# How to Use HP Printer with Chromebook?

**Set up HP printing on Chromebook — 1-844-957-6312 for fast assistance.** Getting a Chromebook to work with an HP printer is straightforward once you use ChromeOS’s built-in printing (IPP/CUPS) and, if needed, the HP Smart app from Google Play. Follow the steps below to add your printer over Wi-Fi or USB, enable scanning, and fix common discovery problems.

### What you’ll need

* An HP printer that supports network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) or USB printing.
* A Chromebook updated to the latest ChromeOS release.
* Your Wi-Fi network name and password, if connecting wirelessly.
* Optional: the HP Smart app (most modern Chromebooks support Android apps).

### Option A: Add your HP printer over Wi-Fi (recommended)

1. **Connect the printer to your network.** On the printer’s control panel, open **Network/Wireless** settings and run the **Wireless Setup Wizard**. Select your Wi-Fi name, enter the password, and wait for the confirmation icon or message. If your model lacks a screen, use the HP Smart app’s “Set up a new printer” flow to push your network credentials to the device.

2. **Add the printer in ChromeOS.** On your Chromebook, open **Settings > Print and scan > Printers**. If your HP printer appears under **Available printers**, select **Set up**. ChromeOS will configure it automatically using driverless IPP, which provides excellent compatibility and keeps things simple.

3. **If auto-discovery fails, add by IP.** In **Printers**, choose **Add printer** and then **Add manually**. Enter the printer’s IP address (shown on the printer’s network report or on its control-panel status page). Leave the suggested queue path as provided by ChromeOS, or use a generic IPP path if prompted. Finish setup and print a one-page test to confirm.

**Why this works well:** IPP is driverless and widely supported by HP models, so you avoid hunting for model-specific drivers and benefit from reliable, modern printing.

### Option B: Add the HP printer via USB (no network required)

1. Connect the printer to the Chromebook with a USB cable.
2. Open **Settings > Print and scan > Printers**; ChromeOS should detect a USB printer and offer setup automatically.
3. Accept the suggested configuration (often “IPP over USB”) and run a test print.

USB is a great fallback when Wi-Fi is unstable or when you want a quick, private connection that doesn’t depend on the network.

### Scanning from a Chromebook

Chromebooks include a built-in **Scan** app that supports many HP multifunction models:

* Open the **Launcher**, search for **Scan**, and select your printer.
* Choose **Flatbed** or **Document Feeder** (if available), pick resolution and file type, and click **Scan**.
* Save to **My files**, Google Drive, or another location for easy sharing.

If your model offers additional features (like multi-page PDF, advanced cleanup, or maintenance tools), the HP Smart app can unlock those and may provide a smoother scanning experience.

### Troubleshooting: when the printer isn’t found

* **Confirm the same network.** Make sure the Chromebook and printer are on the very same Wi-Fi name. Guests or isolated networks block device discovery.
* **Restart the stack.** Power cycle the printer, your router, and the Chromebook. Temporary network hiccups often clear with a reboot.
* **Reserve an address.** In your router, create a DHCP reservation so the printer always gets the same IP. Stable addressing improves reliability and makes “Add by IP” painless.
* **Disable VPNs temporarily.** A VPN on the Chromebook can prevent local discovery; turn it off while setting up and testing.
* **Try Ethernet.** If your printer has an Ethernet port, a wired connection to the router provides rock-solid discovery and print performance.
* **Use HP Smart for guided setup.** The app can locate printers in setup mode, update firmware, and nudge complex networks into cooperating.

If the printer appears but jobs stall, check the printer’s display for paper, supply, or queue errors; clearing those alerts often restores normal printing immediately.

### Print quality and performance tips

* In the ChromeOS print dialog, click **More settings** to choose color vs. black-and-white, page size, margins, and resolution. For everyday documents, a standard quality setting saves ink and speeds output.
* If pages show streaks or banding, run **Maintenance** (alignment, printhead cleaning) from the printer’s panel or the HP Smart app.
* For large jobs or shared environments, a wired connection can reduce timeouts and maintain steadier throughput.

### Using Wi-Fi Direct when no router is available

Many HP printers support **Wi-Fi Direct**, letting your Chromebook connect straight to the printer without an access point:

* Enable Wi-Fi Direct in the printer’s wireless menu; print the information sheet for the temporary network name and passcode.
* On the Chromebook, connect to that temporary network, then add the printer in **Settings > Printers** (auto-discovery usually works; manual IP also works).
* After printing, reconnect the Chromebook to your regular Wi-Fi.

This is perfect for travel, pop-up workspaces, or situations where you can’t access the main network.

### Security best practices

* Keep the printer on your trusted home or office LAN rather than a guest network.
* Set an administrator password in the printer’s Embedded Web Server (accessed by typing the printer’s IP into a browser).
* Disable unused services, such as Wi-Fi Direct, when you’re not actively using them.
* Update printer firmware and ChromeOS regularly to benefit from security patches and compatibility fixes.

### Quick recap

1. Connect the HP printer to Wi-Fi (or use USB).
2. Add it in **Settings > Print and scan > Printers**; accept the driverless setup.
3. If discovery fails, add by IP and reserve that address in your router.
4. Use the **Scan** app or HP Smart for scanning and maintenance.
5. Apply the troubleshooting and security tips above for a stable, long-term setup.

Follow these steps and your HP printer should work smoothly with your Chromebook for everyday documents, homework, forms, and photos. If you prefer guided assistance while you set things up, expert help is just a call away.