How do I remove fax option from printing dropdown?

[tron1982]

Hi, I had to reinstall Windows 11 which meant I also had to reinstall my HP 9015 via the Add Printer option. In Printers and Scanners I only see the printer, but in the dropdown (Word, Excel, Adobe, etc.) there's also an option for HP Fax and it ALWAYS defaults to that one first, even if I set the regular printer as default in Printers & Scanners. I went into Device Manager and uninstalled the Fax one but that ended up uninstalling everything so I needed to add the printer again.

How can I remove the fax option from the dropdown menu? I will never have a need for it here. Thanks.

How do I remove the fax option?This is the only one that shows

[Dragon-Fur]

@tron1982 

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Never wanted:  Remove the Fax from Devices and Printers.

Control Default Printer -- This method does not require that you remove the Fax print queue from Devices and Printers / Settings

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Preparation > Check / enable the printer as the “Default Printer”

Windows 11

Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers and scanners

Scroll down > Switch OFF Let Windows manage my default printer

Scroll up > Select Printer from the list of printers > Set as Default

Windows 10

Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners

UNCHECK (clear box) Let Windows manage my default printer

Select Printer from the list of printers > Manage > Set as Default

Example - Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners

Printer to be managed or "More devices and printers settings"

Settings_Bluetooth-Devices_Printers_and_Scanners_Printer_2

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References / Resources

HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources

Learn about your Printer - Solve Problems

“Things that are your printer”

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE: Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories: Warranty Check, Alerts, Troubleshooting, Ink & Paper, HP Software & Drivers / Firmware Updates, Setup & User Guides, Product Specifications, Account & Registration, Warranty & Repair

Open 

 Product Home - Printers

 Enter the device type and model name of your HP product

OR

 Select a saved product from HP Account Dashboard

OR

• HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 All-in-One Printer
• HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e All-in-One Printer

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Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"

[tron1982]

Hello, I appreciate your reply. Unfortunately, my printer is already set as the default yet when I click the dropdown in Word (for example) it still defaults to the HP fax option first. I then have to manually select the regular HP print option. I'm unsure why it's doing this.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@tron1982 

OK.

Your image shows the Fax set as the Default Printing device.

Admittedly, if that is not true, and the default is actually the main driver and not the Fax, none of this makes sense.

Can you gain enough control over the "Fax" device to Remove it?

What else?

Some of this might be a result of the "Add Printer" method used to install the printer.

Not sure that "Add Printer" is going to install what you expect / need to control the Default Printer.

?

If you have not done so,

• Install the Full Driver printer software
• Reboot the computer and log in
• Make sure Windows is not controlling your Default printer
• Check / set the default as shown previously.

Details / Instructions / Examples

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-- Supported versions of Windows --

Scanning from the printer to the computer requires that the Full Feature Software is installed AND that Manage Scan to Computer is enabled.

From your description, it sounds like the Full Feature Software is either not installed or the software is installed but has become unusable.

The Full Feature Software is the foundation that supports printing from (for example) Word and other software programs.

For supported versions of Windows

The Full Feature Software / full driver printer software is available.

The software can be uninstalled from the computer and reloaded.

Instructions follow...

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Printer Software

If you have not yet done so, install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software.

HP Full Feature Software / Full Driver printer software - supports printing and scanning from the web, printing in in other software and programs (for example, Word), and provides access to the full range of Printing Preferences / Shortcuts.  The full driver generally adds at one, possibly least one, possibly two shortcuts to the Desktop: Printer Assistant, HP Scan Assistant, and/or HP Scan.

NOTES:  

HP Scan is not installed if the printer does not support Scan.

The Printer Assistant is not installed if the type of full driver software does not support it.  If the printer model includes built-in Fax hardware, the software supports the setup and use of the Fax driver.

No Sign-in required to use full driver printer software.

Reinstalling?

• Uninstall existing full driver printer software from Programs and Features.
• If your printer includes a separate "help" in Programs and Features, uninstall that, too.
• Restart the computer and log in.
• If the printer is connected to the computer using a printer USB cable, remove / disconnect the cable before loading the software.

>>> Full Feature Software - Web Pack Installation Webpage - Information - Download / Save / (then) Install <<<

HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 EasyStart Printer Setup Software – Offline Use Only 

In general, the web pack should load -

Download package > Save > Right-Click on the installation Package > Run as Administrator

If / When asked, opt for the Full Driver / Full Software to be installed.

Using USB?  (Re)Connect when instructed to do so.

After the software is installed, Restart the computer and sign in. 

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The installation of the full driver generally adds at least one or more shortcuts to the Desktop.

 Note:  Printer Assistant, HP Scan Assistant, and HP Scan are dependent on printer model and supported software options.

• Printer Assistant – Where still supported as part of the full driver printer software
• HP Scan – Shortcut on Desktop named for the printer model

OR

• HP Scan Assistant – For those printers that no longer provide the Printer Assistant
• HP Scan - Shortcut named for itself

AND / OR

• When installed, HP Universal Scan software adds a separate self-named “HP Scan” shortcut

Printer Assistant shortcut > Tab Scan > Manage Scan to Computer > Enable

Or

HP Scan Assistant shortcut > Manage Scan to Computer > Enable

Example - Desktop Shortcuts

Printer_Assistant_Scan_Assistant_Shortcut_Icons_on_Desktop_9

Example - Programs and Features - Installed Printer Software

Programs_and_Features_Printer_Desktop_Icons_20

Thank you for participating in the HP Community --

Real people who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You for the help !

Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"

[tron1982]

Hi, thanks for the help. So what I did was I removed the printer, I kept HP Smart but I downloaded and installed just the HP driver software so I can still use HP Smart (I tested it with a scan and it worked), and when I went to print there is now only one print option (HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 series PCL-3 (network)). I guess I need to keep HP Smart as well as the older HP driver software on the computer for it to work. ?!?!?

I appreciate your help!

[Dragon-Fur]

@tron1982 

You are welcome.

HP Smart is an application -- it is independent of the full driver printer software.

The full driver provides a foundation for other software and provides access to the full range of printer preferences and options.

Yes, both the HP Smart app and the full driver printer software can co-exist on the system at the same time.

Both HP Smart and the full driver support both print and scan.

Another setting that is good to know:

Printer Properties > tab Advanced > Driver

The Driver should be set to the HP driver as opposed to a Microsoft of IPP driver.

Printer_Properties_Reprint_6

Thank you for participating in the HP Community --

Real people who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You for the help !

Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"