On HP smart it says ready but i cant print

[LukaUkmar]

In hp smart it says that printer is ready but i cant print. When i go ot settings - devices and printer, sometimes it says not conected sometimes conected, or unknown. Sometimes it print sometimes it doesnt. when i reset the pc ussualy it prints all from before

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @LukaUkmar 

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

Thank you for explaining the situation so clearly—and I understand how frustrating it is when your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 shows “Ready” in the HP App but fails to print consistently. The fact that pending jobs release after a restart suggests a communication delay or spooler conflict between Windows and the printer.

Let’s walk through a focused recovery path to stabilize printing:

Step-by-step actions to restore consistent printing

 

1. Clear and reset the print spooler

This resolves stuck jobs and queue miscommunication:

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
• Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click, and select Stop
• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
• Delete all files in that folder
• Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start

 

2. Set printer to print directly (bypass spooling)

This avoids delays and improves reliability:

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
• Select your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740
• Click Printer properties > Advanced tab
• Uncheck Enable advanced printing features
• Select Print directly to the printer
• Click Apply, then OK

 

3. Reinstall the printer driver cleanly

This ensures proper communication with Windows:

• Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter
• Right-click your printer and choose Remove device
• Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, uninstall any HP printer software
• Restart your PC
• Download the full driver from:
  HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Driver and Software
• Install and reconnect the printer

 

4. Run HP’s Diagnose & Fix tool

This tool checks for communication faults and resets internal alerts:

• Download from:
  Diagnose & Fix – HP Support
• Run the tool and follow on-screen instructions

 

5. Avoid using multiple printer entries

If multiple versions of the printer appear in Settings or Control Panel:

• Remove all but one
• Ensure only the correct USB or network-connected instance remains
• Set it as Default Printer

Let me know how the printer behaves after these steps. You’ve done everything right by staying observant and persistent, and I’ll be here to guide you further if needed.

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