How to Setup a HP Photosmart 5522

The HP Photosmart 5522 is a compact photo‑friendly all‑in‑one that prints, scans, and copies, and it can connect wirelessly to your home network. Because it’s an older Photosmart model, setup is a little different from modern HP Smart‑only printers, but you can still get a clean, reliable installation by following a clear order: prepare the hardware, install cartridges, connect to Wi‑Fi, then install the correct HP software on your computer or phone. This guide walks you through each step and includes troubleshooting tips for the most common points where Photosmart setup gets stuck.

1. Unbox and Prepare the Printer

1. Remove all orange tape and cardboard from the printer exterior and the paper path.
2. Lift the scanner lid and check for packing materials inside.
3. Extend the input tray and output tray.
4. Plug the power cord directly into the wall (avoid surge strips during first setup).
5. Press the Power button and wait for initialization to finish.

When the printer is quiet and the home screen appears, you’re ready to continue.

2. Install Ink Cartridges

Open the cartridge access door. The carriage will move to the center. Insert the black cartridge and tri‑color cartridge into their matching slots until they click. Close the door and wait while the printer primes ink. If you see a “cartridge problem” message, remove the cartridge, check that the protective tape is fully removed, and reseat it firmly.

3. Load Paper and Align

Load a small stack of plain letter/A4 paper into the tray and adjust the guides to touch the paper edges. The Photosmart 5522 may print an alignment page during the first run. If it does, follow the on‑screen prompt to scan the alignment page on the flatbed. This step ensures sharp text and even color in photos.

4. Connect the Photosmart 5522 to Wi‑Fi

The 5522 connects to 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi. If your router uses one name for both bands, keep your phone/computer on the same LAN network while pairing.

1. On the printer touchscreen, tap the Wireless icon.
2. Select Settings (or the gear).
3. Choose Wireless Setup Wizard.
4. Select your network name (SSID) and enter the password.

When the wireless light turns solid, the printer is connected. Print a Wireless Network Test Report from the wireless menu to confirm the SSID and note the IP address.

5. If You Changed Routers: Restore Network Defaults

If the printer was previously used on another network, clearing old credentials prevents connection loops. Tap Wireless >Settings > Restore Network Defaults. After reboot, run the Setup Wizard again.

6. Install Software on Windows

Download the HP Photosmart 5520 series full driver from HP’s support site. Run the installer and choose Wireless when asked. The installer should find the printer automatically. If it doesn’t, choose “Add by IP address” and enter the IP from the network test report.

After installation, open Settings > Printers & scanners, select the Photosmart 5522, and print a test page. If scanning options are missing, reinstall the full driver instead of a basic Windows driver.

7. Install Software on macOS

On a Mac, HP Smart can handle printing and basic scanning. Install HP Smart, add the printer, and confirm it appears in System Settings > Printers & Scanners. If the Mac only shows AirPrint and you want richer scan controls, install the Photosmart 5520 series driver package from HP and re‑add the printer with the HP driver selected.

8. Mobile Printing and AirPrint

Once the printer is on Wi‑Fi, you can print from iPhone/iPad using AirPrint or from Android using HP Smart/Mopria. Make sure the phone is on the same Wi‑Fi network, not a guest SSID. If the app can’t find the printer, disable VPNs and restart the printer.

9. Fix Setup Problems

Here are the most common issues with this model:

• Printer not found during install: restart router and printer, then try again. Temporary USB connection can complete pairing.
• Wireless light blinking forever: wrong password or 5 GHz SSID selected. Re‑run Wireless Setup Wizard on 2.4 GHz.
• Offline status in Windows: switch to a Standard TCP/IP port using the printer’s current IP and reserve that IP in your router.
• Photos printing dull: choose the correct photo paper type and quality setting in the HP driver.

10. Keep the Photosmart Running Smoothly

Print a small page weekly to keep ink flowing. If colors look streaky, open HP’s utility and run a printhead cleaning, then recheck. The Photosmart 5522 uses HP 564 ink cartridges; high‑yield XL versions reduce how often you replace ink. Keep the printer powered on so it can run quiet maintenance cycles automatically.

Photo Printing Tips After Setup

The Photosmart line is tuned for photos, so once your setup is complete, spend a minute in the driver settings. Choose the exact paper type (glossy, matte, or plain) and match the size to your photo stock. If you want edge‑to‑edge prints, enable Borderless and allow a small expansion so thin white margins don’t appear. For the best color, use the printer’s photo mode and let prints dry flat for a few minutes before stacking.

With hardware aligned, Wi‑Fi connected, and the full HP driver installed, the HP Photosmart 5522 should print and scan reliably from all your devices.