How to Fix an HP Printer That Installs Only as a Scanner in Windows 11

An all-in-one printer can appear to be installed correctly even when half of its functionality is missing. That is exactly what happened with an older HP DeskJet 2540 connected to a Windows 11 laptop by USB. Windows detected the device, scanning worked, and the HP software was present—but no printer appeared when attempting to print.

The problem was not a bad USB cable, a failed printer, or a completely missing driver. Windows had installed the scanner portion of the device and recognized the USB connection, but it had never created a usable printer queue. The final fix was to add the printer manually and assign it to the USB001 virtual printer port .

This guide walks through the symptoms, explains why a scanner can work while printing does not, and shows the exact repair process used to restore both functions.

The Symptoms

The affected system showed several clues that made this issue unusual:

• The HP DeskJet 2540 appeared in Windows under Printers & scanners.
• Right-clicking the device displayed scanning options instead of printer properties.
• The scanner worked through HP or Windows scanning software.
• No HP printer appeared in the print dialog after pressing Ctrl + P .
• Device Manager showed that the HP device was connected over USB.
• The HP Full Feature Software and Drivers package had already been installed.

The most important clue was the empty print dialog. If no printer appears when printing from Notepad or another application, Windows does not have a usable printer queue—even if the scanner is listed elsewhere.

Why an All-in-One Printer Can Install Only as a Scanner

An all-in-one printer exposes more than one function to Windows. Printing and scanning are related, but Windows can enumerate them as separate device interfaces. The scanner may install and begin working while the printer queue fails to register.

Common reasons include:

• The USB cable was connected before the installer expected it.
• The manufacturer software installed scanning components but skipped printer setup.
• Windows detected the device but did not create a printer queue.
• The print driver was available, but no USB printer port was assigned.
• An older printer package did not complete cleanly on Windows 11.
• The printer was associated with the wrong port or no port at all.

In this case, the driver package was not completely useless. Enough of the HP software was present for Windows to recognize the device and use the scanner. The missing piece was the connection between the print driver and a local USB printer port.

Step 1: Confirm the USB Connection

Open Device Manager and look under areas such as:

• Printers
• Print queues
• Universal Serial Bus controllers
• Universal Serial Bus devices
• Other devices

On the affected laptop, Windows showed entries for the HP DeskJet 2540 under the USB section. That confirmed the cable, USB port, and basic device detection were working.

Step 2: Check Whether a Printer Queue Exists

Open Notepad, type a few words, and press Ctrl + P . If the HP printer is missing from the print dialog, Windows has not created a functional printer queue.

You can also check:

• Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
• Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Devices and Printers
• Print Server Properties using printui /s /t2

Do not assume that seeing the HP device in Settings proves that printing is installed. Windows may be displaying the scanner interface for the all-in-one device.

Step 3: Verify the Print Spooler

Before manually adding the printer, verify that the Windows Print Spooler service is running. Press Windows + R , type:

services.msc

Locate Print Spooler . Its status should be Running , and its startup type should normally be Automatic .

If the service is stopped, start it and test the print dialog again. A stopped spooler prevents Windows from creating and managing printer queues.

Step 4: Add the Printer Manually

Go to:

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Add device

Allow Windows to search. If the printer does not appear as a usable printer, choose Add manually .

Select:

Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings

This option may sound unusual for a USB printer, but it allows you to manually create the missing queue and assign the correct port.

Step 5: Choose the USB001 Virtual Printer Port

When Windows asks which port to use, select:

USB001 (Virtual printer port for USB)

If USB001 is not available, look for another USB virtual printer port such as USB002. The correct port is usually the one Windows created when it detected the USB printer.

What USB001 Actually Does

A printer port is the logical path Windows uses to send print jobs to the device. USB001 is not a physical connector number printed on the laptop. It is a virtual port created by Windows for USB printing.

The scanner did not need this printer queue to scan. Printing did. Until the HP print driver was connected to USB001, Windows had no complete route for sending print jobs to the printer.

Step 6: Select the Correct HP Driver

On the driver selection screen, choose HP as the manufacturer and look for:

HP Deskjet 2540 series

If the model is not listed, click Windows Update on the driver selection screen and allow the list to refresh. This can take several minutes.

Series Driver vs. Series Class Driver

When Windows offers both a manufacturer series driver and a class driver, the manufacturer series driver is generally the better choice for this repair. A class driver is intended to provide basic compatibility, while the model-specific driver is more likely to expose the printer's supported options correctly.

For this case, selecting the HP DeskJet 2540 series driver and pairing it with USB001 created the missing printer queue.

Step 7: Complete Setup and Print a Test Page

Finish the Add Printer wizard, then open:

Printer properties → General → Print Test Page

You can also open Notepad and use Ctrl + P . The HP DeskJet 2540 should now appear in the printer list.

After the queue was created, Windows displayed the HP printer and scanner together as one all-in-one device. That is normal. The difference was that both printing and scanning were now available.

Why the Printer and Scanner Appeared to “Combine”

Windows may show an all-in-one device as a single entry in the modern Settings interface even though separate components operate behind the scenes. Once the printer queue was created, the print and scan functions appeared together under the HP DeskJet 2540 device.

This does not mean Windows physically merged drivers. It means the interface grouped the related functions under the same device name.

If USB001 Does Not Work

Try these checks before reinstalling everything:

• Test another USB port directly on the computer.
• Use another known-good USB printer cable.
• Remove any stuck print jobs.
• Restart the Print Spooler service.
• Check whether USB002 or another virtual USB port is available.
• Remove the manually created queue and repeat the wizard with the alternate USB port.
• Disconnect the printer, restart Windows, and reconnect it only when requested.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Reinstalling the Same HP Package Repeatedly

Re-running the installer may produce the same partial result if the real problem is a missing printer queue or port assignment.

Assuming the USB Cable Is Bad Because Printing Fails

If scanning works and the device appears in Device Manager, the USB connection is already carrying data. A bad cable is still possible, but it is less likely to be the primary issue.

Choosing a Network Port for a USB Printer

WSD and Standard TCP/IP ports are intended for network-connected printers. A directly connected USB printer should normally use a USB virtual printer port.

Confusing the Scanner Entry with a Printer Queue

A device shown in Printers & scanners may still expose only scan functions. Always verify by opening a real print dialog.

Removing Every HP Component Too Early

In this case, the required driver was already available. Manually creating the printer queue was faster and less disruptive than removing all HP software and starting over.

Technician’s Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my HP printer scan but not print?

Windows may have installed the scanner interface without creating a printer queue. The print driver may also be present but assigned to the wrong port—or no port at all.

What is USB001?

USB001 is a virtual printer port Windows uses to route print jobs to a printer connected by USB. It is not the same thing as a numbered physical USB socket on the computer.

Should I use the series driver or series class driver?

Use the manufacturer series driver when it is available and matches the printer. A class driver can provide basic printing but may expose fewer options.

Why did the HP full software install only the scanner?

The installer may have completed the scan portion but failed to create the printer queue, detect the printer at the expected moment, or assign the correct USB port.

Do I need HP Smart for this printer?

Not necessarily. The printer can often be installed through Windows using the correct driver and port. HP software may still be useful for scanning or maintenance.

Can I use USB002 instead?

Yes, if USB002 is the virtual port associated with the connected printer. The correct number varies depending on what USB printers have previously been installed.

Why is my printer missing from Ctrl + P?

Applications show configured printer queues, not every hardware device Windows detects. If the queue was never created, the printer will not appear in the print dialog.

Should I remove the scanner before adding the printer?

Usually no. The working scanner can remain installed while you manually add the missing printer queue.

Will this method work with other HP all-in-one printers?

The same troubleshooting principle can apply to other USB printers, but the exact model driver and available USB port may differ.

Should I reinstall Windows?

No. A missing printer queue is not a reason to reinstall the operating system. Confirm the spooler, driver, and port configuration first.

Final Thoughts

This repair looked like a driver failure because the HP software installed only the scanner. The USB connection was working, Windows recognized the hardware, and scanning was available. What was missing was the Windows printer queue that applications rely on.

Manually adding the HP DeskJet 2540, selecting the installed HP series driver, and assigning USB001 completed the setup. No Windows reinstall was needed, and the printer did not require replacement.

The key lesson is simple: detecting an all-in-one device is not the same as having a functional printer queue. When scanning works but printing is completely absent, check the queue and port before repeatedly reinstalling software.