How do you set up an HP inkjet printer?

The setup takes approximately 30 minutes. What do you need?

• An HP inkjet printer
• A4 paper
• Cartridges
• A computer or laptop
• A printer cable if you have a printer without WiFi.

Note: For this article, we use the HP ENVY Photo 6234 All-in-One inkjet printer. The setup of other HP inkjet printers is almost identical. If you encounter differences during the setup, check the manual of your printer.

Before you begin to install your HP printer, you have to unpack and connect your printer, and remove any protective material. You can do this as follows:

1. Unpack your HP printer and remove all tape and protective material from the inside and outside of the printer. Check the manual to make sure you don't miss any material.
2. Plug in the power cord to power the printer. Turn the printer on and choose the correct language on the screen.
3. Add a stack of paper. Note: with some models you have to clamp the paper between 2 plastic sliders that you push inwards.

The printer is now turned on, but it's not connected to a computer yet. In the following steps, we'll explain how to connect the printer.

It's pretty easy to install the cartridges, but it should be done with care. First, lift the top lid of the printer. With the ENVY 6234, it's located under the scanner unit. You lift it up with the levers on the side. Remove the cartridges from the packaging and make sure you place the right color in the right place. The color is labeled at the bottom of the cartridge. Remove the (orange) sticker from the cartridge and gently push the cartridge into the holder until you hear a click. Close the lid when you have placed all the cartridges.

Note: most printers come with cartridges for setup. These cartridges contain less ink, and they're necessary for setup.

You've connected your printer. Now, we'll ensure that your computer can control the printer. We'll install the HP Smart app on your laptop or PC. Do you have an HP laptop? This app is pre-installed by default. Go to '123.hp.com' in your browser and enter the product name of your printer, such as 'ENVY 6234'. Download the HP Smart app.

Open the HP Smart file you've just downloaded from your download folder. If you have a printer that is compatible with HP Instant Ink, the program will ask you if you want to use your trial period almost right away. Enter your personal information to use it. Don't want a trial period or do you already have an Instant Ink subscription? Proceed to the next step.

EasyStart will then ask you which software you want to install. Choose the option 'Full software and drivers' if you want additional software to solve problems in addition to the basic driver. Choose 'Basic drivers' if you only want the driver.

Your drivers are now installed on your computer. This can take a while, so feel free to grab a cup of coffee and put your feet on the desk. If you haven't connected the printer to WiFi, then look up your WiFi code or grab a network cable. After this step, the computer will connect to your printer. It's important that your printer is connected to the same WiFi network as your laptop or PC.

The printer will connect to WiFi and the installation is done. The printer will first print some test pages to calibrate the cartridges. Afterwards, you can star with your own first print.