HP Smart Printer Status Unknown: How to Fix the Error in Win11/10

HP Smart Printer Status Unknown

HP Smart is an app that allows you to scan, print, and share images and documents with your HP printers. You can install this app on your Windows PC, Mac, and iOS/Android devices.

Related post: How to Download, Install, and Use the HP Smart App

When opening and using HP Smart on your Windows 10/11 computer, you could see a yellow box saying “Printer status unknown”. In this case, you cannot get this app to communicate with your printer. While this error happens, your printer sometimes can print without any problems from the Web or other applications.

The HP printer status unknown appears due to issues regarding firmware or driver, antivirus restrictions, and more. Next, we will guide you on how to fix this error.

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How to Fix Printer Status Unknown in HP Smart

Perform HP Smart Diagnostic

In the HP Smart app, a feature called Diagnose & Fix can help you solve some issues. When suffering from HP Smart printer status unknown, open this program, tap the Diagnose & Fix icon in the bottom left corner. If this cannot find any issues, continue using the other fixes below.

Update Printer’s Firmware

HP periodically releases firmware updates for its printers to fix bugs & malfunctions and help you make full use of your printers. If the firmware is outdated, you could run into the error of HP printer status unknown. So, go to update the firmware via these steps:

Step 1: Open a web browser and visit the HP Official Drivers and Software Download page.

Step 2: Tap on Printer and enter your printer name.

Step 3: Scroll down to find Firmware, expand it, and choose the latest version for your printer to download.

Step 4: Run this downloaded file and then follow the on-screen instructions to update the printer firmware.

Then, HP Smart printer status unknown may disappear. If not, try another way.

Reset HP Smart

Sometimes the issue is related to HP Smart, leading to printer status unknown. To solve this issue, you can try to repair or reset this app to let it recognize your printer.

Step 1: Press Win + I to open Settings.

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Step 2: In Windows 10, go to Apps > Apps & features. In Windows 11, navigate to Apps > Installed apps.

Step 3: Locate HP Smart, click Advanced options, and then click Repair or Reset.

Disable Antivirus Software

Antivirus software sometimes blocks Windows apps from running. If it interferes with your printer, it can trigger HP Smart printer status unknown. You can disable this software to address it by following the guide – [Solution] How to Disable Windows Defender Antivirus on Win 10.

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Reinstall Your Printer

If the printer itself goes wrong, the unknown printer status error may appear. Then, you can choose to reinstall the printer to solve the problem.

Step 1: Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound (View by Category) > Devices and Printers.

Step 2: Find the affected printer, right-click on it, and choose Remove device.

Step 3: Press Win + R to open Run, type printui.exe /s, and click OK.

Step 4: Under the Drivers tab, locate the HP printer driver and tap on Remove. Next, click Apply > OK.

Step 5: Then, type c:/programdata into the Run window and click OK.

Step 6: Find the HP or Hewlett-Packard folder and remove it.

Step 7: Restart your PC and reconnect the printer.

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Verdict

These are 5 common ways to solve HP Smart printer status unknown in Windows 11/10. If you are plagued by this frustrating issue, try these methods to easily get rid of the trouble.