How to Get Alexa to Print to an HP Printer

Hewlett-Packard recently added voice control to its web-connected printers. Consumers using Alexa, Cortana or Google Home can now print common forms and papers without opening a computer. The options are somewhat limited at this time, but when you need a preformatted document, this skill can make your job easier.

ContentsRequirementSet up voice-activated printing on AlexaInstallation using a mobile deviceInstallation using a computerWhat can benefit from Alexa Print?

Requirement

One way to print using voice commands is to use Amazon Alexa. To do this, you need an Alexa-enabled device (Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Spot, etc.) and an HP web-connected printer. You also need your smartphone (either Android or iOS), Fire Tablet or computer to set up the connection.

Your printer must be running print and web services and be connected to your network by WiFi or Ethernet connection. Printers connected to a computer via USB will not work. The application establishes this connection via a secure cloud-based service and allows the use of a single network printer from a single local network.

Configure voice-activated printing on Alexa

First, get the printer's email address. If you don't know the address, these steps should help you find it.

Press the eprint or network configuration button on your computer. Some computers may require you to go through this series of menus:Setup -> Settings -> Wireless Settings.

• If the email address is not showing, check if Web Services is running. If it's not enabled, follow the instructions to enable it and check for updates. An information sheet will automatically print that tells you how to find the email address.
• If web services is enabled, press "Print" or "Print Info" to get the printer address.
• If you can't find the email address or if a sheet doesn't print automatically when it should, you may need to disable Web Services and then re-enable it.

Once you have your printer's email, you need to enable the HP Printer skill for Alexa.

Installation using a mobile device

If you don't already have it, download the Alexa app on your Fire phone or tablet. Open the app. Tap the menu icon to find Alexa skill options.

Search for HP and tap the result for HP Printer.

Tap "Enable" where the image says "Disable Skill".

Save permissions.

Enter your printer's email address, then press "Finish and start printing".

Installation using a computer

Go to Amazon.com. Click on the search bar dropdown and choose Alexa Skills.

Search for HP and select HP Printer.

Tap "Enable". (This will be where the photo says "Disable skill.")

Enter your printer's email, then click the Submit button.

For a full list of current commands, go to the HP Alexa Printer Skill Page on Amazon.

What can benefit from Alexa Print?

Some of the items Alexa can print are shopping and to-do lists, coloring pages, comics, and calendars, as well as crosswords, Sudoku, and word search puzzles.

When you're ready to print, say, "Alexa, ask my printer to... and choose from the available commands such as:

• "...print today's comics"
• “…print my to-do list”
• “…print a calendar for next month”

Even though we use our devices for many of our daily tasks, printing is not yet obsolete. You can keep your lists on your smartphone, but Alexa adds to the existing functionality by letting you add items to the list by voice command. Then you can print them later to cross off items as they are completed or purchased. Yes, coloring books are cheap, but if a bored child wants something to do, there's something to be said for the novelty of letting them print a sheet for themselves and be surprised at what comes out of it.

Having this ability might not be something you use every day, but it's nice to have the option when you need it.