topic Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened in Internet

HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:24:49 GMT

I switched to Bell full fiber and at that point the HP Instant Ink service I used stopped working. I can print but I am no longer connected to their plan though paying monthly fee to get ink sent when running low. I want it back. HP said Bell has to open certain points and gave me a list in an e-mail. Bell says not their responsiblity though finally they admitted the ports are closed. My goal is just to get things working. I tried to open the UDP and TCP ports they listed but did a check and they aren't found. Web services ports I have no idea where or how to open them. Can anyone help? Thanks.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:34:58 GMT

Bell ports are blocked for unsolicited traffic. Even when you open a port an external scanner will show them as blocked.

If you open the ports on your Windows firewall, and if that does not work on your home hub, it should work.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:49:01 GMT

Thanks but I don't have a firewall and I tried to open the ports on my home hub but don't know how to do that for the web services ports. I did open the UDP and TCP ports as far as I know if I can disregard them still not showing as opened based on what you said. Do you know how to open web services ports?

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 01:03:58 GMT

Are you using Windows 10/11?

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 01:06:24 GMT

Windows 11

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 01:11:25 GMT

Then you are using a firewall, unless you specifically turned it off. Windows firewall is enabled by default.

You have to make sure the ports are opened in the Windows firewall.

Windows Firewall

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 02:40:54 GMT

I never turned off the firewall and I did take a quick look at that link. I don't want to have problems by having the firewall opened to all. I had no trouble with my previous provider and HP Instant Ink had no trouble connecting. I didn't open anything up.

HP gave me a list of web services ports to open so how do I do that? Thank you.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:08:05 GMT

The easiest way is to uninstall and reinstall the HP application as it will open up the ports for you.

However, you might need to check "enable UPNP" on your home hub to enable it to work properly.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:28:37 GMT

HP Instant Ink is not an application that is on my computer. It is something that connects the printer to HP Instant Ink so they can monitor ink levels of my printer and send me ink, for a monthly fee. It worked fine for years until the day we changed to Bell. I will google how to put to enable UPNP. I wish someone would tell me how to open web services ports. Thank you.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

ZaneP — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:08:24 GMT

Sounds like you are 100% certain there's a ports issue. It just seems highly unusual for HP to tell its retail customers to open specific ports or the Instant Ink service will fail. That's an ask typically beyond the scope of their customer base.

Nevertheless, as @Vanadiel suggested, you can enable UPnP on the modem, to see if it resolves the issue.

Do this:

log into your modem's dashboard
click on Advanced Tools and Settings
In the Networking column, enable UPnP.

A sort-of similar issue was posted on the HP support site here . The resolution was a reset of the printer's network settings.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:03:34 GMT

Bell confirmed the ports are closed. HP troubleshooted with me 1.5 hours one day and over 2 hours another and said the problem is the ports being closed and sent me a list for Bell to open. Bell refused and said to google it. Some of the ports on the list are web server ports and I have yet to get a response about how to open them. I checked about enabling UPnP and it showed as ON. There was no enabling just on or off and mine was already showing ON. Thanks.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

ZaneP — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:38:32 GMT

Re UPnP, I should have written "click ON".

Actually there is Instant Ink application. It's part of the HP Smart App. I run HP Smart on my MacBook to do several things with a networked HP printer. I don't subscribe to Instant Ink. Have you tried the Windows version?

Sorry to hear that you're not solving this problem. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:15:33 GMT

I think we have to start from the beginning, to see what the actual issue is, before jumping to conclusions.

I highly doubt it's a Bell specific issue because otherwise no Bell customers could ever use HP web services based printers.

So let's start with this HP troubleshooting guide and go to step 5, to check what the printer's internet connection status is: Step 5

I am thinking the issue is you switched providers and forgot to setup your printer's web services to use your new WiFi connection.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:30:14 GMT

I use HP Smart App and it shows it is not connected to HP Instant Ink since I swtiched to Bell.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:34:39 GMT

I am connected to the new network or my printer would not print. The printing works fine. My printer just can't connect to HP Instant Ink since the switch to Bell. Also the HP tech support I was on the phone with over 3.5 hours in 2 calls tried to get web services enabled to fix the problem but I got a Gateway accessible FAIL on the Web Access Test Results report.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:00:55 GMT

Perform the following tasks in the order given. Use the printer after each task to see if the issue is resolved.

DNS/Gateway Problem. The printer could not connect to the server.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

ZaneP — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:36:53 GMT

"it shows it is not connected to HP Instant Ink since I swtiched to Bell."

If that's the case, you have old settings that need a refresh.

Did you clickthru the link I gave you in a previous post? The HP support person advised the customer to check all their printer network settings. Here's what they wrote:

"Check your internet connection: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection. Verify if other devices on the same network can connect to the internet without any issues.
Restart your devices: Power off your printer, computer, or mobile device, and then turn them back on. Sometimes a simple restart can resolve connectivity problems.
Verify printer connectivity: Make sure that your printer is properly connected to your network. Check if the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is active and functioning correctly.
Update firmware and software: Ensure that your printer's firmware and any relevant software are up to date. Visit the HP website and search for your printer model to find the latest updates.
Reset printer network settings: On your printer, navigate to the network settings and perform a network reset. This will clear any existing network settings and allow you to reconnect to your network.
Reinstall the HP Instant Ink software: If you have the HP Instant Ink software installed on your computer or mobile device, try uninstalling it and then reinstalling it from the official HP website.
Disable firewall or antivirus: Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software on your computer or mobile device, as they may be blocking the connection to HP Instant Ink. Remember to re-enable them after troubleshooting."

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 22:35:29 GMT

Trust me all that was done with the 2 HP tech support agents. Only thing is they didn't have me disable my antivirus but all the rest was done. They even had the printer removed and put back on. I had to reconnect to my network with the change to Bell since I couldn't print when the changeover first happened but that was easy to do and worked. As I said I CAN print but maybe I should have added I print wirelessly. There is a good connection between my printer and the Bell network.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

elash99 — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 19:32:51 GMT

Bell refused to help me and has kept HP from helping me. I had a call arranged from an HP Instant Ink manager for yesterday and Bell was at the house and stopped my phone from working. HP and I then rearranged a call for today. Well turns out yesterday's tech made it I can't get phone calls and HP e-mails are not in real time the manager said, so missed this 2nd chance for HP Instant Ink support from a manager. Between Bell and HP, we are paying for a monthly service to get our ink levels monitored and ink sent when low, and instead just paying the fee.

Re: HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

Vanadiel — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:43:47 GMT

Your phone is currently not working because it was disabled?