print quantity changing on its own

[susandelgado19]

I am attempting to print 8 copies of multiple pages.  For each individual page, I change the quantity to 8 and hit print and the quantity changes as the print dialog grays out.  Every time.  And not to the same quantity every time.  

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @susandelgado19 

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

Thanks for explaining that so clearly—I’m really sorry you’re dealing with such erratic behavior when trying to print multiple copies. It’s frustrating when the print dialog seems to have a mind of its own, especially when you're just trying to get consistent output.

Let’s walk through a few steps to help stabilize the print quantity and ensure your HP DeskJet 4255e prints exactly what you ask for:

 

1. Reset the Print Spooler A stuck spooler can override print settings mid-command.

• 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 and delete all files inside.
• Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.

2. Reinstall the Printer Driver Corrupted drivers can misinterpret print commands.

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click your printer and select Remove device.
• Visit the HP DeskJet 4255e driver page and reinstall the full driver package.

3. Use HP Smart App for Controlled Printing This app often handles multi-copy jobs more reliably.

• Download the HP Smart App.
• Open the app, select your printer, and choose Print > Document.
• Set the number of copies and preview before printing.

4. Print from a Different Application Sometimes the issue is with the app, not the printer.

• Try printing the same document from WordPad, Notepad, or Adobe Reader.
• Observe whether the quantity holds steady.

5. Update Printer Firmware Firmware updates can resolve command misfires.

• Visit the HP DeskJet 4255e firmware page.
• Download and install the latest firmware for Windows 11.

6. Check for Conflicting Print Settings Some apps override system settings.

• In the print dialog, click Printer Properties or Preferences.
• Confirm the number of copies is set to 8 and not overridden elsewhere.
• Avoid using “Collate” or “Reverse Order” if not needed—they can affect copy count.

Please try these steps and let me know how the printer responds. I truly hope this brings back consistent, reliable printing without the quantity jumping around. If it still misbehaves, I’ll be here to help you fine-tune further.

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