HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw, M125rnw, and M126nw: installing drivers and troubleshooting USB, Wi-Fi, and network problems

Last Updated on 22.09.2026 by DriverNew

If HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw, M125rnw, or M126nw does not connect to the computer, the drivers do not install, the printer cannot be found on the network, or printing works after installation but scanning does not, it is recommended to remove the previous failed installation and reinstall the drivers.

The instructions are intended for Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit. For normal operation of the MFP, the printer driver, scanner driver, and HP Scan are sufficient.

These models can be connected via USB or used as network MFPs. During network setup, the installer can automatically find the device or search for it by IP address, host name, or hardware address.

Which driver to use

For HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw, M125rnw, and M126nw, use the common full installation package for the 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. Installing additional HP software is optional.

1. Remove the previous failed installation

If you have already tried to install the MFP, it is detected incorrectly, cannot be found on the network, or the installation ends with an error, first remove the old software.

If you are using USB, turn off the MFP and disconnect the USB cable from the computer.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. If HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 or your MFP is listed, open it and remove the device.
3. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
4. Find the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 software and uninstall it.
5. Remove old HP Scan components for this series if they belong only to the MFP being reinstalled.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Select the installed HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 device and click Remove device.
3. Open Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
4. Uninstall the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 software.
5. Remove old HP Scan components for this series if they are no longer needed.

After removal, restart the computer.

2. Additional check in Windows 11

If the HP driver does not install in Windows 11 or the HP driver disappeared after a Windows update, check Windows protected print mode.

Open:

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners

If Windows protected print mode is enabled, turn it off before installing the traditional HP driver.

After changing the setting, restart the computer.

If this option is not available or the mode is already disabled, you do not need to change anything. In Windows 10, you can skip this section.

3. Run the HP installation package

Run the file:

LJPro_MFP_M125-126_full_solution_15311.exe

If Windows displays a User Account Control prompt, allow the program to run.

Accept the license agreement and wait until the installer proceeds to the component selection stage.

4. Keep only the required software

For MFP operation, leave the following selected:

• HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 Scan Driver — required;
• HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 PCLmS — required;
• HP Scan — leave selected.

If the installer allows you to clear the check boxes, you can choose not to install:

• HP Update;
• HP Printer Status and Alerts;
• HP Device Toolbox;
• other optional components.

Click Next and wait for the installer to prepare.

5. Select the connection method

The installer offers several options. Select the one that will actually be used by the MFP.

If you need a USB connection

Select:

Directly connect to this computer using a USB cable

Do not connect the USB cable in advance. At the next stage, the installer will prompt you to connect the device.

After the prompt appears:

1. turn on the MFP;
2. connect the USB cable directly to the computer;
3. wait for the device to be detected and the installation to complete.

If the MFP is already connected to a home or office network

Select:

Connect through a network

The installer offers several ways to detect the device. First use:

Automatically find my product on the network

The computer and MFP must be on the same local network.

If automatic detection does not find the device, select Search by IP address and enter the MFP’s IP address.

Searching by host name or hardware address can be used as additional options, but on a typical home network it is usually easier to find the device automatically or by IP address.

If Wi-Fi has not yet been configured on the MFP

Select:

Help me set up a first-time wireless connection

The installer will offer to retrieve the wireless network settings from the computer or let you enter them manually.

If the computer is already connected to the Wi-Fi network that the MFP should use, you can first select:

Yes, retrieve the wireless settings from my computer

Then continue the setup by following the program’s instructions.

If automatic retrieval of the settings does not work, go back and select:

No, I will enter the wireless settings manually

For manual setup, you will need to enter the wireless network name and password correctly.

6. The installer cannot find the MFP on the network

If the device is turned on and connected to the network but automatic detection does not find it, do not reinstall the driver immediately.

First check the following:

1. Make sure the MFP is turned on and ready for use.
2. Check that the computer is connected to the same home or office network.
3. Do not use a guest Wi-Fi network if it isolates connected devices from one another.
4. Restart the MFP and router.
5. Run the installer again and select Connect through a network.
6. If automatic detection does not work, use Search by IP address.

If the device can be found by IP address but is not detected automatically, you can usually continue the installation using the detected address.

7. The printer stopped working after replacing the router or changing the Wi-Fi password

If the MFP previously printed and scanned over Wi-Fi but stopped being detected after the router, network name, or password was changed, the wireless connection settings stored in the MFP no longer match the new network.

In this case:

1. run the HP installation package;
2. go to connection setup;
3. select Help me set up a first-time wireless connection;
4. transfer the new network settings from the computer or enter them manually;
5. after the connection is established, reinstall or add the MFP on the computer.

8. The Wi-Fi network cannot be found or the connection fails

If the MFP cannot connect to the wireless network, check the router settings.

These models use an 802.11b/g/n wireless network. If you are using a modern dual-band router, make sure the 2.4 GHz network is enabled.

Also check:

• whether the Wi-Fi password was entered correctly;
• whether the network name has changed;
• whether the MFP is too far from the router;
• whether a guest network with device isolation is being used.

For the initial setup, it is advisable to temporarily place the MFP closer to the router.

9. The printer prints over the network, but HP Scan cannot find the scanner

Users of this series may encounter a situation where network printing works, but HP Scan displays a message that the HP LaserJet M125-M126 scanner cannot be found.

First, do the following:

1. Make sure the computer and MFP are on the same network.
2. Restart the MFP and computer.
3. Run HP Scan again.
4. If a third-party firewall or antivirus is used, check whether it is blocking HP network components.

If the problem appeared after an incomplete or old driver installation, perform a clean reinstallation of the full HP package and select Connect through a network, not USB, as the connection type.

10. Check the Windows scanning service

If HP Scan does not detect the scanner even after a correct network installation, check the WIA service.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Enter:

services.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
5. Make sure the service is running.

After that, run HP Scan again.

11. The installation ends with an error or does not detect the device via USB

If the problem occurs specifically during USB installation:

1. disconnect the USB cable;
2. remove the previous HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125-M126 installation;
3. restart the computer;
4. run the full installation package again;
5. select the USB connection;
6. connect the cable only after the program prompts you to do so.

If the device is still not detected, try another USB port and another working USB cable.

Check Device Manager

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, an unknown USB device, or a device with a yellow warning icon is present.

If such a device clearly belongs to the MFP, remove it, disconnect the USB cable, restart Windows, and repeat the installation.

12. Check the printing service

If the driver installation stops before the device is detected, check the Windows printing service.

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

After that, restart the computer and repeat the installation.

13. Check the scanner without a computer

If HP Scan does not work, try making a normal copy of a document directly on the MFP.

If copying works normally, the scanning mechanism is working and the problem should be looked for in the driver, connection, or Windows.

If the device cannot even make a normal copy, the cause may be related to the MFP itself rather than the computer drivers.

14. Check printing and scanning

After installation, be sure to test both functions separately.

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

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