HP DeskJet 4155e Connected via USB Not Printing

[HeddenRAS]

Good morning, I have been having issues with this printer since I inherited it from the previous manager. It refuses to properly connect over Wifi (I forget the issues there because it's been a couple months since I attempted), so I have been connecting it via USB to print and it has worked just fine that way.... until recently.

Now, it has stopped in the middle of a print job multiple times now while still connected via USB as if jammed, but the Chromebook reads it as still printing. After that, nothing will print despite all the print jobs registering as completed. First time this happened, I turned the printer off and back on--still didn't work. It wasn't until I deleted the saved printer in settings and readded it that it started printing again. But that didn't last a full morning before the printer stopped working again. Deleting the saved printer and re-adding it isn't working this time, however.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@HeddenRAS, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Based on your issue with the HP DeskJet 4155e and Chrome OS, here's a breakdown of what's likely going on and how to resolve it: 

• Printer connected via USB to a Chromebook.
• Printer stops mid-job but Chromebook still shows printing status.
• Print jobs show as completed, but nothing is actually printed.
• Re-adding the printer sometimes helps, but only temporarily. 
   

Probable Causes

CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) error or crash on Chrome OS.

USB communication breakdown or buffer overload.

Background service on Chrome OS (e.g., Print Spooler) misbehaving.

Chrome OS's limited and finicky USB printer support—especially with HP printers.
 

Step-by-Step Fixes

1. Fully Reset the Printer Connection

• Remove the printer in Chromebook settings: 
  Go to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers 
  Remove the HP DeskJet 4155e.
• Disconnect the USB cable from both ends.
• Power cycle both the printer and the Chromebook.
• Reconnect the USB and re-add the printer.

Important: Only plug the USB back in after rebooting both devices.
 

2. Use HP’s "IPP over USB" Class Driver

Chrome OS supports printers using IPP over USB, but this requires:

• Firmware support on the printer (the 4155e supports it).
• That you use the "HP DeskJet 4100 series" driver when adding the printer.
• If given the option to choose between "HP", "IPP USB", or "HP DeskJet 4100 series", choose the IPP USB version.

3. Try Enabling Wi-Fi Direct Instead

If USB remains unstable:

• Use the Wi-Fi Direct feature to print without needing full Wi-Fi setup.
• On the printer:

1. Press and hold the Information and Cancel buttons together to print a Wi-Fi Direct info page.
2. Connect your Chromebook to the Wi-Fi Direct network from the printer.
3. Then add the printer again via Chromebook’s printing settings.

4. Factory Reset the Printer (if issues persist)

Sometimes inherited devices have odd configurations. Reset the printer:

• Turn printer on, press and hold Cancel and Wireless buttons together until the power light blinks.
• This resets network and print settings to factory defaults.

Optional: Clean Up Print System on Chromebook

• Type chrome://devices in the Chrome browser’s address bar.
• Under "Printers", remove any old or ghost printers.
• Reboot Chromebook.
• Then go to chrome://settings > Advanced > Printing, and re-add your HP DeskJet.

I hope this helps. 
 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[HeddenRAS]

Thank you for your assistance. Power cycling both the printer and the Chromebook has made the difference--previously I had only power cycled the printer, not considering the potential problem could have also been specific to the Chromebook. It does still happen whenever I disconnect the printer from the Chromebook and I have to repeat the process of removing the printer from my devices, disconnecting the cable from both, and power cycling the printer and Chromebook each time, though, and I wonder what I might be able to do to avoid having to do this so frequently. I cannot imagine this is good for either device.

I did, also, figure out why I was having a hard time setting up Wifi printing--according to the HP Smart App, the HP DeskJet 4155e is no longer compatible with it. At least, I could not find it in the list of supported devices when I tried to connect the printer to the app in order to check whether or not the printer needed a firmware update. Would you be able to confirm whether or not this is true for me? Thanks again!

[Max3Aj]

@HeddenRAS, Thank you for getting back. 
You are most welcome and I'm glad the power cycling solution helped! You're absolutely right that needing to repeat this every time the printer is reconnected is not a sustainable or healthy long-term solution for either your Chromebook or the printer.
Let’s tackle both of your current concerns:

Preventing Repeated USB Disconnection Issues

Here’s how to reduce or eliminate the issue:

Option A: Keep USB connected and the printer powered

If possible, leave the printer:

• Connected via USB to the same port
• Plugged in and powered on
• Not put into deep sleep (disable Auto-Off or set sleep timer to higher delay if available)

This avoids triggering a re-enumeration of the USB device, which is where the instability begins.

Option B: Try IPP-over-USB

When re-adding the printer, select the “IPP USB” protocol driver (if available) in the printer setup. This makes the printer behave more like a network printer even when connected via USB—reducing communication glitches.

If it's not showing up automatically, try:

• Visiting chrome://devices/
• Look under “Discovered devices” for something like HP DeskJet 4100 series (USB) or IPP-USB

Add it from there and confirm it installs as an IPP USB printer. 

Wi-Fi & HP Smart App Compatibility for DeskJet 4155e

The HP DeskJet 4155e is supported by HP Smart, but only during its HP+ activation period and when connected to Wi-Fi.

If the printer was never activated properly (or lost activation after ownership transfer), it may not appear in HP Smart unless connected to a network.

Try this:

Reset the printer to factory settings:

• Hold the Cancel and Wireless buttons together until the power light blinks.
• Use a phone/tablet (Android or iOS) with the HP Smart app to set it up over Wi-Fi.

(You may be able to complete the HP+ activation and check for firmware updates.

If it's no longer eligible for HP+, you can still use it as a regular Wi-Fi printer.)

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support