HP Instant Ink requires ports to be opened

[elash99]

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.

[Vanadiel · Accepted solution]

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.

[elash99]

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?

[Vanadiel]

Are you using Windows 10/11?

[elash99]

Windows 11

[Vanadiel · Accepted solution]

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 

[elash99]

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.

[Vanadiel]

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.

[elash99]

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.

[ZaneP]

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:

1. log into your modem's dashboard
2. click on Advanced Tools and Settings
3. 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.

[elash99]

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.

[ZaneP]

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.

[Vanadiel]

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.

[elash99]

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

[elash99]

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.