THE HP SMART TANK 520

[FrequentPrinter]

WE BOUGHT THE HP SMART TANK 520 JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO AND UNTIL NOW NO ONE HAS PRINTED FROM THAT **bleep** THING. 

Has HP realized how unfriendly its procedure is, to install a ' driver for a printer is? Worse, it becomes more complicated because the HP printer is not compatible with MAC OS, Windows 7 etc. and you have to also log in to an account to get the driver..... what for? To complain about how the printers and its drivers are a waste of time and effort. 

This is the reason people prefer brother over HP. To be honest, HP is a lot of cheaper than brother but also I never thought that the cheaper it is, the more complicated it should be. So does this mean the printer is a waste of time and space? yes. 

If you want a simpler way of a printer: How to install its drivers and all, HP Smart Tank 520 should be a sign a desperation for you. It's not smart at all. 

Google said it's not compatible with MAC OS because it doesn't have the USB port then shouldn't this have been addressed by HP and its procedure of installing drivers because if it's trying to be more innovative, shouldn't installation without using a USB Port-- the thing? It's not compatible with Windows 10 and even until 7 because for some reason, its space is too big for a driver. So does this mean that you should have a sole laptop/pc for a printer?????? 🙂 

Fix this or better yet just pull it out from the market. This isn't smart at all. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @FrequentPrinter,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

I hear your frustration, and it sounds like the "Smart" setup requirements are creating a major roadblock; this typically happens because the Smart Tank 520 is designed to use the HP Smart app for configuration rather than traditional standalone drivers, which can feel overly restrictive on older operating systems or Macs.

Attempt a Driver-Only Installation

• Visit the official HP Support website and search for "Smart Tank 520."
• Select your operating system (Windows 10 or 11) and look for the "Basic Driver" or "Full Feature Software and Driver" download instead of the HP Smart app.
• Run the downloaded .exe file and choose the "Manual Setup" or "USB" option if you are using a cable.
• Follow the prompts to install the core printing components without being forced to create or log in to an HP account.

Configure Connection for Mac OS

• Connect the printer to your Mac using a USB-B to USB-C cable or a standard USB adapter if your Mac lacks traditional ports.
• Click the Apple Menu, select System Settings, and go to Printers & Scanners.
• Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and select the Smart Tank 520 when it appears in the list.
• Choose "AirPrint" or "Secure AirPrint" in the "Use" dropdown menu to bypass the need for an HP-specific driver entirely.

Verify Windows Compatibility and Space

• Ensure your Windows 10 system has at least 2GB of free hard drive space to accommodate the full software suite.
• Right-click the installer file and select "Run as Administrator" to ensure the system has permission to write the driver files to the registry.
• Disconnect the USB cable during the software installation and only plug it in when the program specifically asks you to do so.
• Check "Windows Update" for any optional HID or printer class drivers if the manual installation continues to fail.

You can find the manual driver downloads and compatibility list in the "HP Smart Tank 520 - Software and Driver Downloads" section.

Are you currently trying to set this up on a Windows 10 PC or a Mac computer?

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

Kuroi_Kenshi