You can connect your HP printer to your laptop either via a wired USB connection or wirelessly over Wi-Fi.
**Wired USB connection:**
1. Connect the printer and laptop using the compatible USB cable.
2. Windows should detect the printer automatically and begin installing the necessary drivers.
3. If no prompt appears, open Windows Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
4. Click “Add a printer or scanner,” select your HP printer from the list, and follow the on-screen instructions[1][4].
**Wireless connection:**
1. Ensure your printer and laptop are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On your printer, go to Settings > Network Setup or WiFi Setup, select the WiFi Setup Wizard, choose your network, and enter the Wi-Fi password.
3. Confirm that the printer’s Wi-Fi icon shows as connected.
4. On your laptop, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
5. Click “Add a printer or scanner,” wait while it searches for your printer; select it when it appears.
6. If not found, choose “The printer that I want isn’t listed,” then add the printer using its IP address (which you can find on the printer’s network configuration page).
7. If needed, install the latest printer drivers from the HP website or use the HP Smart app available from Microsoft Store to facilitate setup[2][3][4].
Both methods are straightforward: use USB cable for the simplest direct connection, or Wi-Fi if you want wireless convenience. The HP Smart app can especially simplify wireless setup by guiding you through network connection and driver installation steps[3].
If you encounter issues, uninstall old drivers before reinstalling and ensure your laptop and printer are on the same Wi-Fi band, as some printers only support 2.4 GHz networks[2].