HP Support Assistant is PC assistance your way. This HP program helps you maintain peak computer performance and resolve problems through automatic updates and tune-ups, built-in diagnostics, and a variety of assistance options.

Depending on your PC’s operating system, HP Support Assistant has slightly different menus and capabilities. Computers purchased after October 2012 feature the latest version, but no matter which version you have, you’ll enjoy an easy way to keep your PC running at its best.

There is no charge for using HP Support Assistant. However, your Internet provider may charge a fee for sending or receiving data if you contact HP using the data transfer option.

PC alerts and updates notify you of any action you need to take. Clicking on the question-mark icon gives you simple instructions if there is anything you need to do.

You do not need to be connected to the Internet to use HP Support Assistant, but some features such as receiving updates, connecting to hp.com or contacting HP, require an Internet connection.

The latest HP Support Assistant is pre-installed on HP and Compaq computers sold after October 2012 running Microsoft Windows^® 7 and Windows^® 8 operating systems.

Note: HP Support Assistant features may vary depending on version installed, your computer model and your location.

To find HP Support Assistant on your PC, try any of these methods:

• You can access HP Support Assistant by clicking the ? icon in your taskbar or by selecting the HP Support Assistant app on the Start Screen.  Then click Contact Technical Support and select a contact option. 
• In Windows® 8, on the HP Support Assistant tile, you can click on the HP Support Assistant link to open HP Support Assistant.
• Search for “HP Support Assistant”:
  • Windows 7: Click the Start Menu (the Windows^® icon at the bottom left of their screen), then type in the search box
  • Windows 8: Click on or swipe from the right side of your screen in order to search

If HP Support Assistant is not installed on your computer running Windows® 7 or Windows® 8, you can download the latest version above.

You can easily add HP Support Assistant to your taskbar by clicking on the “Desktop” tile on the Windows® 8 start screen. Then click “Updates and tune-ups” and select “Other settings” on the bottom left. You can select one or both of the taskbar options in the “How would you like to be notified?” section.

You can uninstall HP Support Assistant using the “remove program” capability of the Windows^® operating system, but HP does not recommend uninstalling the application. HP Support Assistant allows you to perform automatic tune-ups and receive updates from HP that keep your PC running at its best and offer several options whenever you need assistance.

You can remove the HP Support Assistant icon from your taskbar, but HP does not recommend removing the icon. You would no longer receive notifications of pending actions through your taskbar, and you would not be able to go directly to some HP Support Assistant capabilities.

To remove the icon from your taskbar, open HP Support Assistant, select “Updates and tune-ups.” Then click “Other settings” on the bottom left and uncheck the taskbar options in the “How would you like to be notified?” section.

If you are running Windows^® 8 or Windows^® 7 on your computer, you can download and install the latest version of HP Support Assistant by clicking the link above.

You must be running or have upgraded to Windows^® 8 before installing the latest version of HP Support Assistant.

There are three ways to contact an HP technician through HP Support Assistant.

• Chat

  If you have an active Internet connection, you can chat online with an HP technician. PC information (such as your serial number) is automatically sent from your PC to HP once you approve that information to be sent.

• Call with data transfer

  To speed issue resolution, your PC can transfer data to the HP support technician before your phone conversation if you approve this information to be sent.

  Note: The Chat and Call with data transfer features are available on select PCs and in select locations. HP does not charge for data transfer, but your Internet provider may charge a fee for sending or receiving data.

• Call

  If you don’t have an active Internet connection, the best way to contact an HP support technician is to call. You may be asked to provide information over the phone such as your model number or serial number. Both of these numbers can be found at the bottom of the HP Support Assistant screen.

Updates from HP Support Assistant help keep your computer current, prevent problems and allow you to benefit from new software features. You won’t need to search for the latest version of your HP software applications.

HP Support Assistant notifies you when updates are available for your computer. If you want, the application can install the updates automatically. It only takes a minute or so to set up your computer to receive updates from HP.

HP Support Assistant checks your warranty in order to display the contact options and hours of operation for your local support center.

If you do not agree to let HP Support Assistant check your warranty status, you can still contact an HP Support agent who will then review your warranty.

HP Support Assistant is primarily designed to help you maintain your computer or solve computer problems. But it may help you download the latest software drivers for your other HP products connected to your computer.

HP Support Assistant does not usually check for virus and spyware issues. However, if a virus or a security threat is impacting a lot of customers, HP will attempt to provide a solution through HP Support Assistant. Customers that have the application installed and have agreed to receive updates from HP can then benefit from the solution offered by HP. It is strongly recommended that you use Microsoft or other third-party antivirus software for PC security.

Open HP Support Assistant and click “About” in the upper right corner.

You may be running an older version of HP Support Assistant. (See question above on how to check which version is installed on your PC.) Some HP Support Assistant features are only available on select computers and in select locations.

Get the latest HP Support Assistant version for your PC by following the instructions below.

For versions 7.0 or higher:

Click the “about” option at the upper right corner of the window. On the about screen, click the “check for latest version” button, and follow instructions.

For versions 6.0 or 6.1:

• Click the icon in your taskbar, then select “More options.” Click “Check” for the latest HP Support Assistant and follow instructions.

Or

• Open HP Support Assistant, click the question mark in the upper right corner, select “Check” for new updates, and follow instructions.

For versions 5.2 or lower

• Open HP Support Assistant, click “Maintain,” and select the “Refresh” button in the upper right corner to start a scan of your computer. If available, a new version of HP Support Assistant will appear in the Actions list.

If you have agreed to receive updates from HP, you will be notified when a new version is available for your computer. If you have not opted to have HP Support Assistant automatically install updates, be sure to apply the update right away.

The application is available to all customers worldwide and is translated into 36 languages.

HP Support Assistant is pre-installed on HP and Compaq computers running Microsoft Windows^® 7 and Windows^® 8.

Some HP Support Assistant features require an active Internet connection. HP Support Assistant works with multiple Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome), but some features (such as the web chat contact option) require Internet Explorer and will launch the browser.

Both updates are important, and cover different aspects of your computer. Windows updates are limited to operating system updates. HP Support Assistant provides software updates specifically related to your HP or Compaq computer, including driver updates, BIOS updates, and HP software updates.

In rare cases, such as a software driver update, both Windows and HP Support Assistant may try to provide the same update. Both applications will check, however, if the new driver version was already installed. If it was, neither application will download or install the driver again.

HP Support Assistant works independently of any antivirus software application.

HP Support Assistant uses HP Update and other HP tools to notify you when updates and alerts from HP are available for your computer.