FIX: Service 'PlugPlay' failed to start when installing an HP printer on Windows 11 with an ARM-based CPU.
If you encounter the error "PlugPlay service failed to start" when installing an HP printer on a Windows 10/11 ARM-based CPU, continue reading below to resolve the issue and install your printer.
A few days ago I tried to install the full software of an HP PageWide 377dw MFP printer on a Windows 11 Copilot PC with an ARM CPU. But during the installation I faced the error "Service 'PlugPlay' (PlugPLay) failed to start. Verify that you have the appropriate sufficient privileges to start system services".
After making sure the "Plug and Play" service is started on the system and several reboots and attempts to install the full HP printer software because of the "'PlugPlay' service failed to start" error, I finally found two (2) different solutions to solve the problem and they are listed below.*
* Note: For your info, during my testing, I tried to install the printer software on different computers with the following results:
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Windows 10 (64-bit): Installation Success
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Windows 11 (64-bit): Installation Success
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Windows 11 (ARM64): Installation Failed with error 'PlugPlay service failed to start'.
How to FIX: PlugPlay Service failed to start on HP Printer Setup in Windows 11 ARM64.*
Method 1. Install Printer using the 'HP Smart Universal Print Driver for ARM64'.
Th first method to install your HP printer on your ARM based PC, is to install the HP Universal Print Driver for Windows ARM64.
1. Navigate to the following HP support page:
2. Check if your version of Windows is detected correctly, and if not, click Choose a different OS and select the version of Windows you had.
3. Then scroll down, expand Driver Smart Universal Print Driver and download the HP Smart Universal Printing Driver for Windows V4 (ARM64-bit).
4. When the download is completed double-click at the downloaded file "SUPD-V4-ARM64-x.xx.x.xxxx.exe" choose Run and then click Unzip.
5. In HP driver installer wizard, scroll down to read and accept the license terms and then click Next.
6. Finally select the driver installation mode and click Next to install your printer.
Method 2. Install Printer using HP Smart app.
The second method to install an HP Printer on Windows 11 ARM based PC's, is to use the HP Smart App.
1. Click the link below to navigate to HP Smart download page:
2. Click the Download button to download the HP Smart installer.
3. When the download is completed, double-click on the downloaded 'HP Smart Installer.exe" to install the app.
4. Finally, when 'HP Smart' launces, click Add Printer and follow the onscreen instructions to install your printer.
Method 3. Install the Printer Manually using the 'Add Printer Wizard' Feature.
If you haven't already and before continuing below, use the instructions on Method-1 above to download the HP Smart Universal Print Driver (steps 1-3), and after unzipping the download file (step-4), close the HP driver installation wizard (step-5).
1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices and open Printers & scanners.
2. Click Add device and let to Windows to try to find the printer.
3. Then click Add manually next to "The Printer that I want isn't listed".
4. In the 'Add Printer' wizard, select the printer connection type [eg Local (USB) or Network (IP Address)] and click Next.
5. On the next screen, if the printer is connected locally, select its USB connection port, or else, if it is networked, enter the printer's IP address (like in this example).
6. Now, let Windows detect the printer driver and when they fail, click Have Disk to install the printer driver manually.
7. Then click Browse, navigate to the following location on disk "C:\HPSUPD\SUPD-V4-ARM64-4.xx.x.xxxx" click Open and then OK.
8. Finally, select either the HP Smart Universal Printing or the HP Smart Universal Printing (v4.xx.x) printer driver and click Next to install it.
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 'PlugPlay service failed to start' error mean on Windows 11 ARM64?
This error indicates that the 'Plug and Play' service, which is essential for printer installations, failed to start likely due to insufficient privileges or compatibility issues on Windows 11 ARM64 systems.
Are there successful installation reports on different Windows versions for the HP printer?
Yes, the installation was successful on Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11 (64-bit). However, it failed on Windows 11 (ARM64) due to the 'PlugPlay service failed to start' error.
How can I resolve the 'PlugPlay service failed to start' error when installing an HP Printer on Windows 11 ARM64?
To resolve this issue, you can try one of the following solutions: use the 'HP Smart Universal Print Driver for ARM64', install the printer using the HP Smart App, or manually add the printer using the 'Add Printer Wizard' feature.
How can I use the HP Smart Universal Print Driver for ARM64 to install my printer?
Navigate to the HP support page for the HP Smart Universal Print Driver for Windows v4 (64-bit). Download the ARM64-bit driver, run the installer, accept the license terms, and follow the wizard to complete the installation.
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April 1, 2026 @ 2:51 pm
In my case it was a disabled service "Device Install Service". The driver can also be added via device manager.