My printer is connected to my router by wifi, but in Instant Ink portal, it's impossible to connect.

[Mart500]

My printer is connected to my router by wifi, but in Instant Ink portal, it's impossible to connect it, and it shows Not ready to print.  My network is private,   Here is what I see in Web Services Settings :

Web Services Overview

Web Services Status	Enabled
Internet connection	Connected
Printer connection to HP Connected	Connected

Web Services Settings

HP ePrint	On
HP Instant Ink	Disabled

I have tried to remove Instant Ink cartridges, and reinsert them, but it still says it's impossible to connect the printer in Instant Ink portal and the printer is connected to the router network.  The printer wants to print an alignment page, but it cannot because it says this cartridge needs to be subscribed to HP Instant Ink.  The printer can no longer print anything.  My ink levels in HP Smart show full for black and color cartridges.  Can someone help me please ?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Mart500 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for the detailed breakdown—it’s clear you’ve already taken thoughtful steps to reconnect your printer. The fact that Web Services and HP Connected show “Connected” while HP Instant Ink remains disabled suggests the printer is online but not linked to your Instant Ink account. 

Let’s go through a focused set of actions to help restore functionality:

Step-by-step actions to reconnect HP Instant Ink

Enable HP Instant Ink manually

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Settings → Web Services Settings → HP Instant Ink.
• If “Disabled” is shown, tap to enable it.
• Wait for the printer to process and update its status.

Check printer enrollment status

• Visit https://instantink.hpconnected.com and sign in.
• Go to My Account → Printers.
• Confirm that your printer’s serial number appears and is marked as “Enrolled.”
• If not, click Add Printer and follow the prompts to re-enroll.

Print a Web Services Information Page

• On the printer, go to Settings → Web Services Settings → Print Info Page.
• This page shows the printer’s email address and Instant Ink status.
• If the status still shows “Not ready to print,” proceed to the next step.

Remove and re-enable Web Services

• Go to Settings → Web Services Settings → Remove Web Services.
• Confirm and wait for the printer to reset.
• Then go back and select Enable Web Services.
• This refreshes the printer’s connection to HP’s cloud services.

Check cartridge authentication

• Instant Ink cartridges require an active subscription to function.
• If the subscription is paused, cancelled, or not linked, the printer will block printing.
• Confirm your subscription status at https://instantink.hpconnected.com.

Update printer firmware

• Open the HP App on your Windows PC.
• Go to Settings → Printer Update.
• Install any available updates to ensure Instant Ink and Web Services are fully supported.

You’ve already shown great care in checking the network and cartridge status. Once Web Services are refreshed and Instant Ink is re-enabled, the printer should resume normal operation. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Mart500]

Hi,

Thank you for your help.  I tried to enable HP Instant Ink manually.  On the printer’s control panel, I went to Settings → Web Services Settings, but I didn't see HP Instant Ink option in my printer settings there.  I saw HP ePrint option there, and it seems to be activated since the sliding button is on the right, and in the EWS (with the IP adress of my printer), ePrint is also shown as activated.  Is it normal that I don't see HP Instant Ink option in my printer ?  My printer is a HP OfficeJet 5255.

Automatic updates of my printer are enabled, and my subscription to Instant Ink is active, there is three free months remaining in my subscription.  

Thanks.

[Hawks_Eye]

You are welcome @Mart500 

My apologies for the delayed response.

I understand how confusing this must feel, especially since you’ve already checked the settings carefully and confirmed your subscription is active. Thank you for the effort you’ve put in so far. Let’s clarify how this works on your HP OfficeJet 5255.

 

Why you don’t see “HP Instant Ink” in Web Services

On the OfficeJet 5255, the control panel and Embedded Web Server only show HP ePrint and general Web Services options. There is no separate “HP Instant Ink” toggle in those menus. The Instant Ink status is managed entirely through your online account and cartridge authentication, not through a printer-side setting.

 

Steps to restore printing

Refresh Web Services

• On the printer, go to Settings → Web Services Settings → Remove Web Services.
• After removal, restart the printer.
• Then go back to Web Services Settings → Enable Web Services.
• This forces the printer to re-establish its connection with HP’s servers.

Re-check enrollment

• Sign in at HP Instant Ink portal.
• Under My Account → Printers, confirm your OfficeJet 5255 is listed as Enrolled.
• If not, use Add Printer and follow the prompts to re-link it.

Print the Information Page

• From Web Services Settings, select Print Info Page.
• This page shows the printer’s email address and Instant Ink status.
• If it still shows “Not ready to print,” continue with the next step.

Firmware update

• Open the HP App on your Windows PC.
• Go to Settings → Printer Update and install any available updates.
• Updated firmware ensures Instant Ink cartridges are recognized correctly.

Cartridge check

• Instant Ink cartridges only work when the subscription is active and the printer is linked.
• If the subscription is active but the printer is not syncing, the cartridges will remain blocked until the link is restored.

 

Key Point

It is normal that you don’t see an “Instant Ink” option in your printer’s menus. The connection is controlled through Web Services and your online Instant Ink account. Once Web Services are refreshed and the printer is re-linked, the cartridges should authenticate and allow printing again.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Mart500]

Hi @Hawks_Eye !

Thanks for your help. I would like to refresh Web Services as you suggested. But a question comes to my mind : if I re-enable Web Services after I have removed them, is it possible that the printer needs to print a page with data on it at this moment ?  Because my printer can't print in my opinion.  I would be dead locked in this case. 

Thanks again,

Mart500

[Hawks_Eye]

You are welcome @Mart500 

I understand your concern—it feels worrying to think you might get stuck if the printer asks to print a page while it’s unable to print at all. Thank you for raising this point; it shows real attentiveness to the process. Let’s clarify how the Web Services refresh works on your OfficeJet 5255.

When you remove and re‑enable Web Services, the printer does usually generate a Web Services Information Page. This page contains the printer’s email address and service status. However, if the printer cannot physically print because the Instant Ink cartridges are blocked, the refresh will still complete in the background—the printer will re‑establish its connection with HP’s servers even if the page cannot be printed. 

The information page is helpful but not mandatory for the connection itself.

 

What this means for you

• You can safely remove and re‑enable Web Services without worrying about being “dead locked.”
• If the printer cannot print the information page, you can still check the status by signing in at the Instant Ink portal: https://instantink.hpconnected.com.
• Once the printer re‑links successfully, the cartridges should authenticate, and normal printing—including the info page—will resume.

You’ve already shown great care in troubleshooting. Refreshing Web Services is a safe step even if the printer cannot currently print, because the critical part is the server connection, not the info page itself. 

Would you like me to also share how to confirm the printer’s connection status directly from the Embedded Web Server (EWS)? That way you can verify the link without needing a printed page.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[Mart500]

Hi @Hawks_Eye !

My concern for the printed page was that I was afraid to have to use a printer code printed by my printer on the page in order to re-enable the Web Services. I join an example of a page printed by my printer on which you can see such a code (as you will see, the printed page is in french, since my usual language is french.  And the email address of my printer is partly hidden by me, as well as the printer code, to preserve my confidentiality.).  According to what I remember, my printer printed this page when I tried to refresh my printer's Web Services in the previous months, but honestly I'm not completely sure.  If I need to enter this code in any kind of application or web site in order to re-enable the Web Services, or to add the printer to my HP Connected account, I would be locked in a bad situation, am I right ?  Because, on this page, if I translate, it's written : "If it's not the first time that you configure your printer, verify that it has been added to your HP Connected account. If not, enter the following printer code if asked.".

 I wonder if my concern explained here is really a concern.  

Thank you very much for your help and support.

Mart500

[Hawks_Eye]

You are welcome @Mart500 

We've exhausted our troubleshooting options here.

We recommend taking the conversation to our phone support team. They'll work with you one-on-one to get the issue sorted, possibly with some remote assistance magic. 

It's a simple 2-step process.

Step 1: To contact us, click here to visit the Instant Ink support page. 

Step 2: You can find the support number in the middle of the page. 

Feel free to come back here anytime for further assistance. 

If this solution hit the spot, please come back and click "Accepted Solution" to help others find the answer. And if you'd like to say thanks, select "Yes" on the bottom left of the public post, as that would make our day! 

Take care, and have an amazing day! 

Regards,

Hawks_Eye