How to Fix HP Solution Center Not Working

Have you ever had trouble using HP’s solution center? If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. Since 2021, many people have had issues with their solution center. Fortunately, there are a few solutions available.

HP Solution Center Not Working

To fully utilize HP’s solution center, you will need Adobe Flash Player. HP Solution Center cannot function if the Flash plugin is not installed and running on your computer. Due to Adobe’s permanent removal of the Flash Player (as of January 2021), you may be unable to access HP Solution Center. 

You can tell if you’re experiencing this problem by the appearance of a Flash icon whenever you try to launch the HP Solution Center.

How to Fix HP Solution Center Not Working

There are a few solutions that you can test out to continue using your HP printer even without access to the HP Solution Center. Some of them are:

Using the built-in print driver for Windows

The only way to continue using your printer without installing third-party software or exposing yourself to security risks is to switch to the Windows built-in print driver.

Even though you don’t need to install any drivers, you still need to configure your printer. The procedures vary depending on whether you use a network or a USB-connected printer.

Connecting an HP USB Printer

These instructions will only work if you send print jobs from a single computer to an HP printer that connects through USB.

  • Press the Windows Start button, then type ‘change device installation settings’ into the search field.
  • The option to “Change device installation settings” will appear on the menu.
  • Make sure the “Yes” switch is selected in Device installation settings, and then hit “Save Changes” to apply the modifications.
  • The next thing you need to do is check if a functional USB port is available on your computer.

Please don’t add a docking station or USB hub to your printer’s Setup. Most HP printer models will need more juice to function within typical parameters.

  • Please wait until the printer reaches idle mode after turning it on. Just hold off until you can no longer hear any sounds coming from it.
  • Hook up the printer to the computer through the USB cord and wait for the computer to detect the printer. There may be a set of instructions displayed on the screen that you must follow to set up the printer locally. However, this will vary by printer model.
  • After the process, try printing to see if it works properly. If you’re still having trouble, try the next steps.
  • In the search bar that appears when you press the Windows key, type “add a printer or scanner.” Select “Add a printer or Scanner” from the list shown.
  • Click “Add Device” once Windows displays all of the printer options.
  • Let the process finish, then restart your computer to see if the problem has been resolved.

When adding a printer, if it isn’t automatically detected, select “Add a new device manually,” then pick the printer port and model.

Start your computer back up and see whether the printing regularly works after that.

Setting Up a Network Printer

  • Changing device installation settings can be done by pressing the Windows key and typing the phrase. Then, select “Change device installation settings.”
  • Then, position the printer close to the wireless access point (or a Wi-Fi extender).
  • Ensure that your computer and printer are linked to the same network.

Please be aware that this process varies from model to model.

  • Navigate to SetupSetup> Network > Wireless > Wireless Setup Wizard on HP models with a touchscreen interface.
  • On HP devices without a touchscreen interface, press and hold the wireless button for 5 seconds or until the wireless light begins flashing. Then press and hold the WPS button on your router.
  • For HP printers with an Ethernet port, link the printer’s port to the network hub through an Ethernet wire.
  • On your computer, hit the Windows key and type “add a printer” into the search box. You can add a printer or scanner by selecting the option in the results list.
  • To continue, select Add device from the subsequent menu and wait for the initial scan to finish.
  • Suppose the printer is on the same network as your computer. In that case, Windows should be able to find and use it automatically.

If not,

  • After a failed attempt, a new option to “Add a new device manually” will become available.
  • Click the “Add a printer using an IP address or hostname” toggle on the following screen, and then click Next.
  • When prompted, select “AutoDetect” from the Device Type selection, enter the printer’s IP address where indicated, and click “Next.”

Please be aware that your HP printer model will also determine the specific steps you need to take to locate your printer’s IP address.

  • You can find the IP address in the Wireless Summary or Network Settings menu for HP products with a touchscreen interface.
  • Press and hold the WIFI button and the information button on HP inkjet printers without a touchscreen for instructions (or the Start, Copy, and Back buttons, if available). It will cause your device to generate a report detailing its network connections, including your IP address.
  • Press the Wireless button on HP laserjet printers for 10 seconds or until the Ready light blinks. It will include the IP address in the report that is generated.
  • Press and hold the info button on HP DeskJet 6000 and 6400, ENVY 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers until all of the buttons on the panel begin to glow. In this case, you can print a network report, including your IP address, by releasing the information button and then pressing it again while holding down the resume button.
  • To generate an IP address report on a Laser NS or Neverstop Laser printer, press and hold the resume button alongside the wireless button for 3 seconds.

Finish setting up the printer as instructed, and then check whether or not the printing is working correctly.

Using a Printer Scanning Application

You may not be able to use more advanced functions, such as scanning, even if you follow the steps outlined above, depending on the type of printer you have. The ‘death’ of the HP Solution Center program may be inconvenient, but there are tools that can help you make up for it.

Many programs exist for this purpose; however, we advise downloading the official HP Scan and Capture software.

For those using Windows 10 or 11, this is the latest software published by HP to provide access to capabilities previously available only through HP Solution Center. Use it with your computer’s camera or printer to scan and capture images and documents. Only Windows 8.1 or later versions are compatible with this UWP (Universal Windows Platform) program.

This UWP app requires downloading and installing from Microsoft’s official channels before use.

Follow these steps:

As a side note, it’s also available in the Windows Store.

  • You can begin the download process by selecting “Get in Store” from the subsequent screen and following the on-screen instructions.
  • Start the software after downloading it locally, and navigate to its configuration menu. Choose your HP printer from the menu.
  • Pick either the Document Scan Options or the Photo Scan Options menu item, then adjust the settings as desired.
  • To begin using this function, select either “Capture Documents” or “Capture Settings,” depending on your needs.

Here are some alternatives to try if this app doesn’t work for you:

  • The Windows Scan app is another third-party option available for download from the Microsoft Store. It is designed to work with a wide variety of HP products. However, as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) program, it’s only compatible with Windows 8.1 and later versions.
  • Windows Fax and Scan is a basic program included in all modern versions of Windows. Type ‘fax’ into the Windows search box to produce the appropriate results. It’s not available for all HP printer models.

If None of These Solutions Seem to be Working, Then What Next?

If you’ve exhausted these options and are still experiencing difficulties, consider contacting a professional. They can investigate the problem with your printer and advise you on how to get it working again.