OfficeJet 5255 Only Shows Fax

[GTifeld]

I have a friend with an OfficeJet 5255 who just replaced her old Windows 10 laptop with a new one running Windows 11. She was able to connect the laptop to the printer via WiFi, but each time she tried to print, it comes up as the FAX function by default and she has to manually re-select the printer model that ISN'T the fax function. I tried to manually re-add the printer using HP Smart, but it only finds the model as a Fax. Even when I try ti manually input the IP address, it still will not come up as a regular printer.

How can I fix this? Thank you in advance for any tips/suggestions/advice, etc. 😁

[BongChaGomez · Accepted solution]

Hello @GTifeld ,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

You’re running into a very common Windows 11 + HP OfficeJet issue, and the behavior you describe actually tells us exactly what’s wrong. This is not a hardware problem and not a Wi-Fi problem.
It’s a Windows 11 driver / WSD discovery bug that causes the printer to be installed only as a Fax device.

Let’s fix it cleanly.

The FIX (this works)

We are going to:

1. Remove all broken entries

2. Block Windows from auto-adding the Fax

3. Add the printer manually using a TCP/IP port

4. Force the correct driver

STEP 1 — Remove EVERYTHING HP / Fax related

On the Windows 11 laptop:

A. Remove printers

1. Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners

2. Remove:

   • OfficeJet 5255 (Fax)

   • Any HP Fax entries

   • Any duplicate HP printers

Restart the PC after removing them.

B. Remove old drivers (important)

1. Press Win + R

2. Type:

   printui /s /t2

3. Go to Drivers tab

4. Remove anything that says:

   • HP OfficeJet 5200

   • HP Fax

   • HP WSD

Restart again.

STEP 2 — Disable WSD for this install (critical)

We will not let Windows auto-detect this printer again.

STEP 3 — Add the printer MANUALLY (correct way)

A. Get the printer IP address

On the printer:

• Print a Network Configuration Page

• Note the IPv4 address (example: 192.168.1.45)

B. Add printer by TCP/IP

1. Settings → Printers & scanners

2. Click Add device

3. When it fails, click:

   Add manually

4. Choose:

   Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname

5. Device type: TCP/IP Device

6. Address: (printer IP)

7. UNCHECK:

   “Query the printer and automatically select the driver”

(This is VERY important)

C. Select the correct driver

When prompted:

• Manufacturer: HP

• Printer: HP OfficeJet 5200 series

  • NOT Fax

  • NOT WSD

  • NOT Class Driver

If it’s not listed:

• Download HP OfficeJet 5200 Series Basic Driver from HP

• Use Have Disk

STEP 4 — Set the correct default

After install:

1. Go to Printers & scanners

2. Select HP OfficeJet 5255

3. Set as Default

4. Disable:

   • “Let Windows manage my default printer”

STEP 5 — (Optional but recommended) HP Smart

Once printing works:

• HP Smart is optional

• If installed, use it only for:

  • Scanning

  • Ink levels

• Do not re-add the printer inside HP Smart

Hope this helps!