HP LaserJet Pro M404dn – Duplex Unit Setting Resets to 'Not Installed' After Each Print Job

[Boris_Katic]

We would like to request your assistance regarding an issue we are experiencing with several HP LaserJet Pro M404dn printers in our organization.

Printer model: HP LaserJet Pro M404dn
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro, version 22H2 (OS Build 19045.6456)
Workstation configuration:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F @ 2.90 GHz

• RAM: 16 GB

• Storage: 2 TB HDD

• Graphics: 4 GB dedicated GPU

Problem description:
For the past 2–3 months, after each print job, the duplex printing configuration has been automatically reset. Prior to this period, the printers functioned correctly without any duplex-related issues.

Specifically, in the printer driver settings under:

Device Settings → Installable Options → Duplex Unit

the value reverts to “Not Installed”, even though the printer physically supports automatic duplex printing.

Manually changing the Duplex Unit setting to “Installed” and saving the configuration temporarily resolves the issue, but the setting reverts back to “Not Installed” again after the next print job. This behavior occurs consistently.

We have observed the same issue on multiple HP LaserJet Pro M404dn printers within our company, using the same operating system and similar workstation configurations.

We kindly ask for your guidance on whether there is a known solution, driver update, configuration change, or registry-level fix that would prevent the duplex unit setting from resetting after each print job.

Please let us know if you require any additional information, driver versions, or logs in order to further analyze the issue.

Thank you in advance for your support.

[Repairatrooper]

What driver are you using? This is not an uncommon error on install but normally the steps you are taking resolve the issue.

Is this a local installed printer or are you using a print server. If a print server are you updating the duplex present setting on the server or the workstation?

If server based are you positive that server and workstation have identical drivers installed.

[Boris_Katic]

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

The printer is connected via USB and installed locally on a single workstation.

There is no print server involved.

All settings, including duplex options, are configured directly on the local workstation.

Driver and software details:

Software version: 048.006.4638.2245

Driver version: 8.0.1329.6884

Since this is a locally installed USB printer, there is no server-side driver or settings to synchronize.

Best regards,
Boris