Do I need both HP Print Service and HP Smart on my cell phone for wireless printing?

[Peaches52]

HP Printer Office Jet Pro 6838

[Garp_senchau · Accepted solution]

@Peaches52, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

To print wirelessly using your HP printer, you only need the HP Smart app on your mobile device. The HP Smart app provides comprehensive functionality for setting up, printing, scanning, and managing your printer directly from your smartphone or tablet.

The HP Print Service Plugin is generally used for printing through direct print menus available in various applications on Android devices. While it can be beneficial, especially if you often print directly from non-HP apps on your Android device, it is not strictly necessary if you have the HP Smart app installed.

For complete wireless printing functionality, having the HP Smart app is sufficient.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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! 😊

Regards,

[Peaches52]

Thanks for your detailed response. My phone only has the HP Service App and will not print. I would hit the Print button, but the printer is never found, thus no printing. Is that the reason it wouldn't because I didn't have the HP Smart App on my phone? I have a final question. 

1) Is there a problem having both HP Smart and HP Print Service Apps on my cell phone?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Peaches52 ,

Thank you for the response:

Yes, the issue is likely because you didn't have the HP Smart App installed.

The HP Print Service Plugin only enables basic print functionality, usually from Android apps like Chrome, Gmail, or Drive, but it doesn't handle printer setup, Wi-Fi configuration, or troubleshooting.

The HP Smart App, on the other hand, does all of that, it detects nearby printers, connects to Wi-Fi, installs drivers, allows scanning, and can even help with firmware updates. Without it, your phone likely won’t detect the printer during setup, which is why hitting print didn’t do anything.

Can you have both apps installed?

Yes, and it’s actually a good combo!

HP Smart App: Handles printer setup, scanning, and advanced features

HP Print Service Plugin: Enables printing directly from apps (like Google Docs or Photos) through the "Print" option

Having both installed ensures full compatibility and ease of use, especially if you're using Android.

If you've now installed HP Smart, try these steps:

Open HP Smart and let it find and connect your HP OfficeJet Pro 6838

Make sure it's connected to the same Wi-Fi as your phone

Do a test print from within HP Smart

Then, try printing from another app (like a PDF viewer) to see if HP Print Service Plugin works too

Let me know how it goes, I’d love to help you get it fully working!

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,