If your HP printer test page prints but nothing else, this article will guide you on how to resolve this problem.

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HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else [Solutions]

If your HP printer will print the test page but nothing else, try the following solutions to resolve the problem:

1. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

To run HP Print and Scan Doctor, click this link: Run HP Print and Scan Doctor – HP Printer Setup Cannot Find Printer and then follow the steps we shared.

If your HP printer is printing test pages but not documents after running HP Print and Scan Doctor, then the issue has not been resolved. Therefore, move on to the next solution.

2. Temporarily disable your Computer’s Firewall – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

If your HP can print a test page but nothing else, it might be that the firewall is interfering and preventing the printer’s functions. In such a situation, the solution is to temporarily disable your computer’s firewall.

How to temporarily disable your Computer’s Firewall – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

To temporarily disable your computer’s firewall, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your computer and sign in as an administrator.

Note: Only an administrator account can be used to disable your firewall.

Step 2: Look for the icon of your firewall on the taskbar’s system tray.

Step 3: Right-click on the icon when you find it.

Step 4: Select the option for disabling the firewall.

After disabling the firewall, check if the problem is resolved.

If your HP printer can print a test page but nothing else, then it means the firewall isn’t the problem. In that case, you can enable the firewall again and then try the next solution.

If you can print other documents, you have to change the firewall setting so that your print spooler has access to the computer system.

3. Install a Universal Printer Driver – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

If your HP printer test page works but nothing else, then it could be due to some issues with the installed driver such as incompatibility. In such a case, you need to install a Universal HP Printer Driver.

How to Install an HP Universal Print Driver via USB Connection – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

To install an HP Universal Print Driver via a USB connection, do the instructions below:

1. Download & Run the Universal Print Driver Setup

To download and run an HP Universal Print Driver setup, do the following steps:

Step 1: Unplug any USB cord connected to your HP printer and computer.

Note: You will get a prompt to plug back the USB cable during the installation process.

Step 2: Open an internet browser on your computer.

Step 3: Input this address in the browser’s address bar: http://www.hp.com/go/upd and then press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

Step 4: Check under the section for “Free Download” and click on “Download Software.”

Step 5: From the drop-down menu, choose your language.

Step 6: Choose your computer’s operating system.

Step 7: Under the section for “Driver – Universal Print Driver”, find the print driver you intend to download.

Step 8: Click on “Download.”

Step 9: Click on “Run” and then allow the files to be downloaded.

Note: The most recommended driver that meets most printing functions is the HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL 6.

Step 10: Click on “Next” or “Unzip” and allow the files to be extracted.

Note: Ensure that you select the checkbox for “When done unzipping open: autorun.exe.” Also, the default save location for the extracted files should not be changed.

Note: Click on “OK” when a notification shows up telling you that the files were unzipped successfully.

Step 11: When the HP Universal Printing Installer is launched, accept the End User License Agreement by clicking “Yes.”

Note: In some cases, you will have to choose the “I accept the terms in the license agreement” before clicking on “Next.”

Step 12: Choose “Dynamic mode.”

Step 13: Click on “Install”.

Allow the print drivers files to be extracted.

Note: If your Windows computer finds another print driver version, choose “Replace the current driver.” In the event that the printer you want to install is a new one that hasn’t been previously installed on the computer. Alternatively, you can choose “Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended) in the event that the printer is already installed and you just want to install another driver option.

Step 14: If you get a prompt, click on “Finish”. This action will close the installer window.

Note: In some cases, to complete your HP print driver installation, you might have to restart your Windows computer.

2. Install the HP Universal Print Driver on your New HP Printer via USB Connection

To install the HP Universal Print Driver on your HP printer via a USB connection, do the steps below:

Note: In the event that a Windows security alert pops up, do not stop the installation but allow it to be completed.

Step 1: Turn your HP printer on and allow it to become Ready.

Step 2: Plug the USB cord into your HP printer.

Step 3: Plug the other end of the USB cord into your computer.

Step 4: Allow your Windows computer to automatically detect the printer, find and then install the print driver files to your computer.

Note: You can monitor the driver installation progress by checking the notification in your screen’s bottom right corner.

Step 5: Ensure that your HP printer is the default printer by confirming that it has a green checkmark beside it when the window for Devices and Printers opens automatically.

Note: If your HP printer is not the default printer, right-click on it, and then click on “Set as default printer” before choosing your HP printer.

Step 6: Print out an HP printer test page.

We recommend that you read this article: HP Printer Test Page [How To, Issues & Solutions] to learn how to print an HP printer test page as well as how to resolve other HP printer test page-related issues.

How to Install an HP Universal Print Driver via Network Connection – HP Printer Test Page Prints but Nothing Else

To install an HP Universal Print Driver via a network connection, do the instructions below:

1. Download & Run the Universal Print Driver Setup

To download and run an HP Universal Print Driver setup, do the following steps:

Step 1: Unplug any USB cable connected to your HP printer and computer.

Step 2: Open an internet browser on your computer.

Step 3: Input this address in the browser’s address bar: http://www.hp.com/go/upd and then press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

Step 4: Check under the “Free Download” section and click on “Download Software.”

Step 5: From the drop-down menu, choose your language.

Step 6: Choose your computer’s operating system.

Step 7: Under the section for “Driver – Universal Print Driver”, find the print driver you intend to download.

Step 8: Click on “Download.”

Step 9: Click on “Save.”

Note: The most recommended driver that meets most printing functions is the HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL 6.

Step 10: Choose the folder location where the file will be saved.

Step 11: Click on “Save”.

Step 12: Click “Close” once the “.exe” file is downloaded.

Note: We recommend that you save the file where it can be easily located; a good location is the Desktop.

2. Extract the Universal Print Driver Files & Launch the Driver Installer

To extract the Universal Print Driver files and then launch the driver installer, do the steps below:

Note: In the event that you get any Windows security alert, allow the installation to be launched by the driver.

Step 1: Find and double-click on the “.exe” file.

This action will begin the extraction of the .exe files.

Note: In case you forget or failed to close the dialog box for the completed file download, you can just click on “Open Folder”. This will take you to the file location.

Step 2: Unselect the checkbox for “When done unzipping open: autorun.exe.”

Step 3: Click on “Next” or “Unzip” and allow the files to be extracted.

This action will launch the HP Universal Printing Installer.

Note: The default save location for the extracted files should not be changed.

Note: Click on “OK” when a notification shows up telling you that the files were unzipped successfully.

Step 4: When the HP Universal Printing Installer is launched, accept the End User License Agreement by clicking “Yes.”

Note: In some cases, you will have to choose the “I accept the terms in the license agreement” before clicking on “Next.”

Step 5: Choose “Traditional mode.”

With this option, the default printer will be your HP printer.

Note: In the event that you have multiple printers and don’t want to use the HP printer as the default, or you are simply installing a print driver option for a printer that has already been installed, you should choose the “Dynamic mode” instead of the “Traditional mode.”

Step 6: Click on “Install”.

Allow the print drivers files to be preinstalled. After this, the Add Printer Wizard will be launched automatically.

3. Install the HP Universal Print Driver via Network Connection

The instruction for this step is dependent on whether the printer is a new printer or an existing printer. Therefore, you need to follow the instructions that correspond to your case below.

Note: The IP address or hostname of your HP printer will be needed for this step. You can find your printer’s IP address on a configuration page or your HP printer’s control panel display. To learn how to use any of these methods to find the IP address, we recommend that you consult the user manual of your HP printer. If you don’t have the manual, you can search the internet for your printer’s online manual.

How to Install the HP Universal Print Driver via Network Connection on a New Printer

To install the HP Universal Print Driver via a network connection on a new HP printer, do the steps below:

Step 1: Connect your network cable to your HP printer if this hasn’t been done.

Step 2: Ensure that your HP printer is not in sleep mode but ready.

You can read this article: HP Printer Sleep Mode [How To, Issues & Solutions] to learn how to get your HP printer out of sleep mode.

Note: Ensure that you have downloaded the Universal Print Driver and extracted the files using the steps we shared above before you continue with the instructions here.

Step 3: Choose “Add a local printer.”

Step 4: Click on “Next.”

Allow your Windows computer to search for the available printers.

Important: For folks using the Universal Print Driver (UPD) installer, your computer will launch the wizard automatically. This installer screen can also be accessed from the desktop by clicking on “Start”, then “Printers” or “Devices and Printers,” before clicking on “Add a printer.”

Important: The other option: “Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer” is most suitable for Bluetooth or wireless connections.

Step 5: Click on “Create a new port.”

Step 6: Click on “HP Standard TCP/IP Port.”

Step 7: Click on “Next.”

Note: You should choose the “Use an existing port” option if you want to install a print driver option for an already existing printer.

Step 8: Click on “Next” when the port wizard window opens.

Step 9: In the field for “Printer Name or IP Address,” type the IP address of your HP printer.

Step 10: Click on “Next.”

Step 11: Click on “Finish.”

Step 12: Choose the print driver you intend to install.

Step 13: Click on “Next.”

Note: In case your Windows computer finds another print driver version, choose “Replace the current driver” in the event that the printer you want to install is a new one that hasn’t been previously installed on the computer. Alternatively, you can choose “Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended) in the event that the printer is already installed and you just want to install another driver option.

Step 14: If you intend that the printer will be the default printer, click the checkbox for “Set as the default printer.”

Step 15: Click on “Next.”

Wait for the printer driver to be installed.

Step 16: Choose “Do not share this printer.”

Step 17: Click on “Next.”

Step 18: Click on “Print a test page.”

Step 19: Click on “Finish.”

This action will close the “Add Printer” window.

Step 20: Click on “Finish.”

This action will close the Universal Print Driver installer window.

How to Install the HP Universal Print Driver via Network Connection on an Existing Printer

To install the HP Universal Print Driver via a network connection on an existing HP printer, do the steps below:

Step 1: Click on “Start.”

Step 2: Click on “Printers,” or “Devices and Printers.”

Step 3: Click on “Add a printer.”

Step 4: Choose “Use an existing port.”

Step 5: Click on “Next.”

Allow your Windows to search for the available printers.

Step 6: Choose the print driver you intend to install.

Step 7: Click on “Next.”

Note: In case your printer has been installed already, a prompt might ask you to select an already installed print driver. If that happens, choose the already installed print driver.

Note: In the event that the print driver you intend to install isn’t listed, click on “Windows Update”. Allow the update to be completed; you might have to wait a while, so ensure that you don’t stop the process. In case your printer is still not found, click on “The printer that I want isn’t listed”. After that, choose “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.” Click on “Next” and then type your printer’s hostname or IP address. Click the checkbox for “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” to select this option. Finally, click on “Next.”

Step 8: Type the name you want your printer to be recognized as.

Step 9: To make the printer the default printer if you desire, choose the checkbox for “Default printer.”