To download HP printer drivers, the official and most reliable source is the HP Customer Support – Software and Driver Downloads page. Here, you can enter your specific printer model and download the latest drivers or full software packages appropriate for your operating system, including Windows and Mac[1][4].

If you want **only the drivers** without additional software or bloatware (such as HP Smart or other bundled utilities), you can:

– Look for the “basic drivers” or “drivers only” options on HP’s official software download site or support forums[5].
– Sometimes selecting an older OS version (like Windows 7) in the driver download dropdown may let you access a standalone full driver package suitable for offline installs without extra software, which can be copied to USB and installed on multiple devices without network connection[2].

For Windows users, you can also update or install drivers by using **Device Manager**:

– Open Device Manager, locate your HP printer, right-click and choose **Update driver** > **Search automatically for updated driver software** to get the latest driver from Microsoft’s catalog without additional software[1].

Here is a streamlined approach:

| Step | Details |
|—————————–|—————————————————————————————–|
| Go to HP Support Website | Visit HP Software and Driver Downloads and enter your printer model |
| Choose Drivers Only | Select the driver-only package if available, or opt for the basic driver |
| Select OS Version | If driver-only isn’t visible, try choosing an older OS version for a simpler package |
| Download & Install | Download the files and run the installer, or install via Device Manager |

Avoid third-party sites to reduce risk of malware or outdated drivers.

In summary, the **best practice** is to download HP printer drivers directly from HP’s official website, where you can find options for full software or just drivers depending on your needs[1][4][5]. For avoiding HP Smart and additional software, look specifically for “basic drivers” or older OS driver packages that include only the necessary printer driver components[2][5].