Troubleshooting HP Small Printer Issues: ePrint, Paper Size, and Settings Guide

Hp Small Printers are known for their convenience and compact design, perfect for home offices or limited spaces. However, users sometimes encounter challenges when using features like ePrint or managing paper size settings. This guide addresses common issues and provides solutions to ensure your HP small printer operates smoothly, focusing on optimizing your printing experience and understanding key settings.

Understanding HP ePrint and its Limitations on Small Printers

HP ePrint allows you to print documents and photos simply by emailing them to your printer’s email address. This is incredibly handy for quick prints from anywhere. However, it’s important to understand a key limitation, especially relevant to photo printing on HP small printers.

As highlighted in HP’s documentation, if you send an image file as an ePrint attachment, it will automatically print at a 4×6 inch size. This isn’t a malfunction, but a design feature of the ePrint service.

HP ePrint Feature

This automatic 4×6 sizing can be unexpected if you intend to print images in a different size. The ePrint system is designed for ease of use and broad compatibility, and unfortunately, users have no direct control over this automatic image resizing within the ePrint process itself. There are no settings within the ePrint email or interface to alter this behavior.

Why does this happen? The ePrint service identifies image files and defaults to a standard photo print size. This is likely for standardization and to ensure prints are manageable across various printer models, including smaller, more basic HP printers.

What can you do?

For Documents: Ensure your documents are in PDF format. PDF documents sent via ePrint should print on standard Letter or A4 paper sizes, single-sided, respecting the document’s original layout.
For Photos with Specific Sizes: If you need to print photos in sizes other than 4×6, avoid using ePrint for these jobs. Instead, use direct printing methods from your computer or mobile device, where you have full control over paper size and print settings. We’ll cover these methods in detail below.

Setting Paper Size Correctly on Your HP Small Printer

Proper paper size settings are crucial for accurate and expected printouts. Whether you are printing documents or photos, ensuring your printer is aware of the paper loaded is essential. There are several ways to manage paper settings on your HP small printer, depending on your printer model and connection type.

1. Checking and Adjusting Paper Settings on the Printer Display Panel

If your HP small printer is equipped with a display panel, this is often the most direct way to manage paper settings. This method is not applicable to printers without a display screen.

HP Printer Control Panel

Steps:

Open the Paper Tray: Physically open the paper tray on your printer.
Load Paper: If you haven’t already, load the desired paper type and size into the tray.
Wait and Close: Allow a few seconds for the printer to detect the paper. Then, close the tray firmly.
Check the Display Panel: Your printer’s display panel should ideally show a message prompting you to confirm or modify the paper settings.
Modify Settings (If Necessary):
- Look for a Modify or similar button/option on the display. The exact wording may vary depending on your printer model.
- Select this option to access the paper size and type settings.
- Choose the correct Paper Size and Paper Type from the available lists.
- Custom Sizes: If your specific paper size isn’t listed, look for a “Custom” option. This is often at the bottom of the size list and allows you to define specific dimensions.
- Confirm your selections by pressing OK or a similar confirmation button.

By adjusting these settings directly on the printer, you ensure the printer hardware is correctly configured for the paper you are using.

2. Utilizing the Embedded Web Server (EWS) for Networked Printers

For HP small printers connected to your network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), the Embedded Web Server (EWS) offers a web-based interface to manage printer settings, including paper handling.

Accessing EWS:

Obtain Printer IP Address: You’ll need your printer’s IP address. You can usually find this in the printer’s network settings menu on the display panel, or by printing a network configuration page.
Open Web Browser: On your computer or mobile device, open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.).
Enter IP Address: In the browser’s address bar, type in your printer’s IP address and press Enter. This should open the EWS interface in your browser.

Navigating Paper Settings in EWS:

The EWS interface layout can vary slightly between HP printer models, but the general navigation for paper settings is usually similar.

EWS via Browser:

Navigate to Settings: Look for a Settings tab or menu within the EWS.
Find Preferences or Tray and Paper Management: Within the Settings menu, locate sections like Preferences or Tray and Paper Management.
Tray Settings: You should see options to configure settings for each paper tray in your printer.
Adjust Paper Size and Type: For the relevant tray, select the correct Paper Size and Paper Type from the dropdown menus.
Advanced Settings (If Available): Some EWS interfaces have an “Advanced” section, often at the bottom of the Tray and Paper Management menu. Explore these advanced settings for more granular control if needed.
Apply Changes: After making your selections, click Apply or Save to save the changes to your printer’s configuration.

EWS via HP Smart App:

The HP Smart application, available for mobile (iOS and Android) and desktop (Windows), also provides access to the EWS interface and printer settings.

HP Smart Mobile (iOS/Android):

Open HP Smart App: Launch the HP Smart app on your mobile device.
Select Your Printer: Ensure your HP small printer is selected within the app.
Access Printer Settings: Look for a Settings icon or option within the app interface for your printer.
Tray and Paper: Scroll down within the settings and find “Tray and Paper” settings.
Adjust Settings: Configure paper size and type as described in the “EWS via Browser” section above.
Apply Changes: Tap Apply to save the settings.

HP Smart Windows:

Open HP Smart App: Launch the HP Smart application on your Windows computer.
Select Printer Settings: Click on your printer within the app, and then look for “Printer Settings“.
Advanced Settings: Within Printer Settings, find an “Advanced” section. It might be under a “Settings” tab and then “Preferences“.
Tray and Paper Management: Locate “Tray and Paper Management” within the Advanced settings.
Adjust Settings: Configure paper size and type as described in the “EWS via Browser” section above.
Apply Changes: Click Apply to save.

Important Note for EWS: Always update the paper settings in the EWS before you send a print job. The printer uses these settings when processing print requests.

3. Setting Printing Preferences in Windows Driver

For printing directly from a Windows computer, you can also manage paper settings through the printer driver preferences. These settings can sometimes override or complement the EWS settings. This section is not directly applicable to mobile printing.

Accessing Printing Preferences:

Open Settings: Go to Windows Settings (Windows key + I).
Devices: Click on “Devices“.
Printers & Scanners: Select “Printers & scanners” from the left-hand menu.
Select Your Printer: Click on your HP small printer in the list of printers.
Manage: Click the “Manage” button.
Printing Preferences: In the printer management window, click on “Printing preferences“. You might also see “Printer properties” or “Shortcuts” which can lead to similar settings.

Configuring Paper Settings in Preferences:

Printing Shortcuts Tab: Look for a “Printing Shortcuts” tab.
Select a Shortcut: Choose a relevant shortcut, such as “Everyday Printing” or similar general-purpose option.
Paper/Quality Tab (or similar): Navigate to a tab that controls paper and quality settings. This might be labeled “Paper/Quality“, “Paper“, or similar.
Paper Size and Source: Within this tab, you should find dropdown menus for “Paper Size” and “Paper Source” (Tray selection).
Adjust Settings: Select the correct Paper Size and ensure the Source is set to the appropriate tray if your printer has multiple trays.
Apply and OK: Click “Apply” to apply the changes and then “OK” to close the Printing Preferences window.

Custom Shortcuts:

HP printer drivers often allow you to create or modify custom printing shortcuts. This is useful if you frequently use specific paper sizes or print settings.

Creating a Custom Shortcut: In the “Printing Shortcuts” tab, you might find options like “Save As” or “Create Custom Shortcut“. Use these to save your customized paper and other settings as a new shortcut with a descriptive name.

General Printer Setting Tips for HP Small Printers

Beyond paper size, here are a few additional tips to optimize your HP small printer experience:

Set Default Printer in Windows: Ensure your HP small printer is set as the default printer in Windows. This prevents accidentally printing to a different printer.
- Windows Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners:
  - Uncheck “Let Windows manage my default printer”.
  - Select your HP printer from the list.
  - Click “Manage” and then “Set as default“.
Explore Printing Shortcuts: Utilize printing shortcuts in the printer driver to quickly select pre-defined settings for common print jobs like photos, documents, or draft prints.
HP Scan Menu: If your HP small printer is a multifunction device with scanning capabilities, explore the HP Scan software (often accessed through the HP Smart app or separate HP Scan utility). Customize scan settings like resolution, file type, and destination within the scan menu.

By understanding these settings and troubleshooting steps, you can effectively manage your HP small printer and overcome common printing challenges, ensuring you get the best performance and results from your compact printing solution.