Replacement printer will not enable hp+, register printer, or contact server for firmware update

[Tim2025]

Trying to setup the warranty replacement printer.  Was able to find and setup wifi with both my MAC and iPhone.  Used both devices to complete setup but I get the connection error when trying to activate hp+ or just registration after declining hp+.  I can connect to the Embedded Web Server inside printer and reset to factory settings and then tried again with no luck. Also tried to update firmware (current firmware dated May 2025) and had a connectivity failure.

Printer has network connectivity or I could not connect via a browser and I have TV and music streaming on the network that has 1GB capacity (speed test with >900mb DL and 120mb UL).

HP doesn't allow me to use printer before setup is completed and it won;t accept the print cartridges from old printer or the ones that were shipped with printer.

BTW - HP Support page is inoperable as it just keep reloading the start page after any selection.  

Very frustrating and would like a refund as I will never buy a HP printer again.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @Tim2025,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

I am sorry to hear that you're experiencing issues setting up your warranty replacement printer, particularly with enabling HP+, registering the printer, or contacting the server for a firmware update, I would request you to please follow the steps:

Reset Printer Setup

• On the printer, go to Setup → Printer Maintenance → Restore Factory Defaults.
• This clears any failed activation attempts.
• Re‑run setup from scratch using the HP Smart app.

Firmware Update

• Even though your firmware shows May 2025, try updating again:
• On the printer’s control panel: Setup → Printer Maintenance → Update Printer.
• Or download firmware manually from HP Support.
• If the printer can’t reach HP’s servers, try updating via USB connection from your computer.

If HP+ Still Fails

• Try skipping HP+ activation and registering the printer normally.
• If even registration fails, the printer may be locked until HP resets it on their backend.

Reattempt after Quick Reset:

• Perform a quick network reset of the printer if the option is available, then try the setup process again from scratch.

DNS Settings:

• Adjust DNS settings in the printer’s network settings to use Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) as this can help in resolving connectivity issues to external servers.

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

Pallipurath.

[Tim2025]

The issue was that the printer status indicated that it was connected to WiFi but in reality the printer did not receive a proper response from the router and ended up having a link.local IP address (169.254.x.y) vs an address within the DHCP range configured on the router. When registering I kept getting a connection error due to the link.local address. Reconfigured printer via the Embedded Web Server with a static address and was able to update firmware and register the printer. It was unfortunate that the HP tech did not pick up on this when I informed him of the IP address as just a few seconds or googling the address I was able to figure out the root cause.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @Tim2025,

Thank you for responding.

The 169.254.x.x link‑local address means the printer never got a valid DHCP lease, so it looked “connected” but couldn’t actually reach HP’s servers. That’s why HP+ registration and firmware updates failed until you manually set a static IP.

Verify Printer’s IP Address

• On the printer, print a Network Configuration Page or check via control panel.
• If the IP address starts with 169.254.x.x, that’s a link‑local fallback (no DHCP response).
• A valid IP should be in your router’s range

Check Router DHCP Settings

• Log into your router’s admin page.
• Confirm DHCP is enabled and has available leases.
• Make sure the printer is listed in the DHCP client table.

Assign a Static IP

• Open the printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS) by typing its IP into a browser.
• Go to Network → IPv4 Settings → Manual IP.
• Assign a static IP within your router’s subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.50), subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and default gateway (your router’s IP, e.g., 192.168.1.1).
• Save and restart the printer.

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

Pallipurath.