Installing the Right HP Printer Driver (Not Just Any Driver)

By Ryan Green · Updated August 2026 · Independent guide · PrinterCare USA LLC (not affiliated with any printer manufacturer)

Quick answer Match the driver to the printer family: HP Smart for home inkjets on Windows 11, the full-feature software package for LaserJet Pro / OfficeJet Pro, the Universal Print Driver for older LaserJets with no current driver, and AirPrint on any Mac for anything made in the last decade. Installing the wrong one is why "the driver installed fine but it won't scan" is such a common complaint.

Pick your driver

Printer family	Windows 11 / 10	macOS
DeskJet, ENVY, ENVY Inspire, Tango, OfficeJet (non-Pro), Smart Tank	HP Smart app from the Microsoft Store (driver included). No separate download needed.	AirPrint. Add HP Smart from the App Store only if you want the scan app.
OfficeJet Pro 8000/9000 series	Full-feature software from support.hp.com (includes HP Smart plus the full print/scan driver).	AirPrint for printing; HP Easy Start if you need HP Scan.
LaserJet, LaserJet Pro (M100–M500 series), Color LaserJet Pro	Full-feature software, or the PCL 6 basic driver if you want print only.	AirPrint (most models from 2013 on).
LaserJet Enterprise / MFP, older LaserJets with no Win 11 driver	HP Universal Print Driver — PCL 6 version.	AirPrint, or Generic PCL if the model predates it.

Windows 11 — the install order that avoids duplicates and ghost printers

Remove the old install first. Settings → Apps → Installed apps: uninstall anything starting with "HP" that relates to this printer (keep unrelated HP laptop utilities). Then Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → remove the printer and any "(Copy 1)" duplicates. Restart.
Connect the printer to the network before installing. Use the printer's own Wireless Setup Wizard (or HP Smart on your phone for screenless models). Confirm with a network configuration page.
Install. Home inkjets: open HP Smart, click Add Printer, select it. Business models: run the full-feature installer, choose "Wireless" or "Network", let it discover the printer. Don't plug in a USB cable unless the installer asks.
Verify the driver name. Printers & scanners → the printer → Printer properties → Advanced. It should read "HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 PCL-3" or "…PCL 6", not "Microsoft IPP Class Driver". If it's the class driver, Windows grabbed the printer first — remove it and re-add it via HP Smart.
Set defaults once. Printing preferences → paper size (Letter or A4), duplex, and Quality. These stick only for the driver you set them in, which is another reason to remove duplicates.

macOS Sonoma / Sequoia

System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer, Scanner or Fax. The printer appears via Bonjour within a few seconds if it's on the same network. In the "Use" dropdown pick AirPrint. If you see "Generic PostScript Printer" the Mac didn't identify the model; remove it, restart the printer, try again. For scanning, the built-in Image Capture app works over AirPrint; HP Smart from the App Store adds document-to-PDF and the HP scan interface.

USB installs

USB still works on all HP printers, but on Windows 11 you should launch HP Smart or the installer before plugging the cable in, so it installs HP's driver rather than Windows' generic one. If the printer shows as "Unspecified" in Devices, unplug, uninstall from Device Manager (Universal Serial Bus controllers → USB Printing Support), and start over with the installer first.

Common failure modes

Installer stops at "Looking for printer". Windows Firewall or a VPN is blocking discovery. Pause the VPN and allow HP Smart through the firewall, or install by IP address using the "Add printer manually" option.
Driver installs, scanning is missing. You have the basic driver. Install the full-feature package (business models) or open HP Smart → Scan (home models).
"Driver is unavailable" status in Printers & scanners. A Windows Update replaced HP's driver with a broken class driver. Remove the printer, remove the driver package via Print Server Properties → Drivers, reinstall.
Old printer, no Windows 11 driver. The Windows 10 or even Windows 8 driver from HP's site usually installs; run the installer in compatibility mode if it refuses.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need HP Smart or the full driver?

For home inkjets (DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet 6000–9000, Tango) HP Smart is the only supported install on Windows 11 and it includes the driver. For LaserJet Pro and OfficeJet Pro business models, install the full-feature software from HP's support site to get the PCL 6 driver and scan tools; HP Smart works but gives fewer options.

Windows installed a driver automatically — is that enough?

Windows Update installs a basic "Class Driver" that prints but often can't scan, show ink levels or use duplex settings. Install HP's driver over it; Windows will switch to it.

Which driver for a very old HP printer on Windows 11?

If HP's site lists no Windows 11 driver, try the Windows 10 version, then the HP Universal Print Driver (PCL 6) for LaserJets. Very old inkjets sometimes work with the built-in "HP Deskjet" class driver but lose scanning.

macOS says "software for this printer is currently unavailable".

Apple removed HP's bundled drivers from recent macOS. Use AirPrint (choose the printer, ensure Use: AirPrint), or install HP Easy Start from HP's site for models that need HP's own scan software.