Use 9120 series driver or HP Smart printing?

[Michael_365]

I did setup my new 9120e printer and during this process several HP programs have been installed including but not limited to HP Smart, HP Scan, HP Scan Assistent, HP Print and Scan doctor, HP 9120 series driver.

After all installations I tried to print my first document which failed as the default printer in my Windows 11 was the "HP Office Jet Pro 9120e series" printer. This printer did not react also it was shown in Win as available.

Afterwards I realized that a 2nd printer called "HP Smart Printing" was setup which worked fine when printing on this printer. Within technical configurations the "HP Office Jet Pro 9120e series" printer is configured as "WSD-7ea..." (WSD port) and the "HP Smart Printing" printer is configured as "HPSmartPrintingPort".

Why do I have 2 printers? Which one is the one which I shall use? Which one is recommended?

This is really confusing me and I couldn't find any explanaition within HP documentation.

Printer is connected via WLAN.

[A_Gayathri · Accepted solution]

Hi @Michael_365 ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

This happens because HP Smart installs its own virtual printer (HP Smart Printing) alongside the standard driver-based printer (HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e series). Here’s a breakdown of the differences and what you should use:

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e series (WSD Port)

• This is the standard printer driver installed via Windows using Web Services for Devices (WSD).
• WSD can sometimes be unreliable, leading to print jobs getting stuck or the printer appearing "available" but not responding.
• If you experience issues, it might be best to switch to a different port (e.g., TCP/IP) instead of WSD.

2. HP Smart Printing (HP Smart Printing Port)

• This is a virtual printer created by HP Smart.
• It ensures that print jobs go through the HP Smart app, which can be more reliable in certain situations.
• It may offer additional cloud-printing features but adds an extra layer to printing.

Which One Should You Use?

• If HP Smart Printing works reliably, you can continue using it.
• If you prefer a more direct driver-based setup, try switching HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e to a TCP/IP port instead of WSD.
• To do this:
  1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click on HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e series → Printer Properties.
  3. Go to the Ports tab.
  4. Click Add Port → Select Standard TCP/IP Port.
  5. Enter the printer's IP address (found in the printer's network settings).
  6. Set this as the default printer and test.

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!