HP Print App says printer is "busy" and will not print photos. I have HP Envy 7255.

[jeanne44]

I have two issues.  1.  Photos only print on regular paper, not from the photo tray.  2.  When I try to print from the HP Smart app, the app states the printer is "busy."  Then nothing happens.  When I first installed the printer,  photos did print properly. I don't know what has happened.  I have checked all printer settings when trying to print a photo, and paper type, tray, etc. settings are all correct.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @jeanne44,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

I understand how disappointing it is when your HP ENVY Inspire 7255e worked perfectly at first but is now giving you trouble, especially with printing photos and the HP Smart app reporting it as "busy."

Let’s break down both of your issues and walk through how to get things working again, step-by-step, especially since you're using Windows 7 (64-bit), which does add some compatibility challenges with newer HP software like HP Smart.

Try This Step-by-Step:

1. Use Windows Photo Viewer or Paint (instead of HP Smart)
   Since HP Smart is designed primarily for Windows 8/10/11, it might not handle advanced tray functions well in Windows 7.
   • Right-click your photo > choose Open with > Windows Photo Viewer.
   • Click Print > Print...
   • In the print dialog, select:
     • Paper Size: 4x6 or 5x7 (depending on your photo paper).
     • Paper Type: HP Photo Paper or Glossy
     • Tray/Source: Photo Tray
       
        
2. In Printer Preferences (Control Panel):
   • Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
   • Right-click on your HP ENVY 7255e > Printer Preferences.
   • Under the Paper/Quality tab, confirm:
     • Tray Selection: "Photo Tray"
     • Paper Type: "HP Advanced Photo Paper" (or similar)
   • Hit Apply, then OK.
     
      
3. Update/Reinstall Full Feature Driver
   If it still ignores the photo tray:
   • Go to HP's driver page HP ENVY Inspire 7255e All-in-One Printer - Troubleshooting | HP® Support.
   • Download the Full Feature Software and Driver package for Windows 7 (if available).
   • Remove your printer from the Control Panel first, then reinstall.

Please follow the next post for the Printer Busy error after trying these steps

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @jeanne44,

Please follow this post for continued issues related to the HP Smart App busy error.

Issue 2: HP Smart App Says "Printer is Busy" on Windows 7
 

Important: HP Smart App is not officially supported on Windows 7.

This message likely comes from compatibility issues or background services not responding properly.
 

✅ Solutions:

1. Don’t use HP Smart on Windows 7
   Instead:
   • Use Windows Photo Viewer, Word, or Paint for printing.
   • Use the HP Print Assistant (comes with a full feature driver package).
      
2. Clear Print Queue and Restart Spooler
   • Press Windows + R, type services.msc, hit Enter.
   • Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click > Restart.
   • Then, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer > See what’s printing, and clear anything stuck.
      
3. Power Cycle Everything
   • Turn off your printer, and unplug it for 1 minute.
   • Restart your PC.
   • Turn the printer back on, then try printing again using standard Windows apps.
      

I hope this helps. 
 

Take care, and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat