How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw macOS
By Sai Kiran Pandrala · reviewed by Sai Kiran Pandrala, Editor Last verified: 2026-05-30
| Printer | HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw |
|---|---|
| Install scenario | macOS |
| Time | 5-15 minutes |
| DIY-able? | Yes — no tools needed beyond a USB cable (for USB scenarios) |
What this guide covers
Add the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw as a printer on macOS.
Step-by-step: how to install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw macOS
- Power on the printer and confirm it's on the same WiFi network as your Mac (not the guest network).
- On Mac: System Settings → Printers & Scanners.
- Click 'Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax'.
- Wait 10-30 seconds for HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw to appear under 'Default'.
- Click it. macOS picks the best driver automatically — for most models this is AirPrint (works out of the box) or a brand-specific driver.
- If a driver is missing, macOS prompts to download it; click 'Download & Install'.
- Click 'Add'. The printer appears in your list.
- Test: open TextEdit, create a document, hit ⌘+P, select the printer, and print.
What you'll need
- Your HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw printer + power cable
- WiFi network credentials (for WiFi setup) OR USB cable (for USB setup)
- Smartphone with the HP Smart app installed (Play Store / App Store), easiest path for most users
- Computer with the OS specified (for OS-specific setup)
- Admin rights on the computer (required for driver install)
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Driver won't install | Re-run installer as Administrator; pause antivirus during install. |
| Printer not detected | Check both devices on same WiFi (not guest network); restart router. |
| Driver too old or unavailable | Download latest from https://support.hp.com for your model + OS. |
| Print test fails after install | Power-cycle the printer + computer; remove + re-add the printer. |
| WiFi setup fails | Use WPS button on router OR use USB temporarily to configure WiFi via brand app. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the brand app to install the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw?
No, but it's the easiest path. handles driver, WiFi, and account in one flow. You can install manually via the OS dialog and driver download from https://support.hp.com.
Is the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw compatible with AirPrint / Mopria?
Most modern HP printers support AirPrint (Apple) and Mopria (Android) for driverless printing. Check the model spec sheet on https://support.hp.com.
Can I install the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw on a Linux machine?
Yes, open CUPS (http://localhost:631) → Administration → Add Printer. Pick the printer via Bonjour / IPP. Most HP models work with the generic IPP Everywhere driver.
Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw support 5 GHz WiFi?
Most home / SOHO printers only support 2.4 GHz. If your router is dual-band, separate the SSIDs and connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz network.
What if my HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw is too old?
Older printers (10+ years) may have dropped driver support. Try the generic Class Driver in the OS or use the printer in USB mode only.
Related guides
- More HP install + fix guides → HP guides list
- Browse all install guides → /printers/section/install_guides.html
- Browse all printer fixes → /printers/
Related fixes
Related guides worth a look while you sort this one out:
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw as a scanner
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw driver download
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw via USB
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw via WiFi
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw Windows 10
- How to Install HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw Windows 11
References
- HP support site: https://support.hp.com
- HP Smart (download from Play Store / App Store)
Reference material, not professional advice. When in doubt, call HP authorised service.
What changed recently?
Fault diagnosis on the affected device goes faster when you map the symptom to a recent change:
- Did firmware update in the last 7 days?
- Did the network (router, ISP, VPN) change?
- Was the device moved physically?
- Did paired devices (phone, hub, app) update?
- Were any accessories swapped in or out?
The answer narrows the root cause to a manageable subset.
Before you start
A few things to confirm so this device fix goes cleanly:
- Latest firmware downloaded if you're going to update.
- Warranty + support contract status checked: opening sealed parts may void it.
- Backup of current configuration (where applicable) taken.
- Spare parts on hand if you anticipate replacement.
- Adequate workspace, lighting, and time, rushing causes regressions.
Quick verification
Before you walk away from the affected device fix, run through:
1. Reproduce the original trigger. does the issue reappear? 2. Check the device's status / health screen for any new alerts. 3. Confirm paired devices (app, hub, controller) reconnected. 4. Save / commit any configuration changes per the device's normal workflow. 5. Note the change in your maintenance log with date + firmware version.
Escalation guide
For this unit, the right escalation depends on impact:
- Cosmetic / minor: log a ticket via the How app or web portal. Response 1-3 business days.
- Mid-impact: phone support. Have your serial number ready.
- Critical (production down, safety issue): in-person dealer / TAC visit. Bring proof of purchase.
- Out of warranty: third-party repair shop with manufacturer-certified technicians.
More frequently asked questions
What if my model isn't exactly the same revision?
Cross-check the model code on the rating plate against the manufacturer support page. Major firmware generations sometimes shift the menu path; the option is usually under a similarly-named section.
Is it safe to apply during business hours?
If the device is in production use, apply during a scheduled maintenance window. Most procedures need 2-15 minutes of downtime. Capture pre-change state so you can roll back if needed.
Can I roll this back if something breaks?
Yes for software-level changes (firmware rollback, config rollback). Hardware changes are usually one-way. Always back up settings before starting.
Why is this happening on a brand-new unit?
Out-of-box defects do occur. If you've owned the device under 30 days and the symptom persists after a factory reset, escalate to the seller for replacement under DOA terms before opening a manufacturer support case.
What if the fix returns after a reboot?
Persistent fault returns mean either: a hardware fault (escalate), a configuration that's being overwritten by a sync source (check cloud profiles), or a regression in a recent firmware update (rollback).
Where the macOS install fits at a real desk
Apple users at Lower Parel SoBo copy shop are usually freelance designers and FY students at IIT Madras-adjacent flats. They walk in with a MacBook Air M2 or M3 expecting AirPrint to find the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw and just work. AirPrint sometimes does. Sometimes it does not, and that is when I take over.
The Color LaserJet Pro M255nw talks to macOS through three layers: Bonjour for discovery, IPP Everywhere for the actual printing, and the vendor scan driver for the scan path. AirPrint covers the first two for free; macOS 13 Ventura and later has decent driverless support for HP. Scan-from-MacBook still wants the HP scan driver because Image Capture on macOS uses ICA over USB or eSCL over the network, and the vendor's scan driver is what registers the device with ICA.
My typical macOS install: MacBook on the office Wi-Fi, the printer on the same SSID (not the guest VLAN), and a 5-minute wait while the HP Smart bundle installs and registers the scanner driver. If the customer has a corporate-managed MacBook with Jamf restrictions, I switch to the manual path: download the PPD from https://support.hp.com and add the printer via System Settings.
macOS install path that actually works
- Power on the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw. Connect it to your home Wi-Fi via the panel (Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Setup → Wi-Fi Setup Wizard).
- On the Mac, open System Settings → Printers and Scanners. Click Add Printer.
- The Default tab should auto-discover the printer over Bonjour within 5-15 seconds. If not, check the printer IP from the panel (Settings → Network → Status → IP Address) and add via the IP tab manually.
- Pick the Color LaserJet Pro M255nw from the discovered list. Mac auto-selects "AirPrint" as the driver; for full features, change the Use dropdown to "Select Software" and pick the HP driver if installed, otherwise leave on AirPrint.
- Click Add. The printer appears in the printer list within 2-3 seconds.
- For full HP feature set: download the HP macOS bundle from https://support.hp.com, run the .dmg installer, accept the kernel-extension permission prompt (System Settings → Privacy and Security → Allow), restart if prompted.
- Test print from TextEdit: ⌘P → printer = Color LaserJet Pro M255nw → Print. The job should complete within 30 seconds.
- For scan: open Image Capture (Applications), pick the Color LaserJet Pro M255nw from the sidebar, click Scan. If the printer does not appear, the scan driver is missing and you need the full HP bundle.
macOS Sonoma 14.4 and later added stricter codesigning checks; if the HP installer is signed with an older certificate, you may see a "developer cannot be verified" prompt. Right-click the .pkg, hold Option, and select Open to bypass once.
Commands I run when this install misbehaves
I keep a one-page cheat sheet stuck inside the counter at Lower Parel SoBo copy shop. Same commands every time, same vendor.
Windows Command Prompt (run as Admin)
ping 192.168.1.42
arp -a | findstr "192.168.1.42"
nslookup printer.local
powershell "Get-Printer -Name 'HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw'"
powershell "Get-PrintJob -PrinterName 'HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw'"
powershell "Restart-Service -Name Spooler"
wmic printer where name='HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw' get printerstatus,detectederrorstate
macOS Terminal
ping -c 4 192.168.1.42
arp -a | grep 192.168.1.42
dns-sd -B _ipp._tcp local
lpstat -p HP_Color_LaserJet_Pro_M255nw
lpq -P HP_Color_LaserJet_Pro_M255nw
cancel -a -
sudo cupsctl --debug-logging
tail -f /var/log/cups/error_log
Linux back-office terminal
ping -c 4 192.168.1.42
nmap -p 9100,80,443,631,5353 192.168.1.42
avahi-browse -art | grep -i hp
curl -k https://192.168.1.42/
lpstat -t
lpq
sudo systemctl restart cups
journalctl -u cups -f
From the printer panel
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw exposes a hidden engineering menu on the panel. On HP EcoTank and WorkForce, hold Setup + Down arrow for 5 seconds. On HP HP DeskJet, hold Power + Resume for 5 seconds. From the engineering menu you can pull a Network Configuration Report (IP, MAC, RSSI, gateway), a Print Quality Diagnostic Page (4-colour patches), and an Internal Test Page. I pull the Network Configuration Report before I leave every install site, paper-clip it to the customer's bill of work.
India compliance and deployment notes
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw sells in India at around 32,900 INR (or USD 390 on the US street price). For a registered SMB on a GSTIN, Amazon Business or the HP India authorised dealer (e.g. Saraswati Inks in Bengaluru, Image Sales in Chennai) will issue a tax invoice with 18 percent GST broken out. That input credit alone makes the bulk-buy path worthwhile.
BIS certification: every HP printer sold in India carries a BIS R-number on the rating plate underneath. Grey-market imports from Singapore or Dubai distributors arrive without the BIS stamp; those units cannot be serviced by HP India authorised service centres, and they are technically non-compliant for sale. Check the rating plate before you accept delivery.
DPDP Act 2023: if the printer handles documents with personally identifiable information (Aadhaar, PAN, KYC PDFs, salary slips), the print job is in scope. That means scan-to-email should use TLS on port 587 (not plain port 25), the print queue should not log document contents, and any scan-to-folder should write to an encrypted share. For BFSI clients in Mumbai and Bengaluru I configure SMB encryption mandatorily.
Mains voltage: India's 230 V single-phase mains has spike voltage that occasionally exceeds 280 V during monsoon outages. A 1 kVA UPS rated for printer surge (Bluebird, Luminous Zelio+) keeps the Color LaserJet Pro M255nw alive and prevents power-supply damage. A cheap 600 VA UPS sized for a PC will cut out the moment the fuser engages on a laser, or the print head starts on an inkjet.
E-waste: empty HP cartridges fall under E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022. HP India runs take-back boxes at authorised service centres; third-party EPR collectors (Karo Sambhav, Attero Recycling) pick up free above 50 units. I batch 80-100 empties before I call them.
A real install I did last quarter
On 4 May 2026 I installed a HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw at an architect's home office in Indiranagar. The customer had bought the printer from Amazon Business at 32,900 INR on a Friday and called me the next Monday because the wizard had failed on his Windows 11 laptop. He had downloaded the driver from a "HP drivers free download" website that had wrapped a real installer in three layers of adware.
I started clean: uninstalled the previous driver from Settings → Apps → Installed apps, ran a printer cleanup tool to remove the lingering driver files, restarted, then downloaded the genuine bundle from https://support.hp.com. The install ran in 9 minutes, the test page printed crisp.
The customer had also tried to set up scan-to-email with a Gmail account but had typed his regular Gmail password into the SMTP field; Google had blocked the attempt and was about to lock his account. I generated an app-specific password from his Google account security page, plugged it into the printer's web admin, and a test scan landed in his inbox in 22 seconds.
Total time on site: 1 hour 50 minutes. Bill: 1,200 INR for the install + 300 INR for the consumables setup + 200 INR for the call-out within the metro. He gave me a 100 INR tip because the previous tech he had called had quoted 4,000 INR and refused to come unless he paid upfront.
More questions I get on installs like this
Will this install survive a Windows feature update?
Mostly yes. Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 23H2 / 24H2 keep installed printer drivers across feature updates. Major version jumps (Windows 10 to Windows 11) sometimes drop legacy Type-3 drivers; the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw's modern Type-4 driver is safe. After any feature update, print a test page within 24 hours to confirm.
What if my printer panel does not show a Network menu at all?
Some of the cheaper HP units only have USB (no Ethernet, no Wi-Fi). Confirm against the model spec sheet. If you bought a USB-only model expecting Wi-Fi, the only path to share over the network is Windows printer sharing or a third-party USB-to-Wi-Fi print server box (TP-Link TL-WPS510U at around 2,100 INR).
How do I move this printer to a new home Wi-Fi?
Panel: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Setup → run the wizard again with the new SSID and password. The printer keeps the old IP reservation if the new router uses the same subnet; otherwise you may need to re-add it on every PC. Update the DHCP reservation on the new router.
Can I install the printer on a Chromebook?
Yes, ChromeOS 89 and later support IPP Everywhere natively. Add the printer from Settings → Advanced → Printing → Printers → Add Printer. The Chromebook discovers the Color LaserJet Pro M255nw via mDNS within seconds. Scan from a Chromebook needs the web-based vendor portal (open the printer's IP in the browser, use Scan from there); standalone scan apps for ChromeOS are thin.
Why does my driver install fail with a "Spooler service not running" error?
Windows Print Spooler service has a known race with antivirus tools (Quick Heal, McAfee, sometimes Defender after a botched update). Open services.msc, find Print Spooler, set Startup type = Automatic, click Start. If it refuses to start, open a Command Prompt as Admin and run "sc config spooler depend= RPCSS" to reset the service dependencies, then start it.
Should I update the printer firmware right after install?
I usually do, yes. Firmware updates for the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw ship through the HP Smart helper or the embedded web admin. Plug the printer to mains via a UPS, ensure the network is stable, then trigger the update. A failed firmware update can brick the printer; never pull power mid-update.
Can I print from an Android phone without HP Smart?
Yes, Android 10 and later supports Mopria print service natively. Settings → Connected devices → Printing → Default Print Service (Mopria). Any Mopria-compatible printer on the same Wi-Fi shows up in the share sheet. The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255nw is Mopria-certified.