Why do some printers need to be connected to the internet to work?

[Michitaka17]

1. I note that, even after setup, this printer needs to be connected to the internet to work at all; presumably it needs the internet to connect to HP.  Why?
2. Are there any HP printers that do not require this?
3. I can ask a friend to use their Windows PC to set the printer up, but I need to tell them exactly what that would involve so that I do not find that they refuse to complete the setup due to being unwilling to do one of its steps.  Can you tell me what these steps are or where I can find out?
4. In the past I have always been able to install drivers using the OS that the drivers would work with; does setup involve doing anything else?

I have used HP printers for decades with excellent results, but I find the above situation confusing and my lack of understanding has robbed me of confidence; I do not know what to expect or whether further problems will arise.

Please help.

[Dragon-Fur]

@Michitaka17 

Welcome to the HP Community.

Printer

HP DeskJet 4130e All-in-One Printer 

There are factors that impact whether the printer must be connected to the Internet,

Including (and likely not limited to)

• HP+ service requires the printer to be connected to the Internet.
• Using HP Smart (Windows / Mobile) requires the user sign-into the application and might require a way to "Share" to email / online storage.
• Instant Ink Print-by-Page Trial / Subscription

This is an HP+ capable printer > Possibly a more important consideration:

If you have opted for HP+ service,

• Local network only / USB connection is not an option:  The printer must maintain a connection to Web Services (Internet).
• If you do not comply with the connection requirement, eventually the printer will complain and stop printing.
• Read and learn about the HP+ service and the requirements - information and links are provided near the end of this message.

Installing the Full Driver / Full Feature Software in Windows

I cannot guarantee your friend will want to do this for you, of course.

The installation process is slightly different than in the past only in the way the Easy Start wrapper is used to find and provide the full driver for your printer.

In my opinion, the full driver installation is largely a benign process.

That said, the operator does have to pay attention and click to continue / skip / provide the necessary information.

The printer must be connected to your local network to download the installation package.

There is no requirement that the printer be connected to the Internet to install the full driver.

Video help

HP Deskjet Plus 4152 |4155 |4158 : Download & Install HP Full featured Software on a Win 10 computer

and / or

Preparation

If you have not done so,

In addition to the HP Smart application,

Install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software for the printer.

HP Smart and other print software / applications benefit from having the full driver installed.

Printer Software Check

Notes

If the full driver printer software is installed, you will see the printer listed in Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features.

The installation of the printer software adds two shortcut icons to the Desktop.

The Printer Assistant is named for the printer and provides access to Print , Scan , and Tools

HP Scan is named for itself and provides a direct call to the HP Scan software.

Programs_and_Features_Printer_Desktop_Icons_3

Printer software not installed?

Method - Use the Easy Start Wrapper to Install the Full Feature / Full Driver Software

For printers that support the option,

Use the Easy Start wrapper to install and configure the printer software.

• Home Page - HP Easy Start 
• Open Category Software and Drivers 
• Topic: Software-Utility 
• Download-and-Save  the current version of the Easy Start wrapper to install your print software 
• If using USB:  Disconnect the USB cable between the printer and computer before installing the software.

• Right-Click on the downloaded package and "Run as Administrator" to start the installation

• Select to install the “Full Driver” / “Full Feature Software”
• If using USB:  Connect the cable when instructed to do so (near the end of the installation process).
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in.

Notes >> Easy Start... The Journey

1. Full Administrator Rights are required to complete the HP Software installation.
2. About 2/3 of the way through the setup, you will be given the opportunity to select the software - select the "Full Driver" set (as opposed to the basic driver or other application).
3. You can skip / ignore suggestion(s) that you add the HP Account – you’ll need the account at some point, for now, you can skip this suggestion (as many times as it insists it’s a good idea) during the full driver software installation.
4. If you see it, you can skip / ignore suggestion(s) regarding Instant Ink subscription.  Instant Ink subscription is NOT mandatory.
5. Full driver includes print and scan functions supported by your printer and provides the printer features on which other applications / software might depend.

========================================================================

HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guides, Product Information (Specifications), more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP DeskJet 4130e All-in-One Printer 

Printer and  HP+ service

Open HP+ Printer Homepage > Concierge Help > Click the Contact Us link in the Orange box

Note that Concierge assistance is only available for registered HP+ printers.

NOTE:  Where available, the Homepage website for the non HP+ model includes any missing "Category" sections not found in the HP+ printer site.  What?  The “+” and “not +” printers are the same printer – HP+ is a benefit / service.

READ about the service, benefits, and your responsibilities

HP+ Printing – Website / Information / FAQ

“Print Anywhere App” Supported on Select Printers

  HP Printers - Print Anywhere with the HP Smart App

1. Use Print Anywhere

Partial Excerpt:  Share your printer: Allow others to send remote print jobs to your Print Anywhere printer. Enable Private Pickup (HP+ printers only) to hold the print job until the person who sent it is near the printer.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[Michitaka17]

@Dragon-Fur

Thank you for your detailed answers. Because the situation is not simple I have some questions to check if I have understood your answers.

1. You seem to be saying that the printer will not stop working if not connected to the internet as long as I have not asked for any paid for service. Is this correct even though the manual http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c07058887.pdf states:

`Printers with a label covering the USB port must be set up with HP Smart and an Internet connection. After setup, you can print using a USB cable if needed, but the printer must also remain connected to the Internet.'

and http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c07043347.pdf states:

`Requirements for HP+ printers

Keep the printer connected to the Internet

HP+ printers are cloud-connected devices that must remain connected to the Internet in order to function. The Internet connection enables the printer to deliver HP+ specific app features and firmware updates. During setup, you must connect the printer to the Internet by Wi-Fi or Ethernet. After setup, you can print using a USB cable connection, if desired, but the printer must also still be connected to the Internet.'?

I think the problem may be that, in the documentation, the term `HP+ printer' is sometimes used to mean `HP+ capable printer in which HP+ services may or may not be enabled' and other times used to mean `printer in which HP+ services have been enabled'.

2. Are there any opportunities to correct mistakes in setup? Can I rely on not giving any payment information to stop HP claiming that I have agreed to pay something and then stopping the printer from working until I pay for a service that I do not want?

3. I need the printer and scanner to work where internet connection may not be possible and would certainly be unnecessary and inconvenient to arrange. Should I then buy a non-HP+ version of the printer (I can still return my 4130e to the retailer)?

4. The DeskJet plus 4130 (without the `e') seems not to require MS Windows to set it up; is this true? Its manuals seems not to include the quotes from 1 requiring internet connectivity; is this correct? Despite the `plus', this seems not to be an HP+ printer; is this correct? Is this the non-HP+ version of my printer (4130e)?

Thanks again for your help.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@Michitaka17 

HP+ is a choice - one for which your printer is eligible.

HP+ service is not mandatory.

There is no difference between your HP+ eligible printer and the "not HP+" printer hardware.

HP+ is available on certain printers - but HP+ printers are not physically different from their counterparts.

You do not have to purchase a different printer to avoid HP+.

That said, and at this writing, I am not aware of a way to "back out" of having selected HP+.

For one thing, doing so extends the Warranty - this would have to be "undone".

There is no monetary charge for HP+ so there is no "withholding payment" to undo having selected the HP+ option.

What if...

IF you have opted into HP+,

I cannot provide any information on how to "get you out".

From our perspective (non-HP people), HP+ is currently a one-way street.

That said, I CAN send a request to the moderators for Review.  (Ask if you would like me to do this.)

Review is not fast but it generally works to at least to the extent of having the request checked by the appropriate people.

AND / OR

You can contact Support - maybe even HP+ Concierge support - and sort it out with the support folks.

===========================================================================

What else?

Certain "Not HP+" services / applications require connection of the printer to the Internet / Web Services.

For example, Instant Ink Print-by-Page Trial / Subscription requires the printer be connected to the Internet.

HP Smart Windows requires the printer to be capable of interacting with Cloud service for scan and Share - and the application requires that you sign into the app using your HP Account credentials.

HP Smart Windows does do very much better if the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software is also installed on the computer.  There are Mac versions of HP Smart / full driver, too.

HP Smart Mobile does not require Windows to install / function.

The application does require that you sign into the app using your HP Account login credentials.

If I missed something, we can try again.

Do be aware - I am not HP support people.  I am private citizen people, like you.

Smiling.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[Michitaka17]

@Dragon-Fur

Thanks for your efforts.  I now understand what I have to do.

[Dragon-Fur]

@Michitaka17 

You are welcome.

Glad it helped - "that's what we were going for".

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[Chrisisbd1]

This is misleading though isn't it?  The M209DWE printer is almost twice the price of the (according to you) identical M209DW.

Presumably you *can't* buy an M209DWE and not choose HP+.

I'd buy a M209DW if it was as cheap as the M209DWE!  🙂