How to reinstall HP printer software

Reinstalling HP printer software is a common fix for flaky prints, driver errors, “driver unavailable” messages, connectivity problems, or after migrating to a new computer. Done right, it refreshes drivers and utilities, clears old bad settings, and gets scanning, faxing, mobile printing, and advanced features back to reliable operation. This guide walks you through everything you might need: why you’d reinstall, preparation, safe uninstall steps for Windows/macOS/Linux/ChromeOS, reinstalling via HP Easy Start / HP Smart / direct drivers, advanced clean-up (driver store, spooler), network & USB considerations, firmware, testing, and troubleshooting. Follow the sections that match your OS and comfort level.

Quick overview — when and why to reinstall

Reinstalling HP printer software is a good idea when any of these happen:

• Your OS shows “driver unavailable”, “printer not responding”, or similar errors.

• The printer prints but scanning or fax features don’t work.

• You upgraded your OS (e.g., a major Windows or macOS update) and the printer stopped working.

• You swapped networks or moved the printer to another computer.

• You see repeated print jobs stuck in the queue or print spooler crashes.

• You installed third-party drivers or utilities that created conflicts.

• You’re troubleshooting intermittent connectivity or performance problems.

A clean reinstall usually consists of: (1) uninstalling existing HP drivers & software, (2) cleaning remaining driver files and spooler state, (3) installing the correct, up-to-date HP package or using a driverless protocol (IPP/AirPrint), and (4) testing.

Before you begin — preparation checklist

1. Know your printer model number (examples: HP DeskJet 3755, OfficeJet Pro 9025, LaserJet Pro M404dn). You’ll need it to download correct software.

2. Note how the printer connects: USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet. This affects which steps you use.

3. Make backups if needed: any custom scan destinations, stored faxes, or network folder configurations in the printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS). Capture screenshots or copy addresses/credentials.

4. Have admin rights on the computer — driver installs and spooler changes need admin permissions.

5. Download the installer: go to HP’s official support site and download the recommended full feature driver or HP Easy Start for your OS (you can find these later in reinstall steps). Don’t install yet.

6. Disconnect the printer or power it off for uninstall (some installers prefer device disconnected to avoid partial installs).

7. Note current IP (network printers): print a network configuration page or note the IP in the control panel in case you later want to add the printer by IP.

Once you’ve prepared, start the uninstall and cleanup.

Windows — full clean uninstall + reinstall

These instructions apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10. If you’re on Windows 7/8, the steps are similar but UI names differ.

A — Uninstall HP software (normal method)

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Apps & features).

2. Locate any HP entries: HP Smart, HP Printer Assistant, HP Print and Scan Doctor, HP universal driver, etc. Click each one and select Uninstall. Follow prompts.

3. Control Panel → Devices and Printers: Right-click your HP printer(s) → Remove device. Remove any ghost printers listed.

4. Control Panel → Programs and Features: remove any leftover HP components that the Settings app missed.

B — Stop and clear the Print Spooler

This removes queued jobs and prevents locked driver files.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter.

2. Find Print Spooler, right-click → Stop.

3. Open File Explorer, navigate to %SystemRoot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files in the folder (these are queued jobs).

4. Optional but recommended: delete temporary spooler files at %SystemRoot%\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86 or ...\x64\3 only if you understand the structure — better to remove drivers via Print Server Properties below.

5. Return to Services and Start the Print Spooler.

C — Remove driver packages (clean driver store)

1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.

2. On the top bar, click Print server properties (if you don’t see it press Alt to reveal the menu).

3. Go to the Drivers tab. Select the HP driver(s) for your model and click Remove (choose Remove driver and driver package if offered). This removes INF files so Windows won’t auto-reinstall the same corrupted driver.

4. If a driver refuses to remove, stop the Print Spooler service (as above) then try removal again.

Advanced cleanup (power users): Run an elevated Command Prompt and use pnputil to list and delete OEM drivers:

pnputil /enum-drivers
pnputil /delete-driver oemXX.inf /uninstall /force

Replace oemXX.inf with the actual file names referencing HP components. Use carefully.

D — Optional: use HP Print and Scan Doctor to remove left-overs

HP supplies a tool called HP Print and Scan Doctor (download from HP site) that can repair and remove installs. Run the tool and use its uninstall/repair options.

E — Reboot the PC

Always reboot after driver removal to ensure the driver store is refreshed.

F — Reinstall HP software

You now have three main options depending on your needs and printer capabilities:

Option 1 — HP Easy Start / Full Feature Software (recommended for most users)

1. Run the installer you downloaded from HP for your exact model and OS. If you didn’t download one earlier, go to https://support.hp.com and search your model; download HP Easy Start or Full Feature Software and Drivers.

2. Follow on-screen instructions. The installer typically asks you to connect the printer (USB) or confirm a network connection (Wi-Fi/Ethernet). For network printers it will discover the printer automatically.

3. Finish installation and allow any firmware updates it offers.

Option 2 — HP Universal Print Driver (UPD) (useful in enterprise or multi-model environments)

• Download HP UPD (PCL6 or PCL5/PS as needed) and install. UPD is lighter and works across models, but may not expose all scanner features.

Option 3 — Driverless printing (IPP/AirPrint)

• Modern HP printers support IPP Everywhere or AirPrint. For basic print functionality (no vendor utilities), add the printer by IP: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device → if not auto-found, choose Add manually → Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname, enter the printer IP and choose IPP. Windows will often offer a class driver.

G — Final checks

1. Print a test page.

2. Open HP Smart (if installed) to test scanning.

3. Check Device Manager and Print server properties → Drivers to ensure the new driver is present.

macOS — uninstall and reinstall HP printer software

macOS favors driverless printing (AirPrint), but HP Easy Start (or HP Easy Scan/HP Smart) may be needed for full features.

A — Remove existing HP printers and software

1. System Settings → Printers & Scanners (or System Preferences → Printers & Scanners). Select the HP printer and click – to remove it.

2. Delete HP applications: in Finder go to Applications and remove HP Easy Start, HP Smart, HP Utility, etc.

3. Remove HP printer files from /Library/Printers/hp and /Library/PreferencePanes/ if present (requires admin privileges). Use Finder or Terminal:

sudo rm -rf /Library/Printers/hp
sudo rm -rf /Library/PreferencePanes/HP*

Be careful when using sudo rm -rf.

4. Restart your Mac.

B — Reinstall

Option 1 — Use AirPrint (driverless)

• Re-add the printer: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → + → Default, select the HP AirPrint entry. No vendor drivers required.

Option 2 — HP Easy Start / HP Smart

• Download HP Easy Start from HP’s site. Run it; it detects your macOS version and installs the necessary driver components and HP Smart if needed. HP Easy Start can install full feature software and scanner utilities.

Option 3 — HP drivers from Apple

• Some HP drivers are distributed via Apple Software Update — connect the printer and macOS may automatically offer a driver. Accept and allow system prompts.

C — Test scanning and printing

• Use Preview or Image Capture to test scanning. Use Print from any app to ensure printing works. If using HP Smart for OCR, test those features too.

Linux (Ubuntu/Fedora) — reinstall HPLIP and CUPS components

Linux uses HPLIP (HP Linux Imaging and Printing) and CUPS.

A — Remove HP packages

On Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt remove --purge hplip hplip-gui
sudo apt autoremove

On Fedora:

sudo dnf remove hplip

Also remove any printer entries in CUPS (via http://localhost:631).

B — Reinstall HPLIP

• Install HPLIP and its front-end:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install hplip hplip-gui

• Run setup:

hp-setup

Follow on-screen instructions to add the printer (USB or network).

C — Test

Use simple-scan or xsane to test scanning; lpstat -p to list printers and lpoptions -d <printername> to set default.

Chromebook / ChromeOS — remove & re-add

ChromeOS uses driverless printing.

1. Settings → Advanced → Printing → Printers. Click the three dots beside the printer and Remove.

2. Click Add Printer. If it’s not auto-detected, choose Add manually, enter the printer name and IP, and select IPP or IPP Everywhere.

3. Test printing from Chrome.

If the printer is managed by an organization, your admin may need to push it via Google Admin console.

Android / iOS — reinstall HP Smart or print plugins

If you use HP Smart or HP Print Service Plugin:

• Android: uninstall HP Smart / HP Print Service Plugin from Settings → Apps. Reinstall from Google Play. Grant Location and Nearby Devices permissions for discovery.

• iOS: delete HP Smart and reinstall from the App Store.

On Android, ensure the system print service (Mopria or Default Print Service) is enabled in Settings → Connected devices → Printing.

Advanced cleanup & troubleshooting (for stubborn cases)

If normal uninstall and reinstall didn’t help, do a deeper cleanup.

1 — Clear driver store (Windows)

Use pnputil as described earlier to remove all HP printer packages. Use Device Manager to show hidden devices and uninstall ghosted printers.

2 — Reset printing system (macOS)

If odd behavior persists, Reset the printing system: Right-click in the Printers list and pick Reset printing system… This removes all printers and drivers. Reboot and re-add.

3 — Reinstall printer with USB disconnected (Windows trick)

Some Windows installs do better if the USB device is not connected until the installer prompts. Disconnect USB, run HP Easy Start, and when the installer reaches the step to connect the printer, plug it in.

4 — Use HP’s Clean Installation tool (if available)

HP occasionally provides cleanup utilities within HP Easy Start or HP Print and Scan Doctor that attempt to remove stubborn remnants—use those.

5 — Repair corrupted system components

On Windows run:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Then reinstall drivers.

6 — If the problem is scanning only

Install HP Smart (desktop) separately from the printer driver. Sometimes scanner backends (WIA, TWAIN) are damaged; reinstalling HP imaging components or using HP Scan and Capture helps.

Network vs USB considerations

• Network printers (Wi-Fi/Ethernet): prefer driverless IPP or network installations. When reinstalling, ensure the printer has a static or reserved IP to avoid reconfiguration on clients. Use EWS to back up settings if needed.

• USB printers: ensure you use a quality cable and direct PC ports. During reinstall, uninstall first, reboot, then connect to a rear USB port when installer asks.

Firmware — update after reinstall

After reinstalling drivers, check for printer firmware updates via HP Easy Start or the Embedded Web Server (enter printer’s IP in a browser). Firmware updates can resolve device-side bugs but should be applied carefully (do it over a stable connection; don’t interrupt power).

Test plan — what to check after reinstall

1. Print a standard test page.

2. Print a large multi-page PDF to test spooling.

3. Scan a single page and a multi-page job (if ADF available).

4. Test duplex printing, color/pantone, and borderless (if supported).

5. On network printers, test from another device via IP to ensure discovery works.

6. Check supplies status in HP Smart / EWS.

7. Verify automatic updates aren’t reintroducing old drivers (Windows Update sometimes installs driver versions automatically — block or allow as appropriate).

Troubleshooting checklist — if reinstall didn’t work

• Did you remove old drivers from Print Server Properties → Drivers? If not, do it.

• Did you stop the spooler and clear %SystemRoot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS?

• Is Windows Update reinstalling a bad driver? Use Device Installation Settings to prevent automatic driver installs while you configure.

• For macOS, did you allow blocked system extensions in Privacy & Security?

• On Linux, did you install matching HPLIP versions for your kernel? Use HPLIP’s automatic installer if needed.

• Try installing HP UPD or using IPP/AirPrint as a workaround.

• If scanning fails, make sure WIA (Windows Image Acquisition) service is running and that other imaging apps can see the scanner.

Security & maintenance notes

• Always download HP drivers from the official HP site or trusted repository.

• Keep HP Smart / HP Easy Start updated, but avoid installing drivers mid-document or during busy production hours.

• If using shared printers in offices, consider deploying drivers from a centralized print server and use Group Policy or Print Management to control versions.

• Save the working driver package somewhere safe for quick rollback.

When to contact HP support

Contact HP if:

• A fresh OS install still can’t detect the printer after a clean driver install.

• The HP installer fails with unexplained errors or firmware update fails.

• You see hardware issues like the printer not responding to USB/Network after reinstall or getting frequent errors requiring HP’s diagnostics.

• The device is under warranty and the issue may be hardware rather than software.

Have these ready: model/serial, OS and version/build, steps tried, screenshots of errors, and any logs from HP Print and Scan Doctor.

Quick cheatsheet — summary steps

1. Disconnect printer and make backups of any EWS settings.

2. Uninstall HP apps (HP Smart, full feature software) via OS normal uninstall.

3. Stop Print Spooler and clear queues.

4. Remove printer via Devices & Printers (Windows) or Printers & Scanners (macOS).

5. Remove driver packages (Print Server Properties → Drivers; or pnputil).

6. Reboot.

7. Install HP Easy Start or appropriate driver package.

8. Connect printer per installer instructions.

9. Test printing and scanning.

10. Update firmware if available and required.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need to uninstall old HP software before reinstalling?
Yes. A clean uninstall prevents conflicts between old and new driver files. Stop the Print Spooler, clear queues, remove driver packages, then reinstall.

2. What’s the difference between HP Easy Start and HP Smart?
HP Easy Start helps you install the printer driver & basic software on Windows/macOS. HP Smart is an app for scanning, printing, cloud services, and supplies monitoring. You may use both: Easy Start for driver install, HP Smart for scanning.

3. Can I use AirPrint or IPP instead of HP drivers?
Yes—if your printer supports AirPrint (macOS/iOS) or IPP Everywhere (Windows, Linux). Driverless printing provides basic printing and avoids many driver conflicts, but some advanced features (special scanning options, fax) may need HP software.

4. Windows keeps re-installing a bad driver from Windows Update — how to stop that?
After removing drivers, open Device Installation Settings (search in Settings) and choose not to automatically download manufacturer apps & drivers. Alternatively, use Group Policy or block a specific driver via Microsoft’s show/hide updates tool.

5. My scanner still doesn’t work after reinstall — what should I do?
Reinstall HP imaging components or HP Smart separately. Ensure services like Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) are running. On macOS, use Image Capture or reinstall HP Easy Start. On Linux install HPLIP and test with scanimage.

6. Is HP UPD recommended?
HP Universal Print Driver is useful in mixed model environments and for enterprise deployments. It provides consistent behavior but may not expose model-specific features. Use full feature drivers for single-model home setups when you need scanning and features.

7. Should I disconnect the printer during install?
Some installers ask you to connect when prompted. For USB printers, many recommend connecting only when instructed. For network printers, ensure the printer is powered and on the same network.

8. How do I remove stubborn drivers that Windows won’t delete?
Use pnputil in an elevated Command Prompt to enumerate and delete OEM driver packages, or remove via Print Server Properties after stopping the spooler.

9. After reinstall, printing is slow — why?
Possible causes: wrong driver (PostScript vs PCL), complex print job rasterization, or driver settings like “Print as Image.” Try a different driver (PCL6 vs PS) or reduce DPI in print settings.

10. I reinstalled but my printer still shows offline — what next?
Check connection type (USB cable, switch port, Wi-Fi SSID). For network printers ensure IP is correct and the printer responds to ping. Try removing and re-adding as a TCP/IP/IPP printer using the printer’s IP.