How to Install an HP DeskJet 2855e Printer: A Complete Setup Guide
Setting up a new printer should be fairly straightforward, but a few small details can make the difference between a smooth installation and an afternoon spent wondering why the computer cannot find the printer. If you are learn How to Install an HP DeskJet 2855e Printer, the initial setup involves more than simply plugging it into a power outlet.
The printer needs to be unpacked correctly, loaded with paper and ink, connected to your network or computer, and added to the device you plan to print from. This guide walks through the process from the moment the printer comes out of the box to your first test print.
Before You Install the HP DeskJet 2855e
Choose where you want to keep the printer before beginning the installation. A stable desk or table with enough room to open the paper tray and access the cartridge area works best.
If you intend to use the printer wirelessly, its location also matters. Avoid placing it too far from your Wi-Fi router, particularly during the first setup. A weak wireless signal can make printer discovery slower or cause the connection process to fail.
You will need:
-
Your HP DeskJet 2855e printer
-
The supplied power cord
-
Compatible ink cartridges
-
Plain white printer paper
-
A Windows PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet
-
Access to your Wi-Fi network if you want wireless printing
-
Your Wi-Fi password
For wireless installation, connect the phone or computer you are using for setup to the same network that you want the printer to use.
Step 1: Unpack the HP DeskJet 2855e
Remove the printer from its packaging and place it on your chosen surface.
Printers normally arrive with protective tape, cardboard, or packing material securing moving parts during transportation. Look around the outside of the printer and inside accessible areas for anything that needs to be removed.
Take your time with this part. Leaving a piece of packing material inside the printer can interfere with paper movement or prevent a component from operating normally.
Once everything has been removed, place the printer where you plan to use it.
Step 2: Connect the Printer to Power
Connect the power cable to the printer and plug the other end into a suitable electrical outlet.
Press the Power button.
Give the HP DeskJet 2855e a few moments to initialize. You may hear internal movement while the printer prepares itself. This is normal during startup.
Avoid disconnecting the power while the printer is going through its initial startup process.
Step 3: Install the Ink Cartridges
The next job is installing the cartridges.
Open the printer’s ink cartridge access area and wait for the cartridge carriage to become accessible. Avoid manually forcing the carriage into position.
Remove a cartridge from its packaging and carefully remove its protective material. Try not to touch the copper-colored electrical contacts or the ink nozzles. Oils and dirt from your fingers can interfere with the cartridge’s electrical connection.
Insert each cartridge into its appropriate slot and make sure it is firmly seated.
After both cartridges are installed correctly, close the cartridge access area.
The printer may take a short time to recognize the newly installed cartridges.
Step 4: Load Paper
Prepare a small stack of clean, plain paper.
Open the input tray and adjust the paper guide so there is enough room for the stack. Place the paper into the tray and move the guide toward the edge of the paper.
The guide should sit against the paper without squeezing or bending it.
Keeping the paper straight is important. A poorly aligned stack can result in crooked feeding, paper jams, or unsuccessful alignment later in the setup.
Do not overfill the tray during initial installation. A modest stack is enough for setup and testing.
Step 5: Install the HP Software
Although the physical printer is now prepared, your computer or mobile device still needs a way to communicate with it.
HP provides its printer software for this purpose. Depending on HP’s current software naming and availability for your platform, follow HP’s official setup instructions and use the software recommended for the DeskJet 2855e.
Download software only from HP or your device’s official app store. Avoid third-party websites advertising unofficial HP drivers or installation utilities.
Launch the HP setup software once it has been installed.
The application should guide you through adding a new printer.
Step 6: Put the Printer in Wi-Fi Setup Mode
If you are installing the HP DeskJet 2855e as a wireless printer, the setup software needs to discover it.
A new printer may already be ready for wireless setup. If it is not detected, you may need to return its wireless settings to setup mode.
Follow the button sequence shown in HP’s current instructions for the DeskJet 2800e series rather than experimenting with different button combinations.
Keep your phone or computer relatively close to the printer during this stage.
If the HP software requests Bluetooth permission on a mobile device, allowing it temporarily can help the application discover a nearby printer. Bluetooth may be used during discovery; your normal printing connection can still use Wi-Fi.
Step 7: Connect the HP DeskJet 2855e to Wi-Fi
Once the printer appears in the setup application, select it and continue.
Choose the wireless network you want the printer to use and enter the network password when requested.
Double-check the password before submitting it. An incorrect Wi-Fi password is an easy mistake to overlook when a printer repeatedly refuses to connect.
Allow the printer time to establish the connection.
Keep the printer powered on and avoid closing the setup application while the wireless configuration is being completed.
After the connection succeeds, the printer should become available to compatible devices connected to the same network.
Step 8: Add the Printer to Windows
Windows may add the HP DeskJet 2855e automatically after the HP software finishes configuring it. If it does not, you can check Windows printer settings manually.
On Windows 11, open:
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
Select the option to add a device.
Wait while Windows searches for available printers. When the HP DeskJet 2855e appears, select it and follow the prompts.
Once installed, open its printer settings to confirm that Windows recognizes it properly.
If you use the HP software to manage the printer, keep it installed because it can also provide access to useful printer functions and status information.
Step 9: Install the HP DeskJet 2855e on a Mac
Mac users can also configure the printer through the HP setup process.
After connecting the printer to your wireless network, open the printer settings in macOS and check whether the DeskJet 2855e appears as an available printer.
If necessary, use the option to add a new printer and select the HP DeskJet 2855e.
Follow the instructions displayed by macOS or HP software to complete the setup.
Make sure the Mac and printer are connected to the same local network when you are trying to discover the printer wirelessly.
Step 10: Set Up the Printer on a Phone or Tablet
You do not need a desktop or laptop computer simply to print from the HP DeskJet 2855e.
Install HP’s recommended printing application from the official app store for your device and open it.
Choose the option for adding or setting up a printer. Allow any necessary local-network or nearby-device permissions when prompted. These permissions can be important because the app needs to discover the printer on your network.
Select your HP DeskJet 2855e and follow the setup instructions.
Once connected, you can use supported printing features from your phone or tablet.
Step 11: Complete Printer Alignment
A new printer may need to perform an alignment procedure after cartridge installation.
Do not skip an alignment step if the printer or HP software asks you to complete one. Alignment helps the printer position ink accurately on the page and can improve print quality.
Follow the instructions presented by the printer software. Depending on the setup process, the printer may print an alignment page and ask you to complete an additional step.
Make sure plain white paper is loaded before starting.
Step 12: Print a Test Page
Before considering the installation complete, print something simple.
A test page is useful because it confirms several things at once: the printer is recognized, communication is working, paper feeds correctly, and the cartridges are producing an acceptable print.
Look at the page carefully.
Text should appear clean and reasonably sharp. There should not be unexplained blank areas, severe streaking, or obvious feeding problems.
If the test print is successful, your basic HP DeskJet 2855e installation is finished.
What to Do If the HP DeskJet 2855e Is Not Found
Printer discovery is one of the most common points where installation gets interrupted.
Start with the basics.
Confirm that the printer is turned on and ready. Then verify that the computer or phone being used for setup is connected to the intended Wi-Fi network.
Move the printer closer to the router temporarily if the signal may be weak.
It is also worth restarting the setup application and searching for the printer again.
If you use a VPN on your computer or phone, temporarily disconnecting it during local printer setup may help if it interferes with discovery. You can reconnect it afterward.
Firewall or security software can sometimes affect local-device discovery as well. Rather than permanently disabling security software, check whether it is preventing the HP application from communicating on your local network.
What If the Printer Will Not Connect to Wi-Fi?
First, confirm that you are entering the correct wireless password.
Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols must be entered correctly.
Also check your router configuration.
The HP DeskJet 2855e uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for its wireless connection. If your router displays separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network names, make sure the appropriate 2.4 GHz network is available for the printer.
Modern routers sometimes use a single network name while managing multiple Wi-Fi bands automatically. That configuration may work without any changes. If setup consistently fails, however, checking the router’s band and wireless settings can help identify the problem.
Restarting the printer and router can also clear temporary communication problems.
After the router has restarted completely, allow the printer to reconnect before attempting setup again.
What If Windows Shows the Printer as Offline?
An offline message does not necessarily mean the printer is damaged.
First check the printer itself. Make sure it is switched on and not displaying an error condition.
Next, confirm that the computer and printer are connected to the expected network.
Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select the HP DeskJet 2855e.
If an old or duplicate printer entry exists, Windows may occasionally send the print job to the wrong queue. Check which printer is selected when you print.
Restarting the printer and computer can also resolve a temporary connection problem.
If the issue continues, use HP’s current troubleshooting tools or reinstall the printer through HP’s recommended software.
USB Installation
Wireless printing is convenient, but you may prefer a direct USB connection.
If you are using USB, follow HP’s installation instructions and connect the cable when the setup process requests it. Connecting a USB printer before installing or launching the appropriate setup software can sometimes result in Windows creating a basic printer entry rather than completing the intended HP setup.
Once connected, allow the operating system and HP software to detect the printer and finish installing the required components.
Afterward, print a test document to confirm that the USB connection is working.
Final Check
Once the HP DeskJet 2855e is installed, spend another minute confirming the setup before putting everything away.
Make sure the printer appears on the computer or mobile device you intend to use. Print a document, verify that the paper feeds normally, and check that the output looks correct.
For a wireless installation, it is also useful to close and reopen the printing application and confirm that the printer remains available. This verifies that you are not relying solely on the temporary connection used during initial setup.