Solved: Re: Envy 5540 will not work - Envy 5540 - HP Support Community

opsidfhjiopgasd · ‎03-24-2026

for the entire last decade that i have owned this printer, it has given me a truly unbelievable amount of issues. seemingly at random, it decides to not connect, not print, be invisible to the computer, or all sorts of nonsense, even though nothing at all has changed about the setup. it will do this when it is connected to the same wifi network as the computer, and has a USB cable connecting them - it will either be invisible to the computer, or will connect, but has some unknown issue that won't allow it to print. i have wasted literal dozens of hours trying to fix this, and i never know what actually ends up working. most of the time i just give up and try again on a different day and it somehow works.

currently, i have this printer connected to an Acer Aspire 3 running Windows 11. it is connected to the same wifi network as the computer, as well as connected by USB. last week, i printed documents just fine from the computer... came back after the weekend, and it just won't work. the documents just stay in the cue at 'unknown status'. the printer is listed as connected in my computer settings, but it also says 'Needs Attention', but doesn't specify any more than that.

the insane part is that while HP Smart has occasionally helped me in the past, this time, it won't even recognize the printer!!!! it doesn't come up in the list of possible printers to connect to no matter what i do. even though it's listed under the computer settings as connected, even though it's connected to the same wifi network and via a USB, even though i printed just fine last week with the precise, exact same setup.

i am at my wits end and ready to bury this thing underground, but i simply do not have money for a new printer, and have no time to deal with this for the 47th time in 10 years. please, please, please help me.