driver update fails

[Costero]

For several weeks, I have been getting a daily UPDATE AVAILABLE notification. I always click Yes, it always grinds along like it's doing something, and it always fails. What's up?

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[Meghana_10]

Hello @Costero, Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Since the printer is already working and the error only appears when HP Smart attempts to install an updated driver, the issue is most likely related to the Windows driver installation process rather than the printer itself.
 

Please try the following troubleshooting steps:
 

1. Verify Printer Functionality

Before making any changes:

• Print a test page from Windows.
• Scan a document if applicable.
• Confirm whether all printer functions are currently working.

If everything works normally, the issue may be limited to the HP Smart driver update process.
 

2. Run HP Smart Diagnostics

• Open the HP App/HP Smart.
• Select your HP Officejet Pro 8028e.
• Navigate to Diagnose & Fix (if available).
• Allow the tool to check for driver and communication issues.

3. Remove and Reinstall the Printer Driver

• Open Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners. HP OfficeJet Pro 8028 All-in-One Printer Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support
• Remove the HP Officejet Pro 8028e.
• Restart the computer.
• Re-add the printer using the HP App.

4. Check Windows Update

Driver installation failures can occur when Windows components are pending updates.

• Go to Settings > Windows Update.
• Install all available updates.
• Restart the PC.
• Retry the HP Smart update.

5. Temporarily Disable Security Software

Some antiviruses or endpoint security applications can block driver installation.

• Temporarily disable third-party antivirus software.
• Retry the driver update.
• Re-enable security software after testing.

6. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor

If you're using Windows:

• Download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor.
• Allow it to detect and repair driver, print queue, and communication issues.

7. Check for Existing Driver Conflicts

• Open: Print Server Properties > Drivers
• Remove older or duplicate HP Officejet driver entries (if present), then retry the installation.

Since HP Smart specifically states that the printer can still be used with the existing driver, the printer itself is likely functioning correctly. The failure appears to be occurring during the upgrade or replacement of the currently installed driver.
 

Could you please let us know:

• Does the printer currently print and scan successfully?
• Is the printer connected via Wi‑Fi or USB?
• Does the error occur immediately or only after the update download reaches a certain percentage?

This information will help determine whether the issue is related to Windows driver installation, HP Smart, or a security/software conflict.

Have a great day!

[Costero]

Step 1: All is OK.

Step 2: The first time I ran this, it said "no issues were found." But after doing your step #3, I ran this and it never stopped -- I gave it 30 minutes, and it just kept running. The only way out was ctrl-alt-del.

Step 3: Done, but the first time I did this the printer still showed up in the HP app. When I tried to print a test page, the app told me "the printer must be reinstalled." So then I went back to step #2 and added the printer (again).

Step 4: Done, with no issues.

Step 5: Are you saying I have to disable Microsoft antivirus? I'm not sure how to do that, and I'm not sure what you mean by "third party antivirus."

Step 6: According to the HP web, Print & Scan Doctor has been discontinued, so I can't download it.

After finding this, I gave up -- because I no longer no what to believe.

In any case, my printer is working, and I haven't gotten any notices to install drivers in the past 2 days, so I guess I'll just nor worry about it.

[Meghana_10]

Thank you for the detailed update, and we are glad to hear the HP Officejet Pro 8028e is working normally and that the update notification has stopped appearing. @Costero 
 

A couple of clarifications about the earlier steps:
 

• You do not need to disable Microsoft Defender just to troubleshoot this. By "third-party antivirus," we meant security software from another company, such as Norton, McAfee, or Bitdefender. Since your printer is working, we would not recommend changing your security settings at this point.
• You are also correct about HP Print and Scan Doctor. It has been discontinued for many newer HP products.
• The HP App/Smart diagnostic running indefinitely after reinstalling the printer is another reason we would not keep repeating the reinstall/diagnostic process.

Because printing and scanning are working and the driver-update notification has disappeared, there is no need to keep troubleshooting simply to force that update. The existing driver can continue to be used if it is functioning correctly.
 

If the "UPDATE AVAILABLE" message returns and the update fail again, please take a screenshot of the failure message (especially any error code or wording). That would be much more useful for identifying what is actually failing than repeatedly reinstalling the printer.

For now, I would leave the working printer configuration alone.
 

Glad we could at least get you back to a working printer.