# How to Install HP Printer on Mac

Easily install your HP printer on Mac, call **1-844-957-6312** for instant help. Our experts guide you through setup, driver installation, and troubleshooting. Get your HP printer connected to your MacBook with ease. The rest of the guide shows step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting tips, and best practices to complete the setup whether you’re connecting by USB, Wi-Fi, or using Apple’s AirPrint.

## 1. Prepare before you start

* Unbox the printer and remove all protective tape and packaging.
* Power on the printer and complete any initial setup prompts on its control panel (language, region, paper size).
* Make sure the Mac is updated to the latest version of macOS (Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update).
* If you’ll use Wi-Fi, have your network name (SSID) and password handy. If you plan to connect by USB, have a suitable cable and any adapters ready.

## 2. Choose your connection method

There are three common ways to connect an HP printer to a Mac:

1. **AirPrint (recommended when supported)** — driverless, works over your Wi-Fi network for most modern HP models.
2. **HP Smart / Full Feature Software** — installs HP utilities and drivers for full functionality (scan, fax, advanced features).
3. **USB** — direct connection for quick setup or when network setup isn’t available.

AirPrint is the simplest and requires no drivers; use HP Smart if you need scanning tools, advanced settings, or the latest firmware.

## 3. Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network

**Using the printer control panel (touchscreen models):**

1. On the printer, open **Setup** or **Network** settings.
2. Choose **Wireless Setup Wizard** and select your Wi-Fi network.
3. Enter the Wi-Fi password and wait for the printer to confirm connection.
4. Print a network configuration page if available to note the IP address.

**Using WPS (if router supports it):**

1. Press the WPS button on your router.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS or Wireless button on the printer.
3. The printer should join the network automatically.

**Using HP Smart (alternate method):**

* Install HP Smart from the Mac App Store, open it, and follow **Set up a new printer** — the app helps push network credentials to printers without screens.

## 4. Add the printer on macOS

1. Open **System Settings** (or **System Preferences**) → **Printers & Scanners**.
2. Click the **+** button to add a printer. macOS will search the local network for compatible printers.
3. If your printer appears, select it. If it supports AirPrint, macOS will often pick “AirPrint” as the driver — that’s fine for basic print/scan.
4. If prompted, choose the HP driver or **AirPrint**. For full features, select the HP-provided driver if available.
5. Click **Add**. The printer will be added to your list and should appear as the default for subsequent print dialogs.

## 5. Install HP Smart or Full Feature Software (optional, but recommended)

* Download HP Smart from the Mac App Store or the Full Feature Software package from HP’s support site for your model.
* Running HP’s installer may provide scanning tools, firmware update utilities, and better ink/toner reporting.
* After installation, launch HP Smart, add your printer, and follow on-screen prompts for firmware updates and alignment.

## 6. USB connection method

1. Connect the printer to the Mac using a USB cable (use a compatible adapter if your Mac lacks a standard USB-A port).
2. macOS should detect the printer automatically; return to **Printers & Scanners** and add the device if prompted.
3. If the printer doesn’t appear, try a different cable or port and ensure the printer is powered on.

## 7. Test printing and scanning

* Open any document or a photo and choose **File → Print**. Select your newly installed printer and print a test page.
* For scanning: use **Image Capture**, **Preview → Import from Scanner**, or HP Smart’s scan function for more options.
* If print quality or scanning fails, run the printer’s maintenance tools (alignment, printhead cleaning) from the control panel or HP Smart.

## 8. Troubleshooting common macOS setup issues

* **Printer not found**: Ensure the Mac and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network and that guest network isolation is off. Restart the router, printer, and Mac.
* **AirPrint missing features**: Install HP’s Full Feature Software to access scanning, faxing, and advanced maintenance tools.
* **Driver unavailable**: Remove the printer from **Printers & Scanners**, download the correct driver from HP’s site, then re-add the printer.
* **Print jobs stuck**: Open the print queue and cancel jobs. Restart the Mac’s printing system if needed (right-click printer list → Reset printing system).
* **Scanning not detected**: Ensure HP Smart or HP Easy Scan is installed; try connecting via USB to verify scanner hardware.

## 9. Keep firmware and drivers up to date

* Update printer firmware via HP Smart or the Embedded Web Server (type the printer’s IP into a browser). Firmware updates can fix network and feature bugs.
* Periodically check HP support for updated drivers, or let macOS update drivers via Software Update when available.

## 10. Best practices and security

* Reserve a static IP or DHCP reservation for network printers to avoid re-adding them when IPs change.
* Set an admin password on the printer’s web interface to prevent unauthorized changes.
* For shared or office environments, control access with user authentication or restrict printing to specific users/networks.
* Use HP Smart for easy mobile printing, scanning to cloud services, and supply alerts.

## 11. When to contact support

If you still can’t install the printer after trying the above steps, consider contacting HP support or using Apple’s support channels. Provide your Mac model, macOS version, and printer model for faster assistance.