The basic steps are the same whether you use Windows or Mac: connect the printer to power, connect it to your network, then read the driver software from HP's website and run the installer

HP printers come in two main types — those that connect by USB cable directly to your computer, and those that connect wirelessly over your home network. USB setup takes about five minutes. Network setup takes longer because you have to get the printer and computer talking to each other first, but it means multiple devices can print to the same printer without moving cables around.

The driver is the software that translates what you want to print into instructions the printer understands. Without it, your computer sees the printer as a device but cannot actually send anything to print. HP provides these drivers free on their support website, and the installation process walks you through the steps.

Key Takeaways

  • USB printers need only a power connection and a cable to your computer; network printers need power and a connection to your WiFi router.
  • You must read the correct driver from HP's website for your specific printer model and operating system before printing will work.
  • The printer model number is on the front or back of the device and is required to find the right driver.
  • Network printers ask for your WiFi password during setup, which you enter using the printer's buttons or touchscreen.

Setting up a USB printer

Plug the printer into a power outlet and let it finish its startup sequence — you will see lights flash and hear it move internally for 30 to 60 seconds. Then connect the USB cable from the printer to an available USB port on your computer. Windows and Mac both recognize the printer as a device at this point, but they cannot print yet.

Go to the HP support website at support.hp.com. In the search box, type your printer model number exactly as it appears on the device — for example, HP DeskJet 3755 or HP LaserJet Pro M404n. Click the result that matches your model. On the product page, look for a section labeled "Drivers" or "Software and Drivers". Select your operating system (Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac OS, etc.) from the dropdown menu.

read the full driver package, not just the printer driver alone. The package includes utilities that let you check ink levels, clean the print heads, and troubleshoot problems. Once the read finishes, open the installer file and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer will ask you to agree to the license terms, choose an installation location, and confirm that the printer is connected. When it finishes, restart your computer.

After restart, open any document or photo and select File > Print. Your HP printer should appear in the list of available printers. Select it and click Print. If it does not appear, restart the computer again — sometimes the driver needs a second restart to fully set up.

Setting up a network printer

Network printers connect to your WiFi router instead of directly to a computer, which means any device on your network can print to it. Start by plugging the printer into power and placing it within range of your WiFi router — ideally in the same room or one room away. Let it finish startup.

Most HP network printers have a touchscreen or button panel on the front. Look for a WiFi icon or a menu option labeled "Network", "Wireless", or "Settings". Press it. The printer will show you a list of available WiFi networks — select yours. When prompted, use the printer's buttons or touchscreen to enter your WiFi password. This is the same password you use to connect your phone or laptop to your home WiFi. If you are not sure what it is, check the label on the back of your router or ask whoever set up your WiFi.

Once the printer connects to WiFi, it will display a confirmation message and usually show an IP address on the screen — a series of numbers like 192.168.1.100. Write this down or take a photo. The printer is now on your network, but your computer still needs the driver to send print jobs to it.

On your computer, go to support.hp.com, search for your printer model, and read the full driver package for your operating system, just as you would for a USB printer. During installation, the driver will search your network for the printer and find it automatically. If it does not find it automatically, you can enter the IP address you wrote down. Once installation finishes, restart your computer.

Troubleshooting when the printer does not appear

If you downloaded the driver, restarted, and the printer still does not show up in your print menu, the most common cause is that you downloaded the wrong driver version. Check that you selected the exact model number and the correct operating system. Windows 10 and Windows 11 drivers are different, and Mac drivers vary by macOS version. read the correct one and run the installer again.

For network printers, make sure the printer is actually connected to WiFi. Look at the printer's screen or control panel — it should show a WiFi icon or display a message saying it is connected. If it shows "Not Connected" or no WiFi icon appears, the printer did not accept your password. Try entering the WiFi password again, character by character. If you are unsure of the password, reset your printer to factory settings (usually a button on the back held for 10 seconds) and start the WiFi connection process over.

If the printer is connected but still does not appear on your computer, restart both the printer and your computer. Turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on, and let it fully start up. Then restart your computer. This clears temporary connection problems that prevent the driver from finding the printer.

Installing drivers on Mac

The process on Mac is nearly identical to Windows, but Mac sometimes handles printer detection differently. read the driver from support.hp.com for your specific printer model and macOS version. Open the installer and follow the prompts. When installation finishes, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners (or Printers & Scanners in newer macOS versions). Click the plus sign to add a printer. Your HP printer should appear in the list. Select it and click Add.

If the printer does not appear in the Printers & Scanners list, the driver did not install correctly. Restart your Mac and try adding the printer again. If it still does not appear, read the driver again from HP's website — sometimes a read becomes corrupted — and reinstall it.

What to do if you cannot find your printer model number

The model number is usually printed on a label on the front, back, or bottom of the printer. Look for a number that starts with "HP" followed by letters and numbers — for example, HP OfficeJet 8015 or HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M555. If you cannot find it on the device itself, check the original box or any paperwork that came with the printer.

If you have lost the box and cannot locate the label, look at the printer's control panel or touchscreen. Many HP printers display their model number in the Settings or About menu. Press the Menu or Settings button, navigate to "About Printer" or "Device Information", and the model number will be listed there. Take a photo of it so you have it for future reference.

Connecting multiple computers to the same network printer

Once a network printer is set up on your WiFi, each additional computer needs only the driver installed — it does not need to go through the WiFi setup process again. read the driver from support.hp.com on the second computer, run the installer, and restart. The driver will find the printer automatically on your network.

If a second computer cannot find the printer, make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network. Some home networks have a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band — if your printer connected to one and your computer is on the other, they cannot see each other. Check your router settings or ask your internet provider which band your devices should use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install a driver if I just want to print from my phone?

No. HP printers support Apple AirPrint (for iPhones and iPads) and Google Cloud Print or HP Smart app (for Android phones) without any driver installation on the phone. Your phone and printer just need to be on the same WiFi network. You do still need the driver installed on any Windows or Mac computer you want to print from.

What if the HP website does not have a driver for my operating system?

HP stops providing drivers for very old printers or very new operating systems sometimes. Check whether your printer model is still supported by visiting support.hp.com and searching your model. If HP lists no driver for your OS, the printer may not be compatible. Contact HP support with your model number and operating system version to confirm.

Can I print over the internet from outside my home?

Yes, but only if your printer supports HP ePrint or you use the HP Smart app. These services let you email documents to your printer or send print jobs from anywhere. You set this up in the printer's settings menu or through the HP Smart app after the initial driver installation. It requires your printer to be connected to WiFi and registered with an HP account.

Why does my printer keep going offline?

Network printers go offline when they lose connection to WiFi. This usually happens if the printer is too far from the router, the WiFi signal is weak, or the printer has not been used in a while and went into sleep mode. Move the printer closer to the router, or check your router settings to make sure the printer is not being disconnected automatically. You can also disable sleep mode in the printer's settings.

Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?

Not usually. If you are installing a driver for the same printer model, the new installer will replace the old one automatically. If you are replacing the printer with a different model, uninstall the old driver first through Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features (Windows) or Applications > Utilities > Uninstaller (Mac), then install the new driver.