How to Update HP Home Printer Driver?

By Russow Senz on April 23, 2025

Beginner

HP printers are renowned for their reliability, ease of use, and the variety of features they offer, making them a popular choice in homes and small offices. Whether you are using an HP DeskJet, Envy, OfficeJet, LaserJet, or any other model, keeping your printer driver up to date is essential for ensuring optimal performance, functionality, and compatibility with the latest software updates and operating systems.

A printer driver serves as a bridge between your computer and printer, allowing them to communicate effectively. An outdated or corrupted driver can lead to a variety of issues, including poor print quality, failure to print, or system crashes. Therefore, regularly updating your HP home printer driver is essential to maintaining its performance and extending its lifespan. In this guide, we will explore various methods to update your HP printer driver and ensure that your printer works seamlessly with your computer.

Why Should You Update Your HP Home Printer Driver?

Before diving into the various methods for updating your printer driver, it’s important to understand why these updates are so critical. Updating your printer driver can:

Fix Bugs and Glitches
Printer drivers, like any software, are prone to bugs. An outdated driver can lead to various issues such as print jobs being stuck in the queue, incomplete prints, or the printer not responding at all. Regular updates fix these bugs and improve the overall functionality of your printer.
Enhance Performance
HP regularly releases driver updates that enhance the performance of your printer. These updates may improve printing speed, optimize color accuracy, enhance resolution, and even add new print modes, resulting in improved efficiency and print quality.
Provide Security Patches
Older drivers may have security vulnerabilities that expose your printer to potential risks or cyberattacks. Updating your printer driver ensures that any security flaws are patched, safeguarding your printer from potential threats.
Ensure Compatibility with New Software and Operating Systems
As operating systems like Windows or macOS release updates, older printer drivers may become incompatible, causing issues with printing or scanning. Keeping your driver updated ensures that it works smoothly with the latest OS updates.
Enable New Features
HP may release new features or functionalities for your printer that are only accessible by updating the printer driver. These features could include better connectivity options, improved mobile printing capabilities, or access to new print modes and settings.

Now that you know why it’s important to keep your printer driver up to date, let’s look at how you can easily do so.

Methods to Update Your HP Home Printer Driver

There are several methods to update your HP home printer driver, ranging from manual updates through the HP website to automatic updates via HP's software tools. Below, we will explore the most effective methods to ensure your printer is running the latest driver.

Method 1: Manually Update the Printer Driver via HP’s Official Website

One of the most straightforward and reliable ways to update your HP printer driver is by downloading it directly from HP’s official website. This ensures you get the latest and most compatible driver for your specific printer model.

For Windows Users:

Visit the HP Support Website
Open your web browser and navigate to HP’s official support website.
Select Your Printer Model
In the search bar, type the model number of your printer, such as “HP DeskJet 2620” or “HP Envy 6055,” and select the correct model from the search results.
Choose Your Operating System
Once on your printer’s support page, you will be prompted to choose your operating system (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11). Select the appropriate version for your computer.
Download the Latest Driver
Under the Drivers & Downloads section, you will see a list of available drivers. Click on Download next to the latest driver version for your operating system.
Install the Driver
Once the driver file is downloaded, locate it in your Downloads folder. Double-click the file to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Restart Your Computer
After the driver installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the new driver is properly applied.

For macOS Users:

Go to the HP Support Website
Open your web browser and navigate to the HP Support website.
Select Your Printer Model
Search for your printer model and select it from the search results.
Choose macOS as Your Operating System
Select macOS from the drop-down menu, then choose your specific macOS version (e.g., macOS Monterey, Big Sur).
Download the Latest Driver
Under the Drivers & Downloads section, click the Download button next to the latest driver for your operating system.
Install the Driver
After the driver is downloaded, double-click the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Restart Your Mac
Once the installation is complete, restart your Mac to apply the changes.

Method 2: Use HP Support Assistant (Windows Only)

HP offers a free utility called HP Support Assistant, which automatically checks for updates for your HP devices, including printers.

Steps to Update Your Driver Using HP Support Assistant:

Download and Install HP Support Assistant
If you don’t already have it installed, go to the HP website, download the tool, and install it on your computer.
Open HP Support Assistant
After installation, open HP Support Assistant from the Start menu.
Check for Updates
The software will automatically detect all HP devices connected to your computer. If there is an available printer driver update, it will be displayed in the Updates section.
Install the Update
Click the Install button next to the available update for your printer.
Restart Your Computer
After the update is installed, restart your computer to finalize the changes.

Method 3: Update Using Windows Device Manager (Windows Only)

Windows Device Manager allows you to manually update any device drivers, including your printer driver, directly from the operating system.

Steps to Update the Printer Driver Using Device Manager:

Open Device Manager
Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.
Locate Your Printer
Expand the Printers section in Device Manager and locate your HP printer.
Update the Driver
Right-click on your printer’s name and select Update Driver from the context menu.
Search for Updates Automatically
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for the latest driver and install it automatically.
Restart Your Computer
After the update is installed, restart your computer to ensure that the new driver is working properly.

Method 4: Use HP Smart App (Windows and macOS)

HP Smart is an app available for both Windows and macOS that allows you to manage your printer and update drivers easily.

Steps to Update Your Driver Using HP Smart:

Download and Install HP Smart
If you don’t have HP Smart installed, go to the Microsoft Store (for Windows) or Mac App Store (for macOS) and download it.
Launch HP Smart
Open the HP Smart app, and ensure your printer is connected.
Check for Updates
In the app, click on the Printer Settings option and look for any available updates under the Check for Updates tab.
Install the Update
If there’s an available update, simply follow the prompts to install it.
Restart Your Computer
Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the update.

Method 5: Use Apple Software Update (macOS Only)

On macOS, Apple’s Software Update feature can help you keep your printer driver up to date, especially if your printer is connected to the Apple ecosystem.

Steps to Update Printer Driver Using Software Update:

Check for macOS Updates
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
Go to Software Update
In the System Preferences window, select Software Update.
Install Updates
If there is a printer driver update available, it will appear here. Click Update Now to install the latest driver.
Restart Your Mac
After the installation is complete, restart your Mac to apply the updates.

Troubleshooting Printer Driver Update Issues

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may encounter issues when trying to update your HP home printer driver. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

1. Driver Not Found or Installation Fails

Solution: Ensure you’ve selected the correct printer model and operating system. If the issue persists, try downloading and installing the driver manually from HP’s support site.

2. Printer Not Recognized After Update

Solution: Ensure that your printer is powered on and properly connected to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi. If using Wi-Fi, check that both the printer and computer are on the same network.

3. Printer Not Printing After Update

Solution: Restart your printer and computer. Ensure the printer is set as the default device in your computer’s settings.

4. Print Quality Issues

Solution: Run the printer’s maintenance tools, such as printhead alignment and cleaning, which can resolve print quality problems.

Conclusion

Updating your HP home printer driver is a crucial step in maintaining optimal performance, security, and compatibility with the latest operating systems. By following the methods outlined in this guide—whether you update manually through the HP website, use HP Support Assistant, or rely on other tools like Device Manager or HP Smart—you can ensure that your printer stays up to date and continues to deliver high-quality prints. Regular driver updates also help prevent issues such as poor print quality, slow printing, or system incompatibility, ensuring a smoother and more reliable printing experience.