# How to Reinstall HP Printer Software?

Start with a clean system backup: **1-844-957-6312** then follow these steps to fully reinstall HP printer software on Windows or macOS. Reinstalling refreshes drivers, clears corrupted files, and restores full functionality — useful when your [printer offline,](https://www.helpocenter.com/printer/why-is-my-hp-printer-showing-offline/) prints blank pages, or shows driver errors. This guide covers preparation, safe uninstall, driver/utility download, clean reinstallation, and post-install checks so you finish with a stable printing setup.

## Preparation and notes
Before you begin, save any important scan-to-folder settings, fax destinations, or custom preferences—some resets remove saved network and cloud settings. Make sure you know the printer model number (e.g., OfficeJet Pro 9025, LaserJet M404), your computer’s OS version, and the Wi-Fi password if the printer is wireless. Close all apps that might use the printer (Word, Adobe, email clients) and temporarily disable VPNs or network proxies while you reinstall.

### Step 1 — Unplug and restart the hardware
Power off the printer, unplug it from the wall for 30–60 seconds, then plug it back in and power on. This simple hardware reset can clear transient errors before you touch software. If the printer is networked, print a network configuration page to note its IP address — that can help re-adding the device later.

### Step 2 — Remove the printer from the OS (Windows)

1. Open **Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners**.
2. Select your HP printer and click **Remove device**. Confirm removal.
3. Open **Control Panel > Devices and Printers** and remove any ghost entries.
4. Press **Win + R**, type `control printers`, press Enter, then open **Print server properties** (located on the toolbar). Under the **Drivers** tab, remove old HP drivers — choose **Remove driver and driver package** when available.
5. Optionally, open an elevated Command Prompt and run the spooler reset:

net stop spooler
del /Q /F "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*"
net start spooler

This clears stuck jobs that might block clean installs.

### Step 3 — Remove the printer from the Mac (macOS)

1. Open **System Settings (or System Preferences) > Printers & Scanners**.
2. Select the HP printer and click the minus (–) to remove it.
3. To fully clear drivers, open **/Library/Printers/** and remove any HP folders if you’re comfortable doing so (use caution—back up first). Many users instead run HP’s uninstaller or reinstallers which handle cleanup automatically.

### Step 4 — Use HP’s uninstall tools (recommended)
HP provides uninstallers and cleanup utilities for many models. Visit HP Support, search your model, and download any HP Uninstall tool or HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows). Run the tool — it helps remove hidden driver packages, HP services, and leftover registry entries that manual removal misses.

### Step 5 — Download the correct, up-to-date software
Always download drivers and full feature software directly from HP’s official support site, matching your exact model and OS. Choose the **Full Feature Software and Drivers** package rather than generic drivers when you want scanning, faxing, and utility tools. For mixed-network environments, consider the **HP Universal Print Driver (UPD)** if you manage many models.

### Step 6 — Install the software (best practices)

* On Windows: Right-click the installer and choose **Run as administrator**. Follow prompts; during install, connect the printer via USB when asked (many installers detect and configure network settings automatically when connected by USB). If installing over the network, ensure your PC and printer are on the same subnet.
* On macOS: Open the downloaded DMG and run the installer, granting any permission prompts. After installation, add the printer in **Printers & Scanners** or let the HP software add it for you.
* For Chromebooks: use IPP/driverless printing or HP Smart app — no traditional driver to reinstall.

### Step 7 — Reconnect and configure network settings
If your printer is wireless, use the printer control panel or HP Smart to rejoin your Wi-Fi network. If you reserved a DHCP address earlier, set the same static or reserved IP to avoid discovery issues. For offices, add via the printer’s IP address in client devices if discovery fails.

### Step 8 — Verify and test
#### After installation:

* Print a configuration or test page.
* Run a nozzle check (inkjet) or print quality diagnostic (laser) and align printheads if prompted.
* Scan a document to confirm scanning features.
* Check HP utilities (HP Smart, embedded web server) for status and firmware updates — update firmware if available.

#### Troubleshooting common hiccups

* **Installer won’t detect the printer**: Temporarily connect by USB for initial detection, or add the printer by IP.
* [**Spooler errors on Printer**](https://www.helpocenter.com/printer/how-to-fix-hp-print-spooler-error/): Stop/start the spooler and clear `%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS`.
* **Driver keeps reverting**: Disable automatic driver updates in Windows while you install HP’s full driver package.
* **Mac driver missing features**: Use HP Easy Start or the Full Feature package from HP — Apple’s driver may be minimal.
* **Scanner not found**: Ensure HP Scan or HP Smart is installed and that the scanner driver component was included in the installation. Some installers separate printer and scanner components.

Advanced cleanup (when installs repeatedly fail)
Use `pnputil` on Windows to list and remove stubborn driver packages, or use the Device Manager to uninstall hidden devices (enable **Show hidden devices**). For severe corruption, create a clean user account and attempt installation there to rule out profile-specific issues.

## Best practices after reinstall

* Keep HP Smart or HP utilities installed for firmware alerts and easy maintenance.
* Reserve the printer’s IP in your router to ease re-discovery.
* Schedule occasional driver checks — update only when needed, and verify compatibility after OS upgrades.
* Back up custom printer settings if your model supports export/import.

## When to seek professional help
If reinstalling doesn’t clear communication errors, hardware faults (noisy carriage, printhead errors), or persistent driver-store corruption, consider contacting a technician or HP support for remote diagnostics or service. Reinstalling software solves most issues, but rare hardware or OS-level problems may require expert intervention.

Following these steps will give you a clean, current HP printer installation with restored printing and scanning capability. If you run into unusual errors during any step, capture error messages and logs — they’ll speed troubleshooting and help a technician resolve the problem quickly.