add PlugPlay service

DanErd · ‎03-11-2026

During installation of the full webpack software for the printer, in the first step that installs HP Scan Basic Device Software, the process terminates and the unsuccessful installation is cleaned up. In the "Details" description I see "service 'PlugPlay' (PlugPlay) failed to start."

I know I'm not the only one with this problem but figure I'll add my voice to the chorus. It isn't that the service just failed to start -- it's not available on the machine to start. Thus I submit the question: "How do I add the service PlugPlay to my Surface Pro machine?" Please don't tell me how to start the service. The question is how to install or add the service to the Windows installation.

Hawks_Eye · ‎03-18-2026

Hi @DanErd

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

The PlugPlay service cannot be manually added to Windows—it is a core system component that should already exist in standard Windows installations. On ARM-based devices like the Surface Pro X, this service is not included, which is why printer software that depends on it fails. The solution is to use compatible drivers or universal print software that does not rely on PlugPlay.

Understanding the Issue

Plug and Play (PnP) service is built into Windows and manages automatic hardware detection and configuration.
On Surface Pro devices running ARM-based Windows, the PlugPlay service is not available, so software requiring it cannot install.
This is why the HP Scan Basic Device Software fails during installation.

Steps to Resolve

Since the service cannot be added manually, the workaround is to install printer software that does not depend on PlugPlay:

Check Windows Version

Confirm you are running Windows 11 on ARM (Surface Pro X or similar).
The absence of PlugPlay is expected on this platform.

Use Universal Print Drivers

Download and install the HP Universal Print Driver for ARM64.
This driver is designed to work without relying on PlugPlay and ensures compatibility with ARM-based systems.

Install via HP App

Open the HP App from Microsoft Store.
Add your printer through the app, which uses modern connection methods instead of legacy PlugPlay dependencies.

Manual Add Printer

Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.
Select Add a printer or scanner.
If your printer is detected, install using the universal driver.

Verify Services

Open Services.msc and confirm Plug and Play is not listed.
This confirms the limitation is due to ARM architecture, not a missing installation.

Key Notes

You cannot install PlugPlay manually—it is not available for ARM-based Windows.
The correct path is to use ARM-compatible drivers and the HP App.
This ensures your printer functions without requiring legacy services.

In summary: The PlugPlay service cannot be added to your Surface Pro. Instead, install the HP Universal Print Driver for ARM64 and use the HP App to connect your printer. This approach bypasses the missing service and allows successful installation.

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Regards,

Hawks_Eye

I'm an HP Employee.

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DanErd · ‎04-11-2026

The reason I want the PlugPlay service is this: I cannot install the printer's full software, namely, Full_Webpack-63.6.6364-SJ0001_Full_Webpack.exe. HPSmart and whatever other print and scan software does NOT have the functionality to support all the scanning options, nor the ability to save custom scan settings. These capabilities are very important to me because of the kinds of scanning that I do regularly and THE reason I got the large format printer in the first place.

Thus the answer is no, the suggestion did not answer the question. I did install the ARM driver so I guess that's good, but I still cannot install the full printer software because of its dependence on the PlugPlay service.

Hawks_Eye · ‎04-12-2026

Thank you for sharing the details of the installation issue. I’d like to clarify this for you:

The Plug and Play (PlugPlay) service is a core Windows component that manages hardware detection and configuration. It is not something that can be manually installed or added later. On ARM-based devices such as the Surface Pro X, this service is not present, which is why the HP Scan Basic Device Software cannot complete installation.

Here’s the correct way forward:

1. Confirm your Windows platform

On your Surface Pro, check if you are running Windows 11 on ARM. The absence of PlugPlay is expected on this architecture.

2. Use ARM-compatible drivers

Download and install the HP Universal Print Driver for ARM64 from HP’s official site. This driver is designed to work without relying on PlugPlay.

3. Install via HP App

Open the HP App from the Microsoft Store.
Add your printer through the app. This method uses modern connection protocols instead of legacy PlugPlay dependencies.

4. Add printer manually if needed

Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.
Select Add a printer or scanner.
If your printer is detected, install it using the universal driver.

5. Verify services

Open Services.msc. You will see that Plug and Play is not listed on ARM-based systems. This confirms the limitation is architectural, not a missing installation.

Key Point: The PlugPlay service cannot be added to your Surface Pro. The solution is to use ARM-compatible drivers and the HP App, which ensures your printer functions correctly without requiring legacy services.