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Using HP Printers in Windows 8

Learn how to use your HP printer with the new Windows 8 operating system. Here you will find information on how to print, scan, and fax using both comprehensive Full Feature drivers and basic in-OS drivers.

   
Using your printer with a full feature driverUsing your printer with a full feature driver

Full Feature drivers allow you to get the most out of your printer. Using HP software, you can accomplish complicated printing tasks, scan photos or documents to email, and use apps like Windows Fax and Scan. See the tasks below for more information on using your printer with a Full Feature driver.

To make sure you have the most current Full Feature driver installed, click here to download the HP Printer Install Wizard.

Scanning using HP softwareScanning using HP software

The instructions provided in this section require that you have the full feature HP software installed.

Use the following steps to scan a general document or image.

Step one: Load the photo or document

You can scan from the scanner glass or from the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) tray, if your product has one. 

  1.  Make sure that the product is connected to the computer.

  2. Turn the product on.

  3. Load the picture or document:

  • Scanner glass: Place the item with the print side down on the scanner glass, and then position it according to the engraved guides around the glass (usually on the right-front corner or the left-front corner). Close the scanner lid.

  • ADF: Place the item into the document feeder tray. The printed side faces up and the top edge goes into the tray first. Adjust the width guides to fit the item.
    CAUTION: Do not load photos in the ADF. Use the scanner glass instead to prevent damage to photos.

Step two: Scan the item

  1. Open the HP Scan window with one of the following methods.

    • From the Start Screen, click or tap the app for your printer, click or tap Print & Scan, and then click or tap Scan a Document or Photo.

    • From the Desktop, double-click or double-tap the icon for your printer, click or tap Print & Scan, and then click or tap Scan a Document or Photo.

  2. Select the appropriate scan option for the item you are scanning.

  3. In the HP Scan window, to the right of each scan option there are default recommended settings for scan size, output type, resolution, and file type (for text scans only). Use these default settings unless you need to customize the settings for your scan.

  • To change the Basic Scan settings:

    Click or tap the drop-down arrow (Drop-down_arrow) for the setting that you want to change, and then select the setting you need.

  • To change the Advanced Scan settings:

    Click or tap Advanced Settings to change the following settings (depending on your printer):

    • Specify the location to send saved scans on the computer

    • Edit the file name of the saved scan

    • Specify to create a new file for each scan or to combine multiple scans into one file

    • Specify how the HP software completes the scan action:

    • Opens the scan file

    • Launches File Explorer

    • Emails the scan

    • Does nothing (saves scan to specified location)

  1. Click or tap Scan. A preview of the scan displays (by default).

    NOTE: If you unchecked Scan Preview, scans are automatically saved to the specified location on the computer. You cannot place a multi-page original into a single file if Scan Preview is disabled.

  2. When the scan completes, perform one of the following actions:

    • Click or tap Save to capture the scanned file but leave the HP Scan open.

    • Click or tap Done to capture the scanned file and close HP Scan.

    • Click or tap the Plus sign (Scan_window_Plus_sign) on the left side of the window to scan additional pages.

    • Click or tap the X icon (Scan_window_X_icon) to delete the scanned file, and then click or tap Back to scan a new file.

 

Click here to go to a detailed How to Scan in Windows 8 document.

Scanning without using HP softwareScanning without using HP software

Use one of the following methods to scan a document without using HP software.

Scan with Windows Fax and ScanningScan with Windows Fax and Scanning

  1. Place the item that you want to scan on the scanner glass, or load it into the automatic document feeder (ADF) if your printer has one.

  2. Right-click or touch and hold the lower left corner of the computer screen to display the contextual menu.

  3. Click or tap Search.

  4. Click or tap Apps if it is not already selected.

  5. Type "Fax and Scan" in the search box.

  6. Click or tap Windows Fax and Scan in the results.

  7. Click or tap New Scan, and then click or tap Scan.

Scan with PaintScan with Paint

  1. Place the item that you want to scan on the scanner glass, or load it into the automatic document feeder (ADF) if your printer has one.

  2. Right-click or touch and hold the lower left corner of the computer screen to display the contextual menu.

  3. Click or tap Search.

  4. Click or tap Apps if it is not already selected.

  5. Type "Paint" in the search box.

  6. Click or tap Paint in the results.

  7. Click or tap File, and then click or tap From scanner or camera.

  8. Select your printer, click or tap OK, and then click or tap Scan.

PrintingPrinting

Use one of the following methods to to print a document in Windows 8.

Print from an app on your DesktopPrint from an app on your Desktop

Follow these steps to print from an app on your Desktop.

  1. From the Desktop, open the document you want to print in the software application in which it was created.

  2. Click or tap File, and then click or tap Print.

Print from an app on your Start screenPrint from an app on your Start screen

Use these steps to print from an app on the Start screen.

  1. From the Start screen, click or tap the app you wish to print from.

  2. Move the mouse cursor to or touch and hold the top right or bottom right of the screen to activate the charms bar.

  3. Click or tap Devices.

  4. Click or tap the HP driver that you installed.

    NOTE: If your printer is not listed, the app does not currently support printing. Contact the app developer for additional information.

  5. Click or tap Print.

Changing print settingsChanging print settings
Change the print settings from either the Desktop or the Start screen. See the methods below for instructions.
Change the print settings from the Windows 8 DesktopChange the print settings from the Windows 8 Desktop

Change the print settings for a single print job

Use the following steps to change the print settings for a single print job from the Windows 8 Desktop.

  1. Open the document that you want to print. Click or tap File, and then click or tap Print. The Print window opens.

  2. Click or tap the button that opens the Properties dialog box. Depending on the software program, the button might be Properties, Options, Printer setup, Printer, or Preferences.

  3. Select the print settings for the current print job, and then click or tap OK.

Change the default print settings for all print jobs

Follow these steps to change the default print settings for all print jobs from the Windows 8 Desktop.

  1. Right-click or touch and hold the bottom left side of the screen to open the contextual menu. From the contextual menu, click or tap Control Panel, and then click or tap View devices and printers.

  2. Right-click or touch and hold the printer icon for your printer, and then click or tap Printing preferences.

  3. Select your new default print settings, and then click or tap OK.
     

Change print settings from the Windows 8 Start screenChange print settings from the Windows 8 Start screen

Follow these steps to change the print settings from inside an app on the Start screen.

  1. Click or tap the app (software program) you wish to print from.

  2. Move the mouse cursor or touch and hold the top right or bottom right of the screen to activate the charms bar.

  3. Click or tap Devices to show a list of installed devices including printers.

  4. Click or tap the HP driver that you installed. The Preview screen displays.

    NOTE: Basic settings can be found on the Preview screen.

  5. Click or tap More settings if you wish to change any advanced settings.

  6. Select your new default print settings, and then click or tap the Back Arrow (Windows8_BackArrow).

  7. Click or tap Print to print.

    NOTE: Since it is up to the designer of an app to include printing, not all apps will have the option to print. If no printers are listed under Devices, first make sure an HP print driver has been installed, and then contact the manufacture of the app to see if it supports printing.

Accessing the printers/faxes folderAccessing the printers/faxes folder

Access the printers folder

  1. Open the charms bar by pressing the Windows key (Windows 8 keyboard key) + C, or moving the mouse cursor to the top far-right corner of the screen.

  2. Click or tap Search.

  3. In the search box, type "Devices and Printers." Click or tap Devices and Printers.

Access the faxes folder

  1. Open the charms bar by pressing the Windows key (Windows 8 keyboard key) + C, or moving the mouse cursor to the top far-right corner of the screen.

  2. Click or tap Search.

  3. In the search box, type "fax." Click or tap Windows Fax and Scan.
Accessing the HP softwareAccessing the HP software

When you installed the HP software, an icon was created in the Desktop, and a tile (or multiple tiles) in the Start screen.

Use one of the following methods to access the HP software app on your computer.

Method one: Access HP software from the Desktop

Double-click or double-tap the HP printer icon (Printer_icon_desktop) displayed on the Desktop. The HP software opens.

Method two: Access HP software from the Start screen

Click or tap the HP printer tile on the Start screen (if you can't find the tile, type "HP," and a list of HP search results will display). The HP software opens.

Method three: Search for the HP software

  1. Open the charms bar.

  2. Click or tap Search.

  3. Select Apps.

  4. Type "HP" in the search box.

  5. Select the correct software from the list. The software has your printer's model number in the title.

Using your product with an in-OS or Windows Update driverUsing your product with an in-OS or Windows Update driver

The Windows 8 in-OS software is a driver that is already on your computer. With this basic driver, most of the buttons on the printer do not function and some of the advanced printer features, such as scan-to-email, are not available.

The Windows Update software allows for a new or updated in-OS driver to be downloaded and installed.

HP has provided workaround procedures to use with these basic drivers, so you can still scan documents, print from a software program, and send a fax. You can also import and view images on a memory card, if your printer has a memory card slot.

I’ve always used HP Solution Center and HP Toolbox. What will I use now?I’ve always used HP Solution Center and HP Toolbox. What will I use now?

HP Solution Center and HP Toolbox are not supported by the in-OS driver. You can use the workarounds below to print, scan, or fax.

How do I print?How do I print?

Follow the steps below to print from the Desktop or Start screen when using an in-OS driver.

Printing from the DesktopPrinting from the Desktop

Use these steps to print from an app on your Desktop:

  1. From the Desktop, open the document to be printed in the software application in which it was created.

  2. Click or tap File, and then click or tap Print.

 

Printing from the Start screenPrinting from the Start screen

Use these steps to print from an app on your Start screen:

  1. From the Start screen, click or tap the app you wish to print from.

  2. Move the mouse cursor to or touch and hold the top right or bottom right of the screen to activate the charms bar.

  3. Click or tap Devices.

  4. Click or tap the HP driver that you installed.

    NOTE: If your printer is not listed, the app does not currently support printing. Contact the app developer for additional information.

  5. Click or tap Print.

How do I scan?How do I scan?

Use one of the following methods to scan a document.

Scanning with Windows Fax and ScanningScanning with Windows Fax and Scanning

  1. Place the item that you want to scan on the scanner glass, or load it into the automatic document feeder (ADF) if your printer has one.

  2. Right-click or touch and hold the lower left corner of the computer screen to display the contextual menu.

  3. Click or tap Search.

  4. Click or tap Apps (Windows8_Apps_Icon) if it is not already selected.

  5. Type "Fax and Scan" in the search box.

  6. Click or tap Windows Fax and Scan in the results.

  7. Click or tap New Scan, and then click or tap Scan.

Scanning with PaintScanning with Paint

  1. Place the item that you want to scan on the scanner glass, or load it into the automatic document feeder (ADF) if your printer has one.

  2. Right-click or tap and hold the lower left corner of the computer screen to display the contextual menu.

  3. Click or tap Search.

  4. Click or tap Apps (Windows8_Apps_Icon) if it is not already selected.

  5. Type "Paint" in the search box.

  6. Click or tap Paint in the results.

  7. Click or tap File, and then click or tap From scanner or camera.

  8. Select your printer, click or tap OK, and then click or tap Scan.

How do I fax? How do I fax?

Although you cannot fax a document directly from your computer, you can still fax from the printer control panel.

  1. Place the item that you want to fax on the scanner glass, or load it into the automatic document feeder (ADF) if your printer has one.

  2. Use the Fax button on the printer control panel to start the fax.

How do I check ink levels? How do I check ink levels?

With an in-OS driver, you do not have access to HP printer software and cannot check ink levels in HP Toolbox as you can with a full-featured driver provided by HP.

Some printers have control panels that alert you to low ink levels. However, if your particular model does not have that feature, you can use the buttons on the control panel to print out a diagnostic report, which shows the ink levels. This test report might be called a self-test report, a print quality diagnostic page, an extended self-test report, or something similar. If you do not know how to print such a report, look for instructions in your printer manual.

How do I find instructions for printing a diagnostic report?

  1. Click here to go to HP Customer Care.

  2. On the Locate your printer to get support page, click or tap the text box, type your printer name or number, and then click or tap NEXT.

  3. In the list of results, click or tap your HP printer to view your product's support page.

  4. Click or tap Manuals.

  5. Click or tap User Guide, and then find and follow the instructions for how to print a self-test report.

    If the user guide does not open, click the link on the Manuals page to download and install Adobe Reader, and then try to open the user guide again.

How do I use the buttons on the front panel? How do I use the buttons on the front panel?

If your printer has buttons on the front panel, some of them may not function as before. The following are examples of buttons that function and buttons that do not function with the in-OS driver.

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list.

These buttons still function:

(Power_button) Power button(Menu_button) Menu button
(Resume_button) Resume button(Cancel_button) Cancel button
(Print_photos_button)Print Photos button

These buttons may not function:

(Photosmart_essentials_button) Photosmart Essentials button(Copy_button) Copy button
(Scan_button) Scan button
 
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