My printer appears in the Control Panel but not when I try to print a document.

[zoey7886]

@David5717, Let me know how it goes!

Regards,

[David5717]

Hi Zoey -it's David again.

I tried the steps you explained and managed to get to the point where I download the driver from HP, I had restarted the spool command.

I started the process and the HP website only allowed me to download HP Easy Start. I followed all the steps until at one point, HP Easy Start said it could not detect a printer (although I had turned on the printer and connected it to the compute/ There is a WiFi link and an Ethernet cable. HP Easy Start asked me for the IP address - I tried the P address using Wifi and then for Ethernet - in both cases HP Easy Start says it cannot detect the printer.

Interestingly my printer shows again when I go to view printers connected via the Control Panel. So I tried printing a document and the print command allows me to select the HP 3788 printer but when I press the command to print, it says to wait for printer connection and then keeps searching with no result.arts 

So is there another step I can take? Or is this a lost cause?

Thanks and I look forward to your instructions, or advice the problem is bigger.

David

[zoey7886]

Hello again @David5717, 

Thank you so much for your detailed update — you're doing great, and I really appreciate your patience through all of this!

From what you've described, it looks like the driver install made some progress, but the system is still having trouble communicating with the printer.

Let’s try this next:

 

Try a Manual IP Printer Installation:

Since the printer shows in Control Panel but doesn't connect, we’ll manually add it using the IP address.

Get the Printer’s IP Address:

On the printer, press the Information button (the “i”) to print a Network Configuration Page.

Look for the IPv4 address (something like 192.168.x.x).

Add Printer Manually:

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a Printer.

Click “The printer I want isn’t listed”.

Choose “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname”, then click Next.

Enter the IP address you found earlier. Keep the default settings.

Windows should detect and install the printer.

Set as Default Printer and try a test print.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[David5717]

Hi Zoey,

I appreciate your fast reply yesterday to the difficulty I have with getting the computer to identify the printer.

I dis as you said and printed out the Network Configuration page for the printer but I do not see anywhere on the pages (there's a page and a half of data) that states it is the IP address. In General Information section, alongside the "Internet" designation it states Not Applicable. 

The only other item that I thought it might be is the item designated Hardware Address (MAC) which shows as 14:cb:19:61:62:33. I appreciate this does not appear as an IP address would normally but there is nothing else on the Configuration Page that looks to me as being applicable.  In the sections for Wireless and Wi-Fi Direct, there is no other information that seems relevant.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I could proceed from this point, without an IP address for the printer?

Or is the printer incorrectly set-up?

Thanks for your patience.

Kind Regards,

David

[zoey7886 · Accepted solution]

@David5717, Thanks again for your clear update — you're making steady progress, and I can imagine how frustrating it must feel when the printer seems just within reach, but not quite responding.

If the Network Configuration Page doesn't show an IP address, it likely means the printer isn’t fully connected to the network yet.

Let’s try this next:

1. Reconnect Wi-Fi on the Printer:
On your HP DeskJet 3788, press and hold the Wi-Fi and Cancel buttons together until the Power light blinks. This resets the wireless settings.

2. Run HP Easy Start Again:
Once reset, rerun HP Easy Start — this time, during the setup, your printer should broadcast its setup mode and show up for connection. Make sure you're close to the Wi-Fi router, and avoid Ethernet for now to keep it simple.

3. Use HP Smart (if Easy Start fails):
Download the HP Smart app from 123.hp.com. It often picks up devices more reliably and walks you through the wireless connection step by step.

Let’s get that little machine talking — it’s just being shy for now. Let me know how it goes!

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[David5717]

Hi Zoey,

First of all, you are a star!!!! The problem is resolved and I am again able to use the printer. Thank you for all of the clear instructions and above all, your patience.

I am very, very grateful.

With Regards,

David

[zoey7886]

@David5717, A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Regards,