how do i add my hp printer to my laptop

To add your HP printer to your laptop, you can connect it either via a USB cable or through a wireless network.

For a **wired USB connection**:
– Plug the printer’s USB cable into your laptop’s USB port.
– Windows will usually detect the printer automatically and start installing drivers.
– If prompted, follow on-screen instructions. If not detected, go to *Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners*, select *Add a printer or scanner*, and pick your printer from the list[1][2][4].

For a **wireless connection**:
– Make sure your printer and laptop are on the same Wi-Fi network.
– Download and install the **HP Smart app** on your laptop (available from Microsoft Store or HP’s website).
– Open HP Smart, add your printer, and follow the guided setup to connect it to Wi-Fi and your laptop.
– Alternatively, use *Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer* to find the wireless printer[1][2][3].

If automatic detection fails, you can manually download the latest drivers from the HP Support website and install them with administrator permissions for best compatibility[2]. After setup, you can print a test page to verify the connection.