You unboxed the printer, plugged it in, and downloaded HP Smart. Now the app is asking you to add a printer, and nothing on screen looks familiar. HP Smart setup is not complicated, but HP ships dozens of printer models with slightly different control panels — so the exact button labels vary even when the underlying steps are the same.

This guide walks through HP Smart setup on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac: downloading the app, running the Add Printer wizard, connecting your printer to Wi-Fi, and confirming that both HP Smart and AirPrint see your printer afterward. If you have not installed the app yet, start with our HP Smart download guide. If setup fails partway through, our HP Smart not working guide covers the fixes.

Before You Open HP Smart

Gather four things before starting setup. Skipping any of them causes the most common setup failures.

Your Wi-Fi network name and password. HP Smart will prompt you to select your home network and enter the password so the printer can join it. Have the password ready — printers rarely show what you type.

A 2.4 GHz network available. Most consumer HP printers connect only to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not 5 GHz. If your router uses one name for both bands, you are fine. If it broadcasts separate SSIDs, connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz network.

The printer plugged in and powered on. Wait until it finishes its startup sequence — calibrating, initializing — before opening HP Smart.

Your phone on the same Wi-Fi network you want the printer to join. Not cellular data, not a guest network.

If your goal is specifically iPhone printing, our connect printer to iPhone guide explains how AirPrint fits into this process. HP Smart gets the printer on Wi-Fi; AirPrint handles everyday printing without the app.

Download and Prepare HP Smart

If HP Smart is not installed, download it from the App Store (iPhone), Google Play (Android), or support.hp.com (Windows/Mac). Confirm the developer is HP Inc. — not a third-party copycat.

Open HP Smart and grant Local Network access when iOS prompts you. Without this permission, the app cannot discover printers and setup will fail at the first step. Android users should allow location and nearby devices permissions for similar reasons.

HP will offer to create an HP account. You can skip this for now. Account creation matters later if you subscribe to Instant Ink or want cloud scan history, but local setup works without it.

Add Your Printer in HP Smart: iPhone and Android

The mobile setup flow is nearly identical on iPhone and Android.

Step 1: Open HP Smart. On the home screen, tap Add Printer, Set Up a New Printer, or the + icon — wording varies by app version.

Step 2: HP Smart searches your local network for HP printers. If your printer is broadcasting and on the same network, it appears in the list within thirty seconds to two minutes. Tap your printer model when it shows up.

Step 3: If prompted, confirm a pairing code. Some models display a four- or eight-digit code on the printer’s screen. Enter it in HP Smart to verify you are connecting to the right device.

Step 4: Select your Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password. HP Smart transmits the credentials to the printer. This step can take one to three minutes — do not close the app.

Step 5: When setup completes, HP Smart shows your printer on the home screen with status Online. Tap Print or Scan to run a test.

If your printer never appears during Step 2, jump to the troubleshooting section below — do not keep tapping Add Printer repeatedly.

Add Your Printer in HP Smart: Windows and Mac

Desktop setup follows the same logic with a larger screen.

Download HP Smart from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or Mac App Store / support.hp.com (Mac). Open the app and sign in or skip account creation.

Click Add Printer and let HP Smart search. USB-connected printers may appear immediately. Wireless printers need to be in setup mode or already on the network.

Windows users who struggle with HP Smart can also run HP’s traditional driver installer from support.hp.com — enter your printer model and download the recommended package. Drivers and HP Smart coexist; you do not need to choose one exclusively.

For desktop-specific details, see our HP Smart for Windows and Mac guide.

Wi-Fi Setup From the Printer Control Panel

When HP Smart cannot discover the printer — common with factory-fresh printers that have never joined a network — configure Wi-Fi from the printer itself first.

Printers with a touchscreen: Open the wireless or network menu on the printer. Select Wireless Setup Wizard or Wi-Fi Setup. Choose your network name, enter the password, and wait for a connected confirmation. The wireless light typically turns solid blue on HP DeskJet and ENVY models.

Printers with only buttons and a small display: Use Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) if your router has a WPS button. Press WPS on the router, then press and hold the wireless button on the printer until the light blinks. Connection completes in about two minutes.

Printers with no display: HP Smart may instruct you to connect your phone temporarily to the printer’s own Wi-Fi network (names like HP-Setup-PrinterName). Join that network in your phone’s Wi-Fi settings, return to HP Smart, and follow the prompts to transfer your home Wi-Fi credentials. Rejoin your home network when finished.

After the printer connects via control panel, open HP Smart and tap Add Printer. The printer should appear because it is already on your network.

Confirm AirPrint Works After Setup

HP Smart setup success does not automatically mean iPhone printing works — but it should, if your model supports AirPrint.

On your iPhone, open Safari and load any webpage. Tap the Share button, then Print. Your HP printer should appear in the printer list. Select it, tap Print, and confirm the physical printer responds.

If the printer appears in HP Smart but not in AirPrint, check that both your iPhone and printer share the exact same Wi-Fi network. See our AirPrint not working guide for deeper troubleshooting.

Most HP printers sold since roughly 2010 include AirPrint. Verify your specific model on our HP AirPrint printers guide or the broader AirPrint compatible printers list.

Scan Setup in HP Smart

If your HP printer includes a flatbed or automatic document feeder, HP Smart handles scanning to your phone.

After adding the printer, tap Scan on the HP Smart home screen. Place a document on the flatbed or in the ADF. Tap Scan in the app. The scanned image or PDF appears on your phone, ready to save, share, or print.

First-time scan setup may ask for additional permissions — camera for mobile capture scanning, storage for saving files. Grant what you need for your workflow.

Scanning through HP Smart is separate from printing through AirPrint. You need HP Smart open to scan from the printer hardware. For scanning documents using your iPhone camera instead of the printer flatbed, apps like Smart Printer offer that workflow and print results through AirPrint — useful if you are away from the printer or prefer phone-based capture.

HP Smart Setup for Smart Tank and Specialty Models

HP Smart Tank printers — the refillable ink tank line — follow the same HP Smart setup flow with a few extras.

During setup, HP Smart may prompt you to register ink levels and confirm tank installation. Make sure tanks are seated correctly and removal tabs are pulled before the app runs its alignment check.

HP LaserJet and OfficeJet models skip ink tank steps but may run firmware checks during first setup. Let these complete; interrupting can leave the printer in a half-configured state.

Our HP Smart Tank guide covers tank-specific features and maintenance inside HP Smart.

Troubleshooting Failed Setup

Printer not found: Restart the printer. Confirm local network permission for HP Smart. Disable VPN on your phone. Move the printer closer to the router.

Wi-Fi password rejected: Re-enter carefully — printers are unforgiving about typos. Check whether you are attempting 5 GHz on a 2.4 GHz-only printer.

Setup stalls at 50% or higher: Do not force-close the app. Wait five full minutes. If still stuck, power-cycle the printer and restart setup.

“Printer already claimed” message: A previous owner may have registered the printer to their HP account. Factory reset the printer’s network settings and try again, or contact HP if it was purchased new.

Multiple printers found: Select the model matching your hardware. Serial numbers shown in HP Smart help distinguish identical models.

If HP Smart setup repeatedly fails, you can sometimes get the printer on Wi-Fi through the control panel alone, then add it to HP Smart afterward. AirPrint may work even when HP Smart setup is finicky — test Share → Print before assuming the printer is broken.

Print a test page from HP Smart to confirm the full path from app to paper works.

Update firmware if HP Smart offers an update during or after setup. Firmware fixes discovery bugs and security issues.

Test AirPrint from iPhone as described above so you have two working print paths.

Consider whether you need HP Smart daily. For occasional printing, AirPrint through the built-in iOS dialog is faster. Our print from iPhone guide and best printer apps guide help you decide how much you rely on manufacturer apps versus built-in tools.

Set up Instant Ink only if you want it. HP Smart will promote subscription ink delivery. It is optional — dismiss if you buy cartridges yourself.

When HP Smart Setup Is Not the Right Tool

Honest boundary: HP Smart setup only works for HP printers. If you own an Epson, Canon, or Brother, use that brand’s app or generic AirPrint setup instead. Our print from phone guide covers cross-brand basics.

If you own an HP printer but prefer minimal app involvement, get the printer on Wi-Fi through its control panel, confirm AirPrint works, and treat HP Smart as optional maintenance software rather than your daily print interface.

For users who want one app to organize documents and print across any AirPrint printer — HP included — Smart Printer complements HP Smart without replacing its firmware and ink tools. It is not a substitute for HP Smart setup on a brand-new printer, but it is a reasonable daily driver once the printer is online.

Setup is a one-time task. Once your HP printer is on Wi-Fi and visible to HP Smart and AirPrint, you are done — until you change routers, move homes, or factory reset the printer. Bookmark this guide for that day, and keep our HP Smart not working guide handy if the connection drops later.