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Why an HP Printer or MFP Does Not Work on a Windows 11 ARM Laptop and How to Fix It

Last Updated on 30.06.2026 by DriverNew

This guide will help if an HP printer or MFP does not install on a Windows 11 ARM laptop, the “Driver unavailable” error appears, HP app or HP Easy Start cannot complete the installation, printing does not work over USB, or the scanner is not detected.

The problem may occur on laptops and tablets with Qualcomm Snapdragon, Snapdragon X, Microsoft SQ, and other ARM64 processors. Such devices may look like ordinary Windows 11 laptops, but they have an important difference when it comes to printer drivers.

What Causes the Problem

Windows 11 ARM can run many regular Windows programs. However, drivers are different. A device driver must be compatible with ARM64 or must be built into Windows.

A regular HP driver for Windows x64 is not always suitable for Windows 11 ARM. Because of this, the installer may start, but the driver itself may not install or may work only partially.

As a result, the following problems may occur:

  • the printer is not added to Windows;
  • Windows shows “Driver unavailable”;
  • a yellow error icon appears in Device Manager;
  • HP Easy Start starts, but the installation does not finish;
  • HP app shows Something went wrong or a similar message;
  • USB connection does not work;
  • printing works, but scanning is unavailable;
  • HP Scan does not install;
  • an old HP printer does not have a full ARM64 driver.

How to Check Whether You Have Windows 11 ARM

Before installing the driver, check the system type.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System.
  3. Open About.
  4. Find the System type line.

If it shows ARM64 operating system or ARM-based processor, you have a Windows 11 ARM device.

If it shows 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor, this article does not apply to your computer. In that case, use the usual instructions for Windows 10 or Windows 11 x64.

Why a Regular HP Driver May Not Install

Many older HP drivers were created for Windows x86 or Windows x64. On regular computers with Intel or AMD processors, they may work normally. However, on Windows 11 ARM, such a driver may not be suitable.

It is important to understand:

  • the regular installer may start;
  • the HP Easy Start or HP app window may open;
  • but the print or scan driver inside the installer may not support ARM64;
  • as a result, the installation fails or only basic printing works.

Therefore, on Windows 11 ARM, it is better to start not with the oldest full driver, but with methods that support modern printing mechanisms: Mopria, IPP, the built-in Windows driver, HP app, or an ARM64-compatible HP driver.

Method 1. Check Support for Your HP Model

First, check whether there is a driver or instructions for Windows 11 ARM for your model.

  1. Open the official HP support website.
  2. Enter the exact printer or MFP model.
  3. Open the drivers and software section.
  4. Check whether Windows 11 ARM64 or ARM 64-bit support is available.
  5. If there is no such support, do not install random drivers from unverified websites.

Official HP driver download page:

Go to the official HP driver download website

If the page for your model does not have an ARM64 driver, this does not always mean that the printer cannot be used at all. Basic printing can often be set up through the built-in Windows driver, IPP, or Mopria.

Method 2. Connect the Printer via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, Not USB

On Windows 11 ARM, a USB connection often causes more problems than a network connection. With USB, Windows tries to install a Plug and Play driver, and older HP models may not have an ARM64 driver.

Therefore, it is better to connect the printer to the network first:

  • via Wi-Fi through a router;
  • via an Ethernet cable if the printer has a network port;
  • via Wi-Fi Direct only as a temporary option if there is no router.

If the printer is connected to the network, Windows 11 ARM is more likely to be able to use a standard network printing protocol, such as IPP or Mopria.

Method 3. Make Sure the Computer and Printer Are on the Same Network

If the printer is connected via Wi-Fi, the computer and printer must be on the same network.

  1. Check which Wi-Fi network the laptop is connected to.
  2. Make sure the printer is connected to the same network.
  3. Do not use a guest Wi-Fi network.
  4. Turn off VPN during setup.
  5. Restart the router, printer, and computer.
  6. Try adding the printer in Windows again.

If the printer has a display or an information button, print a network information page. This page usually shows the printer’s IP address and Wi-Fi network name.

Method 4. Add the Printer Through Standard Windows Settings

For Windows 11 ARM, it is often better to first try adding the printer in the standard way.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  3. Open Printers & scanners.
  4. Click Add device.
  5. Wait while Windows searches for the printer.
  6. If the printer appears in the list, select it.
  7. Wait for the installation to finish.
  8. Print a test page.

If Windows installed the printer through a standard driver, but additional HP features are unavailable, this is normal. On ARM64, basic printing often works before branded scanning and maintenance features.

Method 5. Add the Printer Manually by IP Address

If Windows does not find the network printer automatically, add it by IP address.

First, find the printer’s IP address. It can usually be found on the network information page printed by the printer itself.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  3. Open Printers & scanners.
  4. Click Add device.
  5. If the printer does not appear, click Add manually.
  6. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
  7. Enter the printer’s IP address.
  8. Follow the Windows instructions.
  9. After installation, print a test page.

If Windows offers you a driver, try a standard option related to IPP, Mopria, or Microsoft IPP Class Driver. Names may differ depending on the Windows version and printer model.

Method 6. Use Mopria or Microsoft IPP Class Driver

Mopria and IPP are modern printing methods that do not require installing an old manufacturer driver. For Windows 11 ARM, this is often the most reliable option.

This method is especially useful if:

  • the regular HP driver does not install;
  • HP Easy Start finishes with an error;
  • “Driver unavailable” appears when connected by USB;
  • the printer is connected to the network and has an IP address;
  • you need at least basic printing.

When adding the printer manually, Windows may install a driver such as Microsoft IPP Class Driver or a similar standard driver. This is normal. It may not provide all HP-specific features, but it often allows printing.

You can check whether the printer supports Mopria on the Mopria website:

Check printer compatibility with Mopria

Method 7. Install HP app If It Supports Your Model

HP app can help add the printer, check device status, set up printing, and access some HP features.

Use HP app if:

  • the printer is modern;
  • the model is supported by HP app;
  • you need a Wi-Fi connection;
  • you need scanning through the HP app;
  • you need printer management through an HP account;
  • HP+ or Instant Ink is used.

However, if HP app shows an error, cannot connect to HP servers, or the installation does not finish, do not repeat the same installation many times in a row. Try adding the printer through Windows by IP address or through Mopria / IPP.

Method 8. If HP Easy Start Does Not Install the Driver

On Windows 11 ARM, HP Easy Start may start, but the installation may fail. This can happen if the package does not contain a suitable ARM64 driver for your model.

What to do:

  1. Close HP Easy Start.
  2. Turn off VPN.
  3. Restart the computer.
  4. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  5. Add the printer through Windows Settings.
  6. If automatic search did not help, add the printer by IP address.
  7. If Windows offers a standard IPP driver, try it.
  8. After installation, print a test page.

If printing works through the standard Windows driver but HP Easy Start does not work, you can keep this option. For ordinary printing, it is often enough.

Method 9. If “Driver unavailable” Appears When Connected by USB

The “Driver unavailable” error when connected by USB on Windows 11 ARM usually means that Windows did not find a suitable ARM64 driver for this device.

Follow these steps:

  1. Disconnect the USB cable from the computer.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  4. Open Printers & scanners.
  5. Remove the non-working printer copy.
  6. Restart the computer.
  7. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  8. Add the printer as a network device.
  9. If necessary, add it manually by IP address.

If the printer is old and does not have an ARM64 driver, a USB connection may not work fully. In this case, a network connection through IPP or Mopria often gives you a better chance of printing.

Method 10. Remove Old Printer Copies

After several installation attempts, damaged printer copies may remain in Windows.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  3. Open Printers & scanners.
  4. Remove all non-working copies of the HP printer.
  5. Open Device Manager.
  6. Check the Print queues, Printers, and Universal Serial Bus controllers sections.
  7. Remove only devices that clearly belong to your HP printer.
  8. Restart the computer.
  9. Add the printer again through the network.

Do not remove random USB controllers or system devices. Remove only devices that are clearly related to the HP printer.

Method 11. Clear the Print Queue

If the printer is installed but documents do not print, check the print queue.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  3. Open Printers & scanners.
  4. Select your HP printer.
  5. Click Open print queue.
  6. Delete all stuck jobs.
  7. Restart the computer.
  8. Try printing a test page.

If the jobs cannot be deleted, restart the print service.

Method 12. Restart the “Print Spooler” Service

The Print Spooler service is responsible for the print queue in Windows.

  1. Press Win + R.
  2. Enter services.msc.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Find the Print Spooler service.
  5. Right-click it.
  6. Select Restart.
  7. If there is no Restart option, select Stop, then Start.
  8. Close the Services window.
  9. Try printing the document.

Method 13. Check Windows Updates

For Windows 11 ARM, it is important to install updates. They may include printing fixes, standard drivers, and compatibility improvements.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Windows Update.
  3. Click Check for updates.
  4. Install the updates that are found.
  5. Restart the computer.
  6. Try adding the printer again.

If there is an Advanced options and Optional updates section, check whether a printer driver is available there.

Method 14. If Printing Works but Scanning Does Not

On Windows 11 ARM, it is common for printing to work while scanning is unavailable. This is because the scanner may require a separate ARM64-compatible component.

What you can do:

  1. Check whether your model supports scanning through HP app.
  2. Open HP app and try scanning from there.
  3. If HP app does not work, install Windows Scan, if it is available in Microsoft Store.
  4. Check whether the app sees your scanner.
  5. If the scanner is not detected over Wi-Fi, try connecting the printer and computer to the same 2.4 GHz network.
  6. Turn off VPN.
  7. Restart the printer, router, and computer.

Important: Windows Fax and Scan may be unavailable on Windows 11 ARM. Therefore, do not treat it as a universal scanner testing method on ARM laptops.

Method 15. Check the WIA Service for Scanning

If the scanner is not detected, check the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service.

  1. Press Win + R.
  2. Enter services.msc.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
  5. Open the service by double-clicking it.
  6. In the Startup type field, select Automatic.
  7. If the service is stopped, click Start.
  8. If the service is already running, click Stop, then Start.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Restart the computer.

If scanning still does not work after this, the cause may be the absence of an ARM64-compatible scanner driver for your model.

Method 16. If You Have an Old HP LaserJet, DeskJet, or OfficeJet

Older HP models most often cause problems on Windows 11 ARM. They may not have a separate ARM64 driver.

In this case, try:

  • connecting the printer through the network instead of USB;
  • adding the printer by IP address;
  • using Microsoft IPP Class Driver;
  • checking Mopria support;
  • checking the HP support page for your model;
  • using another computer with regular Windows 11 x64 if you need all MFP functions.

If the model is very old and does not support network printing, there may be no full solution for Windows 11 ARM.

Method 17. If You Have an HP LaserJet or Enterprise MFP

For some HP LaserJet, HP Color LaserJet, HP LaserJet Managed, and enterprise MFP models, the HP universal driver may be suitable if it supports ARM64 and your model.

Check support only on the official HP website:

HP Smart Universal Printing Driver — list of supported printers

Do not install a universal driver at random. If your model is not in the supported device list or ARM64 support is not listed for it, the driver may not help.

For home DeskJet models and many old MFPs, the LaserJet universal driver may not be suitable.

Method 18. If the Printer Does Not Work Through HP app

If HP app does not add the printer on Windows 11 ARM, check the following:

  1. Turn off VPN.
  2. Check the internet connection.
  3. Make sure the computer and printer are on the same network.
  4. Restart the router.
  5. Restart the printer.
  6. Restart the computer.
  7. Try adding the printer through standard Windows Settings.
  8. If the printer is not found automatically, add it by IP address.

If standard printing through Windows works, but HP app shows an error, you can use printing through Windows. HP app is not always required for simple printing.

Method 19. If You Need to Print Urgently

If you urgently need to print a document and the full HP driver does not install, do this:

  1. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  2. Find the printer’s IP address.
  3. Add the printer manually by IP address.
  4. Allow Windows to install a standard IPP or Mopria driver.
  5. Print a test page.
  6. If printing works, use this option for urgent printing.

After that, you can separately deal with scanning, HP app, and additional features.

What to Do If You Specifically Need the Scanner

If you need not only printing but also scanning, check scanning support separately. In an MFP, printing and scanning may work through different components.

Try these options in order:

  1. Scanning through HP app.
  2. Scanning through Windows Scan.
  3. Scanning through the printer’s web interface, if the model supports this feature.
  4. Scanning from another computer with Windows 11 x64 if the scanner is not supported on ARM64.

If none of the methods works and HP does not provide an ARM64 scanner driver for your model, scanning on Windows 11 ARM may be unavailable.

What to Do If the Printer Works Only Partially

Partial compatibility is possible on Windows 11 ARM. For example:

  • printing works, but scanning does not;
  • printing works only over Wi-Fi, but not over USB;
  • standard printing works, but HP Toolbox is unavailable;
  • HP app sees the printer but does not show all features;
  • black-and-white printing works, but advanced quality settings are unavailable.

This is not always a user error. Often, the cause is limited ARM64 support for a specific model.

What You Should Not Do

  • Do not install random x64 drivers from unverified websites.
  • Do not repeat the same HP Easy Start installation many times in a row if it fails every time.
  • Do not connect an old printer by USB if it can be connected through the network.
  • Do not remove system devices in Device Manager if you are not sure they belong to the printer.
  • Do not assume that the installer running means there is an ARM64 driver.
  • Do not expect the MFP to work on ARM the same way it works on regular Windows 11 x64.

When the Problem Cannot Be Fully Solved

There may be no full solution if:

  • HP has not released an ARM64 driver for your model;
  • the printer is old and supports only USB;
  • the MFP requires an old TWAIN or WIA driver without an ARM64 version;
  • the device does not support Mopria or IPP;
  • scanning works only through old HP software;
  • the manufacturer does not support this model on Windows 11 ARM.

In this situation, you can use basic network printing through IPP/Mopria, another computer with Windows 11 x64, or replace the printer with a model that officially supports Windows 11 ARM.

What to Check Before Buying a New Printer for Windows 11 ARM

If you are buying a new printer for an ARM laptop, check in advance:

  • whether Windows 11 ARM64 is supported;
  • whether Mopria is supported;
  • whether the printer works over Wi-Fi or Ethernet;
  • whether printing is possible through Microsoft IPP Class Driver;
  • whether HP app or a Printer Support App is available for this model;
  • whether scanning is supported on ARM64 if you need an MFP;
  • whether there are HP+ or Instant Ink restrictions if you do not want to use an HP account and subscriptions.

For Windows 11 ARM, it is better to choose modern network printers and MFPs, not old USB models.

Short Step-by-Step Checklist

If an HP printer or MFP does not work on Windows 11 ARM, follow these steps:

  1. Check the system type: Settings — System — About — System type.
  2. Make sure you really have Windows 11 ARM64.
  3. Check the HP support page for your model.
  4. Do not install random x64 drivers.
  5. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  6. Turn off VPN.
  7. Add the printer through Windows Settings.
  8. If the printer is not found, add it manually by IP address.
  9. Try the standard IPP or Mopria driver.
  10. If you need branded setup, try HP app.
  11. If HP Easy Start fails, use network adding through Windows.
  12. If printing works but scanning does not, try HP app or Windows Scan.
  13. If scanning is not supported, use another computer with Windows 11 x64 or another MFP.

The main point: on Windows 11 ARM, the problem is most often not with the printer itself, but with the absence of an ARM64 driver or incomplete support for MFP features. For printing, a network connection through IPP or Mopria usually helps. Scanning may require separate support from HP, and older models do not always have it.

Additional Information

If you have problems installing drivers or other software for your device (printer, scanner, monitor, keyboard, etc.), please tell us the model of your device and the version of your operating system (for example: Windows 11, Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 8 64-bit, etc.) and we will try to help you. Email us.

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