New printer is connected but won't print. get a dialog box asking where I want to save the document

[Billyjean10]

Officejet pro 6968 all in one. Connected printer to new HP computer. Downloaded HP smart and drivers. But...when I try to print a document (or anything) a dialog box appears asking where I want to save it. 

[Max3Aj]

@Billyjean10, Hi there, and welcome to HP Support Community!

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

It sounds like your OfficeJet Pro 6968 is currently set to "Print to PDF" instead of sending the job to the actual printer. That’s why you're seeing a dialog box asking where to save the document.

Let’s fix that with these steps:

Check Default Printer Settings

1. On your HP computer, press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
2. In the Devices and Printers window, look for your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968.
3. If you see Microsoft Print to PDF or another printer marked with a green checkmark, right-click your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 and select Set as default printer.

Confirm Printer is Installed Correctly

1. Open HP Smart and make sure your printer shows as Connected.
2. If not, click Add Printer and follow the prompts to reconnect it.

You can also download the full driver/software package here: Official HP® Support

Try a Test Print

1. Open any document (e.g., Word or PDF).
2. Press Ctrl + P to open the print dialog.
3. Make sure HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 is selected in the printer dropdown.
4. Click Print.

Remove Unwanted Printer Entries (Optional)

Sometimes duplicate or virtual printers can cause confusion.

1. Go back to Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click and Remove Device for any printer that isn’t your OfficeJet Pro 6968 (e.g., “Print to PDF”, “Fax”, or old printer entries).

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

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Take care and happy computing!

Best regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support