Fix HP OfficeJet 5255 Driver Issues (Step-by-Step)

If your HP OfficeJet 5255 printer is showing errors, not printing, or disappearing from your computer, the problem is almost always a corrupted, outdated, or incompatible driver. This guide walks you through the most reliable fixes—from reinstalling the driver to using HP’s own repair tool—so you can get back to printing without calling support.

What You’ll Need

A Windows PC or Mac with an internet connection
Your printer’s USB cable (if you plan to connect via USB)
Administrator access to install software
Your Wi-Fi network name and password (if using wireless)

Step-by-Step

Restart everything. Turn off the printer and unplug it from power for 30 seconds. Restart your computer. This clears temporary glitches that often mimic driver problems.
Download the official driver. Go to support.hp.com, search for “OfficeJet 5255,” and select your operating system. Download the full driver package (not just the basic print driver). Avoid third-party download sites—they often bundle outdated or adware-laden versions.
Run the installer as administrator. Right-click the downloaded file and choose “Run as administrator.” Follow the on-screen prompts. When asked for connection type, choose USB if the printer is plugged in, or Wi-Fi if you’re setting up wirelessly.
If the installer fails, uninstall the old driver first. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features (Windows) or Applications (Mac). Find any HP printer entries, uninstall them, then restart your computer. Re-run the new installer.
Use HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows only). Download and run HP’s free diagnostic tool. It automatically detects driver issues, fixes spooler problems, and can reinstall the driver for you.
Update the driver via Device Manager (Windows). Press Windows + X and select Device Manager. Expand “Print queues” or “Printers,” right-click your printer, and choose “Update driver.” Select “Search automatically” to let Windows find the latest version.
Clear the print queue. If documents are stuck, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, click your printer, and select “Open print queue.” Cancel all pending jobs. If the queue won’t clear, restart the Print Spooler service (Windows): press Win + R, type services.msc, find “Print Spooler,” right-click and choose “Restart.”
Set the correct default printer. In Windows, go to Settings > Devices &em; Printers & scanners, click your HP OfficeJet 5255, and select “Manage” > “Set as default.” On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, right-click the printer, and choose “Set as default.”
Re-add the printer on Mac. In Printers & Scanners, click the “+” button. If your printer appears in the list, select it and click “Add.” If not, click “IP” and enter the printer’s IP address (find it on the printer’s touchscreen: Settings > Network > View Network Details).
Check for firmware updates. On the printer’s touchscreen, swipe to Setup (wrench icon) > Printer Maintenance > Update the Printer. Choose “Check for updates” and install if available.

Common Mistakes

Installing the wrong driver version. Always match the driver to your exact operating system (e.g., Windows 11 64-bit, not Windows 10).
Skipping the uninstall step. Installing over an old, corrupted driver often fails. Always remove the old one first.
Using a USB cable that’s faulty. A damaged cable can cause intermittent driver errors. Try a different cable or connect wirelessly.
Ignoring Windows Update. Sometimes Windows updates break printer drivers. Check for pending updates and install them.
Not restarting after installation. Always restart your computer after installing a driver, even if the installer says it’s not required.

Tips

Keep the driver installer file on your desktop for easy reinstallation.
Use HP’s “Easy Start” tool from the HP website—it detects your OS and installs the correct driver automatically.
For wireless printing, ensure the printer is on the same network as your computer. Check the printer’s Wi-Fi icon is solid (not blinking).
If you have both USB and Wi-Fi, disconnect the USB cable before installing the wireless driver to avoid confusion.
Set the printer to “Online” in Windows: right-click the printer in Devices and Printers and uncheck “Use Printer Offline” if it’s grayed out.

Troubleshooting

Driver installs but printer still not detected. Try a different USB port (preferably directly on the computer, not a hub). On Windows, run HP Print and Scan Doctor again—it can repair driver registry entries. On Mac, delete the printer from Printers & Scanners, then re-add it using the “+” button.

Printer shows “Driver is unavailable.” This usually means the driver got corrupted. Uninstall the printer completely (including any HP software), then reinstall using the full driver package. If that fails, use the “Add a printer” wizard in Windows and choose “The printer that I want isn’t listed,” then select “Add a local printer” and choose the correct port.

Wireless printing fails after driver update. Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi: on the printer touchscreen, go to Setup > Network > Wireless Setup Wizard, and re-enter your Wi-Fi password. Then run the wireless setup in the HP installer again.

Mac says “Filter failed.” This is often a driver conflict. Delete the printer, then go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, right-click and choose “Reset printing system.” Re-add the printer. Note: this removes all printers, so you’ll need to re-add them.

Printer prints garbled text. This indicates the wrong driver is installed (e.g., a generic driver instead of the HP-specific one). Uninstall and reinstall using the correct driver from HP’s site.

Windows can’t find the driver. If Windows Update doesn’t find one, manually download the driver from HP and run the installer. If the installer still fails, try the “HP Print and Scan Doctor” which can often repair the installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if my driver is outdated? A: Check the driver version in Device Manager (right-click printer > Properties > Driver tab). Compare it with the latest version on HP’s website. If they differ, update.

Q: Can I use the printer without installing the full HP software? A: Yes, Windows and Mac have built-in drivers that support basic printing. But to use scanning and the full feature set, you need the HP software.

Q: Why does my printer keep going offline? A: This is often a power-saving setting on the printer or computer. Disable “Use Printer Offline” in Windows, and on the printer, go to Setup > Power Management and turn off “Sleep Mode” or set it to a longer delay.

Q: The driver installation gets stuck at 90%. A: Cancel the installation, turn off the printer, and unplug it. Restart your computer, then run the installer again. If it still sticks, download the “HP Print and Scan Doctor” and let it fix the installation.

Q: Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one? A: Yes, especially if you’re having issues. Use the HP uninstall utility (included in the driver package) or Control Panel to remove all HP entries, then restart before reinstalling.

Q: My printer works on USB but not Wi-Fi. A: That’s a network issue, not a driver issue. Re-run the wireless setup wizard on the printer, ensure your router is broadcasting (2.4 GHz is more reliable), and check that the printer’s IP address is in the same range as your computer.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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