How to Install HPLIP on Fedora Linux

Fedora’s print stack handles basic queues well, but HP multifunction devices usually need HPLIP for scanning, maintenance, firmware prompts, and HP’s setup tools. To install HPLIP on Fedora, start with the hplip package for the core drivers and add hplip-gui when you want HP Device Manager and the graphical scanner tools.

Fedora Workstation often already has CUPS active through cups.socket, while Server or minimal installs may pull more of the print stack in during the install. Before you start, check your model in the OpenPrinting printer database or HP’s HPLIP supported devices list. That keeps the package install, GUI and terminal setup, print and scan checks, troubleshooting, updates, removal, and the common HP-specific questions in one Fedora workflow.

On this page hide

Install HPLIP on Fedora

Set Up HP Printers and Scanners with HPLIP on Fedora

Troubleshoot HPLIP on Fedora

Manage HPLIP on Fedora

HPLIP on Fedora FAQ

Conclusion

Install HPLIP on Fedora

Refresh Fedora first, then install the HPLIP packages that fit how you want to manage the printer.

Refresh Fedora Packages Before Installing HPLIP

Update Fedora’s package metadata and installed packages before adding the printer tools:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

These commands use sudo for package-management tasks. If your account does not have sudo access yet, follow how to add a user to sudoers on Fedora before continuing.

The --refresh flag forces DNF to pull current repository metadata before it upgrades anything.

Install the HPLIP Driver Package on Fedora

Install HPLIP on Fedora with the base driver package first:

sudo dnf install hplip

On Fedora 43, the hplip package pulls in cups and cups-client automatically if they are missing, so you do not need a separate CUPS install step just to get started.

Add HP Device Manager and GUI Tools on Fedora

Install the optional GUI package if you want HP Device Manager, the setup wizard launcher, and the graphical scan interface:

sudo dnf install hplip-gui

The package name is hplip-gui, but the launcher it adds in Fedora is HPLIP Graphical Tools. If you only need the terminal commands, you can skip this package.

Verify the HPLIP Packages on Fedora

Confirm the core HPLIP package and its CUPS dependencies are installed:

rpm -q hplip cups cups-client

Expected output:

hplip-3.25.8-1.fc43.x86_64
cups-2.4.16-7.fc43.x86_64
cups-client-2.4.16-7.fc43.x86_64

If you installed the GUI package too, verify that separately:

rpm -q hplip-gui

Expected output:

hplip-gui-3.25.8-1.fc43.x86_64

Set Up HP Printers and Scanners with HPLIP on Fedora

The base package gives you terminal tools such as hp-setup, hp-scan, hp-testpage, and hp-plugin. The optional GUI package adds hp-toolbox and hp-uiscan, both of which need an active graphical session.

Open HPLIP Graphical Tools from Fedora Activities

Search for HPLIP Graphical Tools in Activities, or launch HP Device Manager directly from a graphical terminal:

hp-toolbox

HP Device Manager gives you queue status, supply levels, cleaning tools, plugin prompts, and shortcuts to scan or print utilities.

Run the HPLIP Terminal Setup Wizard on Fedora

Use the terminal wizard when you want a text-based setup flow for USB, network, or parallel devices:

hp-setup -i

Relevant output includes:

--------------------------------
| SELECT CONNECTION (I/O) TYPE |
--------------------------------

  Num       Connection  Description
  --------  ----------  ----------------------------------------------------------
  0*        usb         Universal Serial Bus (USB)
  1         net         Network/Ethernet/Wireless (direct connection or JetDirect)
  2         par         Parallel Port (LPT:)

Enter number 0...2 for connection type (q=quit, enter=usb*) ?

This is the simplest CLI path when the package is installed but you do not want to rely on the GUI launcher.

Once you know how the printer is connected, these shortcuts save time:

hp-setup -b usb
hp-setup 192.168.1.100

hp-setup -b usb limits discovery to USB devices, while passing an IP address or hostname sends the setup straight to the network printer you want to add.

Print a Test Page with HPLIP on Fedora

List the current CUPS queues first so you know the exact printer name HPLIP should use:

lpstat -p

After the queue exists, print HPLIP’s built-in test page with that queue name:

hp-testpage --printer=printer-name

This sends a diagnostic page through the same print path you will use for regular jobs, so it is a quick check before you start printing real documents.

Scan with HPLIP on Fedora

Launch the graphical scanner from a desktop session if you installed hplip-gui:

hp-uiscan

For a terminal workflow, save the scan directly to a file with the queue name reported by lpstat -p:

hp-scan --printer=printer-name --dest=file --output=scan.png

The base hplip package provides hp-scan, so terminal scanning works even when you skip the GUI package.

Troubleshoot HPLIP on Fedora

Most HPLIP problems on Fedora come down to CUPS not accepting jobs, the printer not showing up on USB, or network discovery never seeing the device.

Check the CUPS Scheduler on Fedora

Fedora 43 keeps CUPS available through socket activation, so check the socket and the scheduler together:

systemctl status cups.socket
lpstat -r

Relevant output includes:

● cups.socket - CUPS Scheduler
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/cups.socket; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2026-03-27 12:16:19 AWST; 1h 33min ago
     Listen: /run/cups/cups.sock (Stream)

scheduler is running

If the socket is inactive, start it with sudo systemctl enable --now cups.socket and re-run the check before you go back to hp-setup.

Confirm Fedora Sees a USB HP Printer

When a USB printer is attached directly, look for the device on the USB bus first:

lsusb | grep -i hp

If that command returns no lines, Fedora is not seeing the printer yet. Check the cable, try another port, and re-run the command. The grep command guide is useful if you want broader filters than a simple hp match.

Probe Network Printers Before Running HPLIP Setup

Ask HPLIP to scan the local network before you fall back to a manual IP address:

hp-probe --bus=net

If discovery finds nothing, output looks like this:

--------------------
| DEVICE DISCOVERY |
--------------------

Probing network for printers. Please wait, this will take approx. 10 seconds...

warning: No devices found on the 'net' bus. If this isn't the result you are expecting,
warning: check your network connections and make sure your firewall software is disabled.

Done.

At that point, use the printer’s IP address directly with hp-setup 192.168.1.100. Most Fedora Workstation systems do not need firewall changes for printer discovery, but custom LAN rules can block it, so review Install firewalld on Fedora if your workstation no longer allows local printer traffic.

Manage HPLIP on Fedora

Once the printer is working, keep HPLIP current with normal Fedora updates and remove it cleanly when you no longer need it.

Update HPLIP on Fedora

HPLIP updates ship through Fedora’s normal repositories, so the standard system upgrade is enough:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

If you want that handled automatically, Install DNF Automatic on Fedora and let Fedora pull future HPLIP updates in with the rest of your packages.

Remove HPLIP from Fedora

Remove both the driver package and the optional GUI tools with one command:

sudo dnf remove hplip hplip-gui

On Fedora 43, dnf remove already cleans up unused dependencies by default, so you do not need a separate dnf autoremove step afterward.

Confirm the packages are gone:

rpm -q hplip hplip-gui

Expected output after removal:

package hplip is not installed
package hplip-gui is not installed

If you want a full reset of HPLIP’s user-side preferences, remove ~/.hplip after uninstalling the packages. That directory stores local HPLIP configuration and toolbox state for your account.

rm -rf ~/.hplip

HPLIP on Fedora FAQ

Does sudo dnf install hplip also install CUPS on Fedora?

Yes. On Fedora 43, the hplip package pulls in cups and cups-client automatically when they are missing. Workstation systems often already have CUPS available through cups.socket, but terminal-only installs can bring that print stack in during the HPLIP install.

Which Fedora package provides HP Device Manager?

The GUI package is hplip-gui. It adds hp-toolbox, hp-uiscan, and the HPLIP Graphical Tools launcher. The base hplip package provides the CLI commands such as hp-setup, hp-scan, hp-testpage, and hp-plugin.

Can I set up an HP printer from the Fedora terminal?

Yes. Use hp-setup -i for the interactive terminal wizard, hp-setup -b usb for USB-only discovery, or pass the printer’s IP address directly with hp-setup 192.168.1.100 for a network printer.

Do some HP printers still need the HPLIP plugin on Fedora?

Yes. Some HP models still ask for HP’s proprietary plugin before every print or scan feature is available. When HPLIP prompts for it, install the plugin with hp-plugin -i. If your device works without that prompt, the extra download is not required.

Conclusion

HPLIP is installed on Fedora with the core print stack, HP’s CLI tools, and optional GUI utilities ready for the printers and scanners that HPLIP supports. If you lock down local discovery traffic, review Install firewalld on Fedora next. For unattended updates, Install DNF Automatic on Fedora keeps HPLIP current with the rest of your system.