Does HP App require printers to be wireless?

[privatename]

1. Does the new HP App require that printers be wireless for the HP App to work? In other words, can I still use USB between my printer and my desktop PC?

2. Will the HP App fix the "tug-of-war" between Windows and HP in which one controls my printer? In other words, will I be able to finally fix that irksome double-sided printing issue?

3. Do I need to uninstall my old HP software and disconnect my HP printer and start all over again in order for the HP App to work? 

Thank you.

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@privatename,

I would answer as follows:

1. Does the new HP App require a wireless connection?

No. The HP App supports both USB-connected and network-connected HP printers. If your printer is connected to your desktop via USB, the app should still be able to detect and manage it. There is no requirement to switch to Wi-Fi.

2. Will the HP App fix the Windows/HP "tug-of-war" over printer settings?

Unfortunately, not necessarily.

The HP App is primarily a setup, management, and support application. It does not replace the Windows print driver or the Windows Print Spooler.

The duplex printing issue you're describing is usually caused by one of the following:

• Windows installing a generic Microsoft print driver instead of the full HP driver.
• The printer being installed multiple times (for example, once as a USB printer and once as a WSD/network printer).
• Printing preferences being changed in one location while an application overrides them in another.

The HP App may reinstall or update the printer software, which can resolve some driver-related problems, but I wouldn't expect it to eliminate the issue by itself.

3. Should I uninstall everything and start over?

Not as a first step.

I would leave your current HP software installed and simply install the HP App. In many cases it should recognize your existing printer installation and work alongside the current software.

If the HP App cannot detect the printer correctly or you're still experiencing printing problems afterward, then a clean reinstall of the printer software would be the next step I would recommend.

So my recommendation would be:

1. Leave the printer connected.
2. Leave the existing HP software installed.
3. Install the HP App.
4. Verify that it detects the printer and that printing works normally.
5. Only consider uninstalling and reinstalling the printer software if problems remain.

One question: What is the exact model number of your HP printer?

Also, when you mention the "double-sided printing issue", do you mind describing exactly what's happening?

For example, is Windows ignoring your default duplex setting, does it always revert to single-sided printing, or is the duplex option missing entirely? Those symptoms point to different causes, and knowing the exact behavior will help narrow it down.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[privatename]

Hello NonSequitur777,

Thank you for answering my questions. I was able to download and install the HP App without any problems, but you were correct that the HP App would not repair the duplex printing error.

I want to answer your question as to the exact model number of my printer. The label on the front of the printer says, "HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e". I've had this printer since this spring (around April 2026). However, the duplex printing issue started last year when I updated my desktop PC from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home. My previous printer was "HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e", and it had the same duplex printing problem. I suspect the culprit is Windows 11. I do not want duplex printing. It's not something I set up. It's something that was automatically set when my computer was upgraded to Windows 11 and I can't figure out how to change it.

Whenever I print something in MS Word or Excel (this problem does not exist in Adobe Reader, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge), the default setting is for duplex printing and I cannot change it. Let me rephrase that last part. I can change it, but the settings won't stay that way. I prefer printing single-sided and I've changed it to "Print single-sided" and every time, Microsoft changes it back to duplex printing. Here's MS Word and MS Excel.

   

Picture 1                                          Picture 2

In order to fix that, I changed the settings via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > HP Officejet Pro 8120e series > Printing preferences > Basic, Pages per Sheet > 1 page per sheet

Picture 3

That did not fix the problem. Both MS Word and Excel show the same settings in Pictures 1 and 2, it's as if those settings aren't talking to each other.  So I went into the Device Manager and looked into the printer driver. Here’s a picture.

Picture 4

So I right-clicked the HP Smart Universal Printing (USB Group 3) driver and left-clicked on “Properties.” Under the “Settings” tab, I clicked on the “Devices and Printers Folder”. Then right-clicked on “HP OfficeJet Pro 8210e series” (which is set to default printer) and clicked “Printing preferences”. I get the same view that is shown in Picture 3.

Ideas? Or am I asking the wrong company (meaning I should be asking Microsoft)? Oh, if I need to put this in a different category, please inform me and I will transfer/copy/paste this whole post to the appropriate category.

Thank you.