Unable to turn off PRINTER Notifications

[peterhw]

I frequent receive a message 'Add a Printer' (which I don't want to do). I subsequently get the message, below, with 'Greyed out options - no use to anybody.  I then looked at Printer properties (suggested somewhere) and again appears little help.  I don't believe I have any notifications enabled.  I have powered ON / OFF the printer, rebooted the PC etc but still no solution.

Just so annoying NOT to be able to prevent and equally annoying the nature of HP message.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@peterhw, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

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

You're right: it's super frustrating when Windows keeps spamming "Add a device" notifications for a printer you already have set up or don't want to interact with again.

Why It's Happening:

• Windows 11 has an auto-detection feature called Device Setup Manager that constantly looks for new devices, especially printers.
• Your HP printer (even if already installed) occasionally broadcasts a setup availability over the network (especially HP Envy/Deskjet models).
• Windows sees that and says, "Hey! I found a device you might want to add!"... even though you already did.

How to Properly Stop It:

Here are two main solutions you can try:

1. Turn Off "Device Setup Manager" (Best Fix for This Case)

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Scroll down to Device Setup Manager.
• Right-click > Properties.
• Set Startup Type to Disabled.
• Click Stop if it's running.
• Hit Apply and OK.

This should stop Windows from pushing "Add a device" notifications for printers.

2. Turn Off Windows Device Notifications

If you also want to mute device notifications (separately):

• Open Settings > System > Notifications.
• Scroll down to Additional settings > Turn off 'Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device'.
• Also disable "Offer suggestions on how I can set up my device".

This will stop Windows suggestions that pop up after detecting new hardware.
 

Bonus Tip:

Sometimes in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners, you can see "Add a printer" stuck in a pending state.
If you see any extra "HP ENVY 6400 series" (ghost) devices there, remove them too — it helps clean it up. 
 

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 

[peterhw]

Max3Aj

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply.

I have 'implemented' option 1 and assume that this problem is fixed.

Thank you.

Still seems surprising that the HP software can't figure this out, when it can - for example - interrogate the the printer that I have and give me the status.  The solution(s) you provided are great but not what I would expect to have to do to prevent a 'redundant' message being frequently displayed.  Equally no obvious ability (in the messages) to turn off the message.

Thanks again

[peterhw]

Hi - me again,

Just had another sequence of ALERTS.

Now tried Option 2 

Below shows DISABLED as suggested in OPTION1 then OPTION shows available printers - i.e. no shadows.

Fingers crossed

[peterhw]

The ALERTS are back - sounds like a follow up Arne movie.

Just had a 'handful' in the last few minutes

Any other ideas?

Do you think 'deleting' the printer and 'reinstall' may help.

Reluctant because experience, over many years, tells me how NON straight forward this maybe