M203dw - trouble printing envelopes

[newmanjim]

M203dw connected to a W10 machine running MS Office 2019.  I've printed envelopes before and it worked great.  When I send an envelope to the printer now, the addressee block shows up at the top of the envelope.  Ran multiple envelopes, same outcome.

Thinking maybe a setting was changed.  Would it be easier to delete the printer and reinstall?  If so, I could use the steps needed to accomplish that.  

TIA.

[Max3Aj]

Hi there @newmanjim, and welcome to HP Support Community!

Thank you for reaching out with your concern. I'm glad to assist you today.

If your HP LaserJet Pro M203dw is printing the addressee block at the top of the envelope instead of the correct position, it’s likely due to a change in envelope layout settings in Microsoft Word or the printer driver.

Let’s walk through a few steps to fix this:

Check Envelope Layout in Word

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Go to Mailings > Envelopes.
3. Enter the delivery and return addresses.
4. Click Options.
5. Under the Envelope Options tab:
   • Ensure the correct envelope size is selected (e.g., #10 Envelope).
   • Under Delivery address position, adjust the From left and From top values to reposition the block.
6. Click Printing Options tab:
   • Make sure Feed method matches how you load the envelope in the printer.
   • Uncheck Clockwise rotation if it’s enabled.
7. Click OK, then Print.

Load Envelope Correctly

• Load the envelope in the priority input tray (Tray 1) with the print side facing up and the flap to the left.
• Refer to this guide:HP LaserJet Pro M118-M119, M203-M205, HP LaserJet Ultra M206 User Guide - ENWW

Reinstall the Printer (Optional but Helpful)

If settings seem off or corrupted, reinstalling the printer can help.

To Remove the Printer:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Devices > Printers & scanners.
3. Select your HP LaserJet Pro M203dw and click Remove device.

To Reinstall the Printer:

1. Download the latest driver from HP: Official HP® Support
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Reconnect the printer via USB or Wi-Fi.

If the suggestions helped solve the problem, please let us know by clicking “Accepted Solution.” It really helps fellow users find quick answers.

A quick “Yes” also goes a long way in showing appreciation!

Take care and happy computing!

Best regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support

[newmanjim]

Max,

Thanks very much for your suggestions - very helpful.

First I checked the envelope setting in Word.  Positioning for both the addressee box and return address box were set to auto.  I changed them and got the addressee box to move.  Now I just need to play around with it to get it in the right location.  I'm certain I haven't changed those settings so not sure why that moved.  Now I know how to move those boxes - thanks.

I also uninstalled the printer, powered off the printer, powered off the computer, turned the printer on, then started the computer.  Since I'm running Windows10 64-bit, I assumed the computer would find the printer and install it.  It's finding the printer but having trouble installing it.  I went to the Microsoft store and downloaded HP Smart Installer but having trouble getting the program to load.  Shouldn't Windows Plug-and-Play find the correct drivers and install them?  If I'm supposed to install the drivers, could you provide a link to them?  Thanks.

[newmanjim]

Max,

I tried adjusting the settings for the addressee box as follows:

    Delivery address:  3.5 left, 2.25 top

    Return address:  .5 left, .5 top

While this does move the addressee box down slightly, I cannot change the values enough to move the addressee box where it should be.  I think the answer is to figure out why the HP app won't download and install properly.

[Max3Aj]

@newmanjim, Thanks for the update! Great job adjusting the envelope layout in Word, that confirms the issue is software-related and not hardware. Now let’s get your printer reinstalled properly and fix the HP Smart app issue.

Part 1: HP App Not Installing, Fixes to Try

If the HP app won’t install from the Microsoft Store, try these steps:

Reset Microsoft Store Cache:

• Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and hit Enter.
• A blank Command Prompt will appear briefly, then the Store will reopen.

Check Region Settings:

• Go to Settings > Time & Language > Region.
• Set your region to United States temporarily and retry the install.

Sign Out and Back In:

• Open Microsoft Store, click your profile icon, and sign out.
• Restart your PC, then sign back in and try installing HP App again.

Disable VPN or Antivirus Temporarily:

• If you’re using a VPN or third-party antivirus, disable it and retry the install.

Repair or Reset Microsoft Store App:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Store.
• Click Advanced options, then Terminate, Repair, and Reset.

Unable to download and install the HP app | HP® Support

Part 2: Direct Driver Installation (If HP Smart Fails)

If HP Smart still doesn’t install, you can manually download and install the full driver package:

Official HP® Support

Steps:

1. Click the link above and select Windows 10 64-bit as your OS.
2. Download the Full Feature Software and Drivers.
3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup.

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support

[newmanjim]

Followed the latest instructions, HP Smart Installer still won't download.  It looks like it is starting, then I get an error.

I saved the HP Easy Start file from the last time I went through this and ran it.  I got a message saying I needed to update, so I did tot HP Easy Start 17_2_17.  I downloaded it, ran it, seems like it worked.  Printed another envelope and no different, still wrong.

The adjustments to the addressee box would have worked but I can't put in enough to move the box where it needs to go.  Also, it would have to be change on every envelope printed, not just once.

IMHO, HP is too concerned about "collecting data" from printer users and not enough on customers being able to download the software and use the printer.  Also, why am I going to the Microsoft store to get print drivers for my HP printer?

I'll be away from the computer for a while but will revisit this problem when I get back.

[Max3Aj]

@newmanjim, Thanks for the detailed update, and I completely understand your frustration. You’ve done a great job troubleshooting so far.

Let’s Tackle the Remaining Issues

Envelope Layout Still Off

You're absolutely right, manually adjusting the addressee box for every envelope is not practical. This issue often stems from a mismatch between:

• Word’s envelope layout,
• The printer’s default paper handling settings,
• And the driver’s interpretation of envelope orientation.

Let’s try this workaround:

Change the default paper size and orientation in the printer driver:

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click your HP LaserJet Pro M203dw > Printing Preferences.
3. Under the Paper/Quality tab:
   • Set Paper Size to #10 Envelope.
   • Set Orientation to Landscape.
4. Click Advanced > Paper Size and confirm it matches.
5. Apply and OK.

Then retry printing from Word with the envelope loaded face up, flap left in Tray 1.

HP Smart App Still Failing

Since HP Smart isn’t installing, and Easy Start 17.2.17 ran but didn’t fix the layout issue, I recommend skipping HP Smart entirely and using the Basic PCL6 driver instead.

HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 6 Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

Steps:

1. Download and run the installer.
2. Choose USB or Network connection as appropriate.
3. After installation, go to Devices and Printers and set this printer as default.

This driver is lightweight, avoids HP Smart dependencies, and gives you full control over layout settings.

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support