lost connection between chromebook and hp printer

[Gayle55]

printer is HP OfficeJet 5255   and  Acer Chromebook CB3-431

Connection lost between chromebook & printer. Error messages on Chromebook read: "The selected printer is not available or not installed properly. Check your printer or try selecting another printer". On the print drop down part, error message reads: "Can't connect to printer". I had my Chromebook unplugged for a few weeks while I was away; I wonder if that's what caused the problem as the printer was intact and worked fine prior to that (but I have unplugged the computer many times before without a problem, sooooo....). I asked Best Buy and clerk said it's not due to unplugging computer....but I want to consider all possibilities.

I've tried all the fixes suggested and none have worked. I even tried the last suggested resort of removing the selected printer and trying to re-enter it (as directed) automatically & then manually, but the system won't even let me enter the correct printer manually. It doesn't recognize the printer anymore even though it worked perfectly well before this glitch and the correct chosen printer still shows up on the printer display window. But since the disconnect problem, the printer now says: "The printer could not connect to Web Services. The server might be busy or temporarily unavailable. Try again later." Well of course it can't connect because the printer has been disconnected. So now I'm farther behind with the selected printer no longer 'available'. So I need to get it restored in addition to the lost connection restored.

One of the suggestions referred to ChromeOS updates as possibly being the problem. Online search indicates that my chromebook stopped auto updates in 2022. I don't know how to manually update (don't see instructions online), if I can or if I even should. But I've tried all other remedies and this seems to be the only outlier left. So I don't know.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Gayle55,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you've already tried a lot of troubleshooting steps, so let's try to tackle this step by step.

Restart Both Devices: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve connectivity issues. Turn off both your Chromebook and your HP printer, then turn them back on after a minute or two.

Check Network Connection: Ensure that both your Chromebook and your printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Sometimes, if one device is on a different network or if there are connectivity issues with the network itself, it can cause problems.

Update Chrome OS (Chromebook): Even if your Chromebook stopped auto-updating, it's still a good idea to manually check for updates periodically. Here's how you can do it:

• Click on your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
• Click on the gear icon to open Settings.
• In the "About Chrome OS" section, click on "Check for updates." If updates are available, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Update Printer Firmware (if possible): Check if there are any firmware updates available for your HP printer. Sometimes, printer firmware updates can improve compatibility with devices like Chromebooks. You can usually find instructions for updating firmware on the HP support website.

Reset Printer Network Settings: On your HP printer, you can try resetting the network settings to default. This will clear any network configurations and allow you to set it up again from scratch. Refer to your printer's manual or HP's support website for instructions on how to do this.

Reinstall Printer Driver on Chromebook: Since you've already removed the printer from your Chromebook, let's try adding it again:

• Go to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Printers.
• Click on "Add printer."
• Your HP printer should appear in the list of available printers. If it doesn't, you may need to manually add it by entering the printer's IP address.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Check Firewall Settings: Sometimes, firewall settings on your router or Chromebook can block communication between devices. Check your router's settings to ensure that the necessary ports for printing are open, and also check your Chromebook's firewall settings to make sure they're not blocking printer communication.

Hopefully, one of these steps will help you resolve the connection issue between your Chromebook and HP printer

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support