Installing an HP printer is very simple on Windows 11, given that the operating system is perfectly capable of recovering the drivers necessary to make any type of variant work. In addition to the integrated method, we can download the drivers from the Microsoft Store (using the official HP app) or by downloading the right driver from the manufacturer’s website.
In case of problems, however, it is worth knowing how to manually install the drivers of any HP printer model, including even older printers (usually more difficult for the system integrated in Windows to recognize).
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1) Install HP drivers via Windows Update
After connecting the printer to the modem (via Wi-Fi or via Ethernet cable) or to the PC (via USB cable), we can start the automatic recognition of the printer by pressing WIN+I on the keyboard and opening the path Bluetooth and Devices -> Printers and Scanners.
From the new page we press on Add device, we wait for Windows to recognize the device and, when requested, we proceed with the installation. With this procedure the HP driver will be automatically downloaded via Windows Update, without further intervention by the user.
If we notice that the printer is added to the PC but no driver is recognized, we right-click on the Start menu and open it Device managementwe right-click on the unrecognized device (i.e. the printer), press on Update drivers and let’s make sure we press on Automatically searches for drivers to start searching for the right HP driver with Windows Update.
For further information we can read the guide above how to download updated drivers.
2) Install HP drivers via Microsoft Store
A good alternative to Windows Update for HP drivers is the Microsoft Store, which provides all customers with a convenient app to manage the installation of a new printer and the use of the official HP driver in all circumstances.
To proceed we connect the printer to the modem or PC, open the Microsoft Store on our Windows system and search for the app HP Smartadding it to the system.
After adding the app, launch it from the Start menu, press on+ icon about are Add/Set up a new printer and follow the guided procedure suggested on the screen to download and install the HP driver suitable for the type of printer in use.
At the end we will have the printer added to the system and, again via HP Smart, we can check ink levels, clean the heads or clogged nozzles and much more.
3) Install HP drivers via Easy Start
In addition to HP Smart we can also download the app HP Easy Startdesigned to make the installation of any HP printer on any operating system (Windows 11, Windows 10 or older systems) as simple as possible.
To use it, download it using our favorite browser, start it (only after connecting the printer) and wait until it detects the new connected HP printer. After recognition we press on Continues and follow the on-screen instructions to immediately install the driver and start printing.
4) Download drivers from HP official website
If all the previous methods have not worked or our printer is a few years old, it is best to download the driver directly from the HP website, avoiding automated procedures.
To proceed all we have to do is open the HP driver download siteenter the printer model we have, press on Submit and retrieve the precise name of the printer.
After identifying the name of the printer, expand it and press on Download next to the entry Driver-Product Installation Software or similar items.
Once the download is complete, we launch the downloaded installer and follow the instructions to install only the driver or the entire software package offered by HP (depending on the type of printer). When in doubt we can too install the driver onlywithout having to necessarily install all the recommended software.
5) Reinstall the printer and use hardware ID
If the printer still doesn’t work or works poorly after using one of the methods above we can start over by reinstalling the printer via USB cable, removing the old driver and using the hardware ID to identify the right driver to use.
To use this procedure we open Device managementlet’s expand the menu Printersright-click on the faulty HP printer, click on Uninstall devicewe tick the item to also delete the associated driver and press OK to perform the total uninstallation.
Now, always leaving the printer connected via USB (fundamental for this type of operation), press on at the top Detect hardware changesright-click on the new detected printer (or Unknown device), click on Propertywe select the tab Details and we choose the voice ID Hardwarecopying the present value with the right mouse button.
Now all that remains to do is search for this string on Google, taking care to download the drivers only from reliable sources such as Driver Identifier (using one of the Download buttons in the lower driver list, choosing if possible the most recent one compatible with the operating system in use).
Conclusions
By following these directions we should be able to install any HP printer, from the newest to the oldest. The advice is to try the automatic methods with the Wi-Fi connection and, if we encounter problems, use the USB connection and manual installation methods.
We remind you that we can also print without any driver using the Wifi-Direct functionby pressing the appropriate button on the compatible printer.
To learn more we can read our guides on what to do about an unknown device and finding the right drivers come on How to update Windows PC drivers automatically.