Waiting for printer connection ...?

[Celia671]

Hi, I just bought an HP Officejet Pro 9102e series printer.  I can print from HP Smart app and my iphone, but I can't print from my laptop.  When I try to print I get the prompt "Waiting for printer connection.  Please wait for printer connection or cancel connection."  The wait never ends.  I end up canceling the print job which usually takes entering Task Manager to cancel Word.  The wireless connection to the printer and my laptop is good.  I've tried HP diagnostics and HP Doctor.  HP diagnostics says the connection is fine.  HP Doctor gets me to the "No Print" prompt and then does nothing.  Any ideas?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Celia671 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying that out so clearly. 

The fact that printing works from HP Smart and your iPhone confirms the printer is online and reachable, so the issue is likely tied to how Windows is handling the connection from your laptop.

Let’s walk through a few targeted steps to fix it:

🛠️ Step-by-Step Fix for the “Waiting for Printer Connection” Loop

Disable Windows Managing Default Printer

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
• Scroll down and turn off “Let Windows manage my default printer”
• Set your HP 9102e manually as the default printer

Remove and Re-add the Printer

• In the same Printers & scanners menu, remove the HP 9102e
• Restart your laptop
• Re-add the printer manually:
  • Click Add device
  • If it doesn’t show up, click Add manually > Add a printer using TCP/IP address
  • Use the printer’s IP address (you can find this on the printer’s display under Wi-Fi settings)

Switch to Basic Driver

• Go to HP’s driver page for the 9102e
• Download the Basic driver instead of the full HP Smart suite
• This avoids cloud dependencies and gives you direct control

Clear Print Spooler

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter
• Find Print Spooler, right-click > Stop
• Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files
• Go back to Services and Start the Print Spooler again

🧠 Why This Happens

This issue often stems from:

• Windows trying to connect via HP Smart cloud services instead of local drivers
• A recent Windows update interfering with printer detection
• Conflicts between HP Smart and traditional print queues

Let me know how it goes after trying these steps.  We’ll get your laptop and printer back on speaking terms! 💪🖨️

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye