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HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, and M126a: installing printer and scanner drivers in Windows 11/10 and troubleshooting problems

Last Updated on 22.09.2026 by DriverNew

If HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, or M126a does not connect to the computer, the drivers do not install, or only printing works after installation, it is recommended to first remove the previous failed installation and then reinstall the drivers in the correct sequence.

The instructions apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit. For normal operation of the MFP, it is sufficient to install the printer driver, scanner driver, and HP Scan.

Important: HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, and M126a connect to the computer via USB. If the common M125-M126 series installer offers a network or wireless connection, these options should not be selected for these models.

Which driver to use

For these models, use the common HP full installation package for the LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 series:

Download HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 drivers and software

File name:

LJPro_MFP_M125-126_full_solution_15311.exe

The installation package contains the required components:

  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 PCLmS — printer driver;
  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 Scan Driver — scanner driver;
  • HP Scan — software for scanning documents and photos.

This is sufficient for normal printing and scanning. There is no need to install HP Smart or additional HP utilities.

1. Remove the previous failed installation

If you have already tried to install the driver, the MFP was detected incorrectly, or the installation ended with an error, it is better not to run the installer again over the old installation.

First, turn off the MFP and disconnect the USB cable from the computer.

Windows 11

  1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
  2. If your MFP or HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 is listed, open it and remove it.
  3. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
  4. Find the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 software and uninstall it.
  5. If old HP Scan components or software for this series that belongs only to this MFP are listed separately, they can also be removed before a clean reinstallation.

Windows 10

  1. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.
  2. If your MFP or HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 is listed, select it and click Remove device.
  3. Open Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
  4. Find the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 software and uninstall it.
  5. Remove any remaining old HP Scan components for this series if they belong only to the MFP being reinstalled.
If other HP printers or MFPs are connected to the computer, do not remove their drivers or software. Remove only components related to the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 series.

After removal, restart the computer. Do not connect the MFP USB cable yet.

Do not connect the USB cable in advance. If the MFP is connected before the HP installer asks you to do so, Windows may attempt to install the device automatically. After that, the HP installer may sometimes fail to detect the MFP correctly or complete the installation.

2. Additional check in Windows 11

If the HP driver has already failed to install several times in Windows 11, check whether Windows protected print mode is enabled.

Open:

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners

If the Windows protected print mode setting is present on the page and is enabled, turn it off before installing the traditional HP driver.

After changing the setting, restart the computer.

If this option is not available in your version of Windows 11 or the mode is already disabled, you do not need to change anything.

In Windows 10, you can skip this section.

3. Start the driver installation

Before running the installer, make sure the MFP USB cable is not connected to the computer.

  1. Run the LJPro_MFP_M125-126_full_solution_15311.exe file.
  2. If Windows displays a User Account Control prompt, allow the program to run.
  3. Wait for the installer to prepare.
  4. Accept the license agreement and continue the installation.

4. Select only the required software

At the software selection stage, the installer offers the required drivers and several additional components.

For normal operation of the MFP, leave the following selected:

  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 Scan Driver — required;
  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 PCLmS — required;
  • HP Scan — it is recommended to leave this selected.

If the installer allows you to clear the check boxes, the following are not required for normal printing and scanning:

  • HP Update;
  • HP Printer Status and Alerts;
  • HP Device Toolbox;
  • other optional additional software.
It is recommended to install HP Scan. This program is usually sufficient for basic scanning of documents and photos, so there is no need to find and install an additional scanning application.

After selecting the required components, click Next.

5. Select the USB connection

The installation file is designed for several models in the M125-M126 series, so the program may offer different connection methods.

For HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, and M126a, select:

Directly connect to this computer using a USB cable

Then click Next.

Do not select a network connection or assistance with wireless setup. These options are intended for other M125-M126 series models that have network features.

6. Connect the MFP only when prompted by the installer

The installer will first prepare the drivers and required components. This may take several minutes.

You will then be prompted to connect the device.

Only after that:

  1. Turn on the MFP.
  2. Wait until it is ready for use.
  3. Connect the USB cable to the MFP.
  4. Connect the other end of the cable directly to a USB port on the computer.
  5. Wait for the installer to detect the device and continue the setup.

Do not close the installer or disconnect the USB cable until the installation is complete.

7. The installer does not detect the MFP

If the program stops at the connection stage and does not detect HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, or M126a, first check the USB connection.

  1. Make sure the MFP is turned on.
  2. Disconnect the USB cable from the computer and connect it again.
  3. Try another USB port on the computer.
  4. Connect the MFP directly to the computer, not through a USB hub, docking station, monitor, or keyboard.
  5. If you have another working printer USB cable, try using it.
  6. After reconnecting the device, wait a few seconds.

Check Device Manager

If the installer still does not detect the device:

  1. Right-click the Start button.
  2. Open Device Manager.
  3. Select View → Show hidden devices.
  4. Check whether HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126, Unknown device, or a device with a yellow warning icon appears after the MFP is connected.

If such a device clearly appears only after connecting the MFP, it can be removed using the context menu.

Do not remove system USB controllers, unknown devices belonging to other hardware, or drivers that are not related to HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126.

After removing the problematic device:

  1. disconnect the USB cable;
  2. restart the computer;
  3. run the HP full installation package again;
  4. connect the MFP only when prompted by the installer.

8. The installation reaches almost the end and then fails

Users of the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 series may encounter a situation where the installation completes most of its stages but then ends with an error. In this case, running the installer again over the failed installation is usually not the best solution.

Follow these steps:

  1. Disconnect the MFP USB cable.
  2. Uninstall the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 software.
  3. Remove the device from the Windows printer list.
  4. If a problematic HP device or unknown device related to the MFP remains in Device Manager, remove it.
  5. Restart the computer.
  6. Run LJPro_MFP_M125-126_full_solution_15311.exe again.
  7. Connect the USB cable only when the program asks you to do so.

9. If the installation still does not start or ends with an error

Check the Windows printing service.

  1. Press Win + R.
  2. Enter:
services.msc
  1. Press Enter.
  2. Find the Print Spooler service.
  3. Make sure its status is Running.
  4. If the service is stopped, start it.

After that, restart the computer and repeat the installation.

If the installer is being run from the Downloads folder, a network folder, or another non-standard location, you can create a simple folder on the system drive:

C:\HP

Copy the LJPro_MFP_M125-126_full_solution_15311.exe file there and run it again.

10. The printer is installed, but HP Scan does not detect the scanner

If documents are already printing but HP Scan does not detect the scanner, the problem may affect only the scanning part of the driver.

First, perform these basic checks:

  1. Make sure the MFP is turned on.
  2. Check the USB cable.
  3. Connect the device directly to a USB port on the computer.
  4. Restart the computer and the MFP.
  5. Run HP Scan again.

Check the WIA service

Windows uses the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service for scanners.

  1. Press Win + R.
  2. Enter services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
  4. Make sure the service is running.

After starting the service, open HP Scan again.

Check the scanner itself

Try making a normal copy of a document directly on the MFP without using the computer.

If copying works normally, the scanning mechanism is working, so the cause should be looked for in the USB connection, scanner driver, or Windows.

If the device cannot even make a normal copy, the problem may be related to the MFP itself rather than the drivers installed in Windows.

11. Check printing and scanning

After the installation is complete, test both MFP functions separately.

Printing: open a small document and send it to the installed HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126.

Scanning: open HP Scan, place a document or photo on the scanner glass, and perform a test scan.

If the MFP prints and HP Scan performs scanning, the printer and scanner drivers are installed correctly. Additional HP software is not required for normal operation of HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125a, M125ra, and M126a.

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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