How to Update HP Photosmart Printer Driver?

By Russow Senz on April 23, 2025

Beginner

The HP Photosmart series of printers are known for their high-quality printing capabilities, making them ideal for both home and office use. Whether you need to print photos, documents, or graphics, these printers are designed to deliver excellent results. However, to ensure that your HP Photosmart printer continues to perform at its best, it’s essential to keep the printer driver up-to-date.

The printer driver acts as a bridge between your computer and the printer, translating the print commands from your computer into a language that the printer can understand. An outdated driver can lead to a host of problems, such as poor print quality, slow printing speeds, connectivity issues, and even the inability to print at all. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to update your HP Photosmart printer driver on both Windows and macOS operating systems. Additionally, we will explore why it’s important to update the printer driver regularly and offer some troubleshooting tips if you encounter any issues during the process.

Why Is It Important to Update Your HP Photosmart Printer Driver?

Regularly updating the driver for your HP Photosmart printer offers several advantages that can improve your printing experience and ensure the longevity of your printer. Let’s take a look at some of the primary reasons why you should update your printer driver.

1. Improved Printer Performance

Printer drivers are designed to improve the interaction between your computer and the printer. Over time, as new features are developed or bug fixes are issued, the printer driver is updated to optimize the printer’s performance. Updating the driver can lead to faster print speeds, enhanced color accuracy, and smoother overall performance.

2. Bug Fixes and Error Resolution

Like any software, printer drivers can develop bugs that may cause the printer to malfunction. These bugs could lead to issues such as incomplete prints, low-quality prints, or error messages. By regularly updating the driver, you ensure that any known bugs or issues are addressed and resolved.

3. Enhanced Compatibility

As new operating systems are released (such as Windows 10, Windows 11, and newer versions of macOS), it is crucial to ensure that your printer driver remains compatible with the latest software updates. Without an updated driver, your printer may not function correctly with the latest operating systems, or you may encounter problems like the printer not being recognized by your computer.

4. Access to New Features

Sometimes, printer manufacturers release new features and functionalities through driver updates. These features may include improvements to print quality, enhanced mobile device compatibility, or integration with new printing technologies. By updating your HP Photosmart printer driver, you ensure that you can take advantage of these new features.

5. Security Enhancements

Outdated drivers may contain security vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by malicious software or hackers. Updating your printer driver ensures that any known security flaws are addressed, providing a safer printing environment.

How to Update Your HP Photosmart Printer Driver

There are several ways to update the driver for your HP Photosmart printer, depending on your operating system. Below are detailed instructions on how to update the printer driver for both Windows and macOS users.

Method 1: Update HP Photosmart Printer Driver Using the HP Website (Manual Update)

One of the most reliable methods for updating your HP Photosmart printer driver is to manually download and install the latest version directly from the HP Support website.

For Windows Users:

Go to the HP Support Website: Open your preferred web browser and go to the HP Support website.
Search for Your Printer Model: In the search bar, type in HP Photosmart followed by your printer model number (for example, HP Photosmart 6520) and press Enter.
Select Your Printer: From the search results, select your specific HP Photosmart printer model. This will bring you to the printer’s support page.
Choose Your Operating System: The website will prompt you to select your operating system. Choose the correct version of Windows (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11) from the dropdown list.
Download the Latest Driver: Once the correct operating system is selected, navigate to the Drivers & Downloads section on the webpage. Find the most recent printer driver for your model and click Download.
Install the Driver: Once the driver file has downloaded, locate the file in your computer’s Downloads folder and double-click it to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Restart Your Computer: After the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the updates.

For macOS Users:

Go to the HP Support Website: Open your web browser and visit the HP Support website.
Search for Your Printer Model: In the search bar, type HP Photosmart followed by your printer model number and press Enter.
Select Your Printer: Click on the link for your specific printer model to be taken to the product support page.
Choose macOS as Your Operating System: On the product support page, select macOS as your operating system version.
Download the Driver: Scroll down to the Drivers & Downloads section and click on the Download button for the latest driver compatible with macOS.
Install the Driver: Open the downloaded driver file and follow the installation prompts to install the driver on your Mac.
Restart Your Mac: After the installation is complete, restart your Mac to finalize the driver update.

Method 2: Using HP Support Assistant (Windows Only)

The HP Support Assistant is a software application that automatically detects and installs updates for your HP printer and other HP devices. It simplifies the process of updating drivers and other software for HP products.

Download and Install HP Support Assistant: If you haven’t already installed the HP Support Assistant, visit the HP Support website and download it. Once the download is complete, install the software on your computer.
Open HP Support Assistant: Launch the application by searching for HP Support Assistant in the Start menu.
Check for Updates: The software will automatically scan your system for any available updates, including printer drivers. If a driver update for your HP Photosmart printer is available, it will be listed.
Install the Update: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver update.
Restart Your Computer: Once the update is complete, restart your computer to apply the new driver.

Method 3: Updating via Device Manager (Windows Only)

You can also update the printer driver using Device Manager in Windows.

Open Device Manager: Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.
Locate Your Printer: In the Device Manager window, expand the Printers section. Right-click your HP Photosmart printer and select Update Driver.
Search Automatically for Updates: Click Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for available updates and install them if any are found.
Restart Your Computer: After the update is complete, restart your computer.

Method 4: Using Apple Software Update (macOS Only)

If you are using a Mac, Apple’s Software Update tool may automatically detect and install updates for your HP Photosmart printer driver.

Check for Software Updates: Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
Go to Software Update: In the System Preferences window, click Software Update.
Install Available Updates: If a printer driver update is available, it will be listed in the available updates. Click Update Now to install the driver update.
Restart Your Mac: After the update is installed, restart your Mac to complete the process.

Method 5: Using HP Smart (Windows and macOS)

HP Smart is a free app available for both Windows and macOS. It helps you manage your HP printer, check ink levels, and ensure your printer drivers are up-to-date.

Download HP Smart: If you don’t have the HP Smart app installed, download it from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or the Mac App Store (macOS).
Add Your Printer: Open the HP Smart app and add your HP Photosmart printer.
Check for Driver Updates: In the app, navigate to the Settings or Help section, where you can check for available driver updates.
Install the Update: If an update is available, the app will prompt you to install it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Restart Your Computer: After the installation, restart your computer to apply the updates.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Updating Printer Drivers

While updating the printer driver is usually a straightforward process, you might encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and solutions:

1. Printer Not Recognized After Driver Update

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

2. Driver Installation Fails

Solution: Try running the installation as an administrator. Right-click the driver file and select Run as Administrator. Alternatively, use the HP Support Assistant or Device Manager to attempt the update.

3. Poor Print Quality After Updating

Solution: If you notice issues with print quality after the update, perform maintenance on your printer, such as cleaning the printhead or aligning the cartridges.

4. Printer Not Printing After Update

Solution: Restart both your computer and printer. Also, check the printer queue to ensure no stuck print jobs are blocking the printing process.

Conclusion

Updating the HP Photosmart printer driver is an essential step to ensuring that your printer functions correctly, maintains high-quality print output, and stays compatible with your operating system. Whether you update manually via the HP Support website, use HP Support Assistant, or rely on Apple Software Update, keeping your printer driver up-to-date can resolve many issues and improve the overall user experience.