uninstalling and reinstalling HP printer/scanner

[astara1]

the saga: i had to get a new laptop because a couple things broke on my old one and it had to do with the motherboard.. so i got a new laptop. the people who set the new on up did a pretty good job of it. i connect the printer/scanner using USB.  when i look at the system settings, under Printers and Scanners,  i see the printer as Laser Jet Pro MFP M28-M31. i see another device Laser Jet Pro M28W, not connected, and when i look at that device i see WSD Scan Device. but it is status IDLE. 

I can print  but cannot scan. i tried the HP scan apps and when  they scanned  (i could hear the scanner scan) i got nothing. there was no image of the scanned paper.  I downloaded HP Smart but when i scanned, the scan stopped in the middle of scanning and i got the message SCAN CANCELLED BY SCANNER.  (i  did download a Microsoft SCAN program and that works but i cannot really specify the name and location of the file, stored in OneDrive with a name SCANxxxx. So i know it works but i want control.)

So, my question is, can i just delete the two devices listed in the printer/scanner section of system settings but show up as one device in the list of things on the PC (which i don't remember how i got to).

And when i reinstall the printer/scanner, how do i make it so that i can us WiFi instead of USB?

Thanks for any help which can be provided. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @astara1,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

When a printer has been installed multiple times or migrated to a new computer, Windows may retain older printer and scanner entries. These duplicate entries can interfere with scanning communication, particularly when switching between USB and wireless connections.

Removing the old printer entries and reinstalling the device using the current HP software can help establish a clean connection and enable wireless scanning functionality.

Removing the Old Devices

This process removes existing printer and scanner entries so that the device can be reinstalled cleanly.

1. Open Windows Settings (press the Windows key + I).
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices (or Devices in older Windows versions), then select Printers & scanners.
3. Click on LaserJet Pro MFP M28-M31 and choose Remove or Remove device.
4. Repeat this step for the LaserJet Pro M28W / WSD scan entry.
5. Unplug the USB cable from both the laptop and the printer.

Switching to Wi-Fi Setup

Configuring the printer for wireless operation can eliminate the need for the USB connection and provide full printer and scanner functionality over the network.

1. Turn on your HP LaserJet Pro M28w and ensure it is near your Wi-Fi router.
2. Put the printer into Wi-Fi setup mode: press and hold the wireless button on the printer control panel until the wireless light starts blinking.
3. Download and open the HP Smart app on your laptop or visit 123.hp.com to get the latest full feature driver package.
4. Choose the option to add a new printer and follow the prompts on your screen.
5. When the app searches for your network, it will configure the printer to join your home Wi-Fi instead of relying on the USB cable.

After the old printer entries are removed and the printer is configured through HP Smart, the device should appear as a single active printer on the network, and scanning functions should operate normally through HP software.

If the printer setup does not complete successfully, verify that the wireless indicator remains active and that the printer and laptop are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If you tell me your Windows version (Windows 10 or 11) or if the wireless light on the printer stops blinking during setup, I can give you the next exact steps to finish the connection.

I hope this helps

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

Kuroi_Kenshi