run it every time you face any issue related to printer in your Windows.
Modify Your HP Printer Settings
Sometimes even the slightest configuration mistake in your printer preferences can cause your printer to stop working.
So, what can you do when your HP printer is not responding because of the wrong settings? The first and simple way for fixing this issue is to revert the printer settings back in Windows.
To adjust your printer settings, please follow these steps:
- Launch the HP Smart app from the Start Menu or its desktop shortcut.
- On the Printer Dashboard screen, select Printer Settings.
- A new window will open. You can adjust your printer preferences here.
Uninstall and Reinstall the HP Printer
Sometimes when the configuration & cable connection is correct your PC gets unable to detect the printer. In such a situation, removing your printer from the settings and reconnecting it may fix every connection problem.
Here’s how to add your printer.
- We begin by launching the Windows Search application by pressing Win + Q. In the text field, type Add printer or scanner.
- In the Printers and Scanners window, select the name of your printer.
- The Remove button would disconnect your printer and reset the connection.
- Click Add printer or scanner to add your printer again after removing your printer. You can once again use the HP Smart app to connect your printer.
But if it doesn’t help in your case, it is better to try the last method.
Restart all HP Printer Services
There are three components that help a printer run printer driver, proper cable connection, and Windows services. Your HP printer will fail if any of these components are missing.
In an earlier step, you already looked at the driver and cable connections. So let’s proceed to the last resort: Restart the printer services.
- On your computer, open the Windows Services application.
- In the list, find the HP Print Scan Doctor service, right-click on it, and then click Restart.
- Locate the following services one by one and restart them in the same manner:
- Printer spooler service
- Service for Printer Extension and Notification
- Print Workflow Service
Your printer isn’t going to work properly if the above services are not functional. So a quick power cycle can often rectify any issues and get your printer back in the game.
HP Printer Not Responding on Windows 11 Solution
Printer issues can be really frustrating, particularly when you need to print important documents in a hurry. But as we’ve shown in this guide, most printer issues can be straight forwardly repaired.
So, try any of these solutions one after another, starting from the simple solution and ending with the advanced solutions. The printer will also start up quickly.
