How to Set Up an HP Printer on Your Computer

The basic steps: unbox, connect, install software

Setting up an HP printer means three things in order: physically connecting it to power and your computer, installing the printer driver software, and telling your operating system to use it as your default printer. Most HP printers come with a setup guide in the box, but the software installation is where people usually get stuck — the driver is what lets your computer actually talk to the printer.

The exact steps depend on whether you have a Windows or Mac computer, and whether your printer connects by USB cable, Wi-Fi, or both. But the sequence is always the same: power on the printer first, then install the software, then add the printer to your computer's list of devices.

Key Takeaways

Unpack the printer, remove all tape and protective material, install ink or toner cartridges, and plug it in before doing anything else on your computer.
Download the driver software from HP's website for your specific printer model and operating system — the CD in the box often contains outdated versions.
Run the driver installer and follow the prompts to choose USB or Wi-Fi connection; the installer will walk you through connecting to your network if you choose Wi-Fi.
After installation, your printer should appear in your computer's printer list automatically, but you may need to set it as the default printer in your system settings.
If the printer does not appear after installation, restart your computer and check that the USB cable is firmly connected or that the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network.

What to do before you touch your computer

Remove the printer from the box and check for protective tape, plastic covers, or foam blocks — HP printers ship with these to prevent damage, and leaving them in place will jam the paper feed or block ink from flowing. Look inside the paper tray area, under the cartridge cover, and along the back. Remove everything that looks like packing material.

Install the ink or toner cartridges. HP printers come with cartridges that are either already in the machine or in a separate box. If they are separate, open the cartridge access panel (usually on the front or top), remove the protective tape from each cartridge, and slide them into the slots until they click. The printer will often beep or show a light when cartridges are correctly seated.

Plug the printer into a power outlet and turn it on. Wait 30 to 60 seconds for it to finish its startup sequence — you will see lights flash and hear it move internally. Do not try to print or connect it to your computer yet.

Getting the driver software from HP

The driver is the software that translates print jobs from your computer into instructions the printer understands. The CD that came in the box often contains an older version, so downloading the current driver from HP's website is faster and more reliable.

Go to hp.com/support and search for your printer model. You can find the model number on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer — it usually looks like "HP OfficeJet 4105" or "HP LaserJet Pro M404n". Once you find your model, look for a "Drivers and Software" or "Downloads" section. Select your operating system (Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, etc.) and download the full driver package, not just the printer software alone.

Save the downloaded file to your computer — usually your Downloads folder. Do not unzip or open it yet; the installer will do that automatically when you run it.

Installing the driver on Windows

Locate the driver file you downloaded and double-click it to start the installer. A window will open asking you to choose between USB connection or network (Wi-Fi) connection. If you are using a USB cable, select USB. If you want to print wirelessly, select Network and the installer will guide you through connecting to your Wi-Fi.

For a Wi-Fi connection, the installer will show you a list of available networks. Select your home or office Wi-Fi network and enter the password. The printer will connect to the network and the installer will verify the connection before moving forward.

Follow the remaining prompts — they are usually straightforward and ask you to confirm the printer model and choose whether to set it as your default printer. Let the installer complete fully; this can take a few minutes. When it finishes, you will see a confirmation message.

Restart your computer. This ensures Windows fully registers the printer in its system settings. After restart, open Settings, go to Devices, then Printers and Scanners, and confirm your HP printer appears in the list.

Installing the driver on Mac

Double-click the driver file you downloaded. On a Mac, this usually opens an installer window or a .pkg file. Follow the on-screen prompts, which will ask you to choose USB or Wi-Fi connection, just as on Windows. If you choose Wi-Fi, enter your network name and password when prompted.

The installer may ask for your Mac password to complete the installation — this is normal and required. Enter it and let the installation finish. You may see a message asking to restart your Mac; if so, save any open work and restart.

After installation, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), go to Printers and Scanners, and look for your HP printer in the list. If it does not appear, click the plus sign to add a printer manually, select your HP printer from the list, and click Add.

Connecting by USB cable instead of Wi-Fi

If you are using a USB cable, plug one end into the printer and the other into an available USB port on your computer. Do this before you start the driver installer, or the installer will not detect the printer. Windows and Mac will both recognize the printer as soon as the cable is connected and the printer is powered on.

USB connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi if your printer is close to your computer — there is no network to disconnect from, and the cable guarantees a direct connection. The trade-off is that you can only print from the computer the cable is plugged into, unless you move the cable to another computer.

What to do if the printer does not appear after installation

Restart your computer first. This solves most problems where the printer installs but does not show up in the printer list. After restart, check your printer list again (Devices > Printers and Scanners on Windows, or Printers and Scanners in System Preferences on Mac).

If you used a USB cable, unplug it and plug it back in firmly. Check that the cable is not loose at either end. If you used Wi-Fi, make sure the printer is still connected to your network — most HP printers have a Wi-Fi button or menu option that shows connection status. Restart the printer by turning it off, waiting 10 seconds, and turning it back on.

If the printer still does not appear, go back to HP's support website, download the driver again, and run the installer a second time. Sometimes the first installation does not complete fully, and running it again fixes the problem.

Setting your HP printer as the default

On Windows, open Settings, go to Devices, then Printers and Scanners. Find your HP printer in the list, click it, and select "Set as default". This tells Windows to send all print jobs to this printer unless you choose a different one.

On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Printers and Scanners, select your HP printer, and look for a dropdown menu that says "Default printer" — set it to your HP printer.

If you have multiple printers, you can change the default at any time. When you print from an application, you can also choose a different printer in the print dialog without changing the system default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the CD that came with the printer?

No. The CD usually contains an older driver version. Downloading the current driver from HP's website is faster and more reliable. Use the CD only if you cannot access the internet on the computer where you are installing the printer.

Can I use both USB and Wi-Fi at the same time?

Yes, but there is no advantage to doing so. Choose one or the other. If you want to print from multiple computers, use Wi-Fi. If you want the most stable connection and only print from one computer, use USB.

What if I forgot my Wi-Fi password?

You will need the password to connect the printer to your network. Check your router — many have the password printed on a sticker on the back or bottom. If you cannot find it, you can reset the router to factory settings, but this will disconnect all your devices and require you to set up Wi-Fi again.

Why does my printer say it is offline after I installed it?

On Wi-Fi, this usually means the printer lost connection to your network. Restart the printer and make sure it is in range of your router. On USB, check that the cable is firmly connected at both ends. If the problem persists, restart your computer.

Can I print from my phone or tablet?

Yes, if your printer supports Wi-Fi. HP printers that connect to Wi-Fi can usually print from phones and tablets using the HP Smart app or Apple AirPrint (on iPhones and iPads). Download the HP Smart app from your phone's app store and follow the prompts to add your printer.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.