My HP Envy 4520 connect printer to update hp instant ink status but connected through usb

[Dowian2]

My HP Envy 4520 stopped working with our internet about a year ago.  No solutions worked to get it to connect.  Uninstalled printer and reinstalled the printer to work via usb.  Has been working fine since.  We are still signed up for HP Instant Ink and use that to order our new ink when it gets low.  Starting today anytime I go to print anything it says "Cannot print. Connect printer to update HP Instant Ink status."  When I go into my HP Smart it is showing my ink status and showing it as connected via the usb.  When I click the OK button it flashes the print screen but then immediately goes to cancel and tells me to not push in the extender arm until it's done printing.  All Troubleshooting comes back saying it is fine. Used the HP Print and Scan Doctor.  It can locate my printer via the USB, it can communicate with my printer, it shows that everything is fine with green check marks, but when I go to print the test page a pop up says that there is an error printing.  Considering my printer is being seen by my computer, they are communicating, it was printing perfectly fine this morning, I would like to be able to continue to use my printer using the USB without this problem.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Dowian2,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It seems that your HP Envy 4520 printer is having an issue with the HP Instant Ink status update, even though it’s connected via USB and is working fine in other aspects. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the problem.

Update HP Smart and Printer Software

Ensure both your HP Smart app and the printer driver software are up to date. An outdated version may cause compatibility issues:

• Open HP Smart and check for any updates within the app.
• Visit HP's website to download and install the latest printer drivers for your HP Envy 4520.

Reauthenticate HP Instant Ink

Sometimes, the Instant Ink status might become unsynchronized with your printer. You can try the following:

• Open HP Smart and navigate to Instant Ink.
• Sign out of your Instant Ink account and sign back in to refresh the connection.
• Alternatively, you can manage your Instant Ink subscription directly through the HP Instant Ink website by logging in with your account details.

Check USB Connection

While the printer is connected via USB, make sure the USB cable is securely plugged in. If possible, try using a different USB port or cable to rule out any issues with the connection.

Clear Print Queue

Sometimes, a stuck print job can cause issues. Try clearing your print queue:

• Open the Print Queue by clicking on your printer in the Devices and Printers section (on Windows).
• Cancel any pending print jobs.

Restart Printer and Computer

• Unplug the printer from the USB and turn it off.
• Restart your computer.
• Once the computer is back up, reconnect the printer via USB and turn it back on.

Uninstall and Reinstall HP Smart

Since the HP Smart app is showing the printer as connected but not updating the status, you can try reinstalling the app:

• Uninstall HP Smart from your computer.
• Reinstall it from the Microsoft Store (for Windows) or App Store (for Mac).

[Raj_05]

Check for Instant Ink Communication

If the issue persists, check if the printer is correctly communicating with the Instant Ink service. Sometimes, USB-only connections might not trigger proper status updates:

• Try reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network temporarily if you have access, even for the Instant Ink sync process.
• If the printer still works via USB for printing but you need Instant Ink updates, you could try reconnecting it to Wi-Fi once more (even for a brief period) to allow the update to go through.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support