HP Smart says my DeskJet 4100 Printer is ready but the Printer Status says it is not installed

[RichardG429]

I decided to connect my HP DeskJet 4100e series to overcome disconnection.  HP Smart is telling me I am now ready to print but the Printer Status is recording as NOT INSTALLED - what needs to be done ?

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@RichardG429, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue where the HP Smart app shows your printer as connected and ready, but Windows (or macOS) indicates that the printer status is “Not Installed.” This typically means that while the HP Smart app recognizes the printer over the network, the printer driver or system-level setup is incomplete or broken. Let’s go through a step-by-step process to resolve this.

Confirm OS and Connection Type

Please confirm:

• Are you using Windows or macOS?
• Is the printer connected via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet?

On Windows — Check Devices and Printers

1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
2. Check if your DeskJet 4120e or 4100e Series appears.
   • If listed but greyed out or shows “Driver not available” or “Not installed,” right-click and select Remove device.
3. Restart your computer.

Use the HP Smart App to Reinstall Driver

1. Open HP Smart.
2. Go to Settings (gear icon) or click your printer, then select "Printer Information."
3. If it indicates "Driver not installed" or shows any error:
   • Remove the printer from HP Smart.
   • Close the HP Smart app.
4. Download and run the HP Easy Start utility. This will reinstall the correct driver and register the printer in Windows.

Manually Add the Printer in Windows

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Click Add a printer or scanner.
3. Wait a few seconds — your printer should appear. Select it and let Windows install it.
   • If it doesn't appear, choose "The printer that I want isn’t listed."
   • Then select “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.”
     • Type in your printer's IP address (you can find this in the HP Smart app or printer control panel).

Set as Default & Test Print

1. Go to Settings → Printers & scanners.
2. Click your printer and choose Set as default.
3. Click Print a test page to verify that everything is working.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support