Get the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 driver from HP’s official HP Color LaserJet CP1215 Software and Driver Downloads page. Confirm your operating system, open the Driver-Product Installation Software section, download the file, and run it. HP lists downloads for Windows 10 and earlier. On Windows 11, use the driver that Windows installs on its own when you connect the printer.
A driver is the software that lets your computer and printer communicate. The wrong one can leave you with missing features or print jobs that come out wrong, so it is worth getting it from HP or from Windows itself instead of a third-party download site.
What You Need Before You Start
- Your Windows version and type. HP offers separate 32-bit and 64-bit downloads. In Windows, open Settings > System > About and look at System type.
- A USB cable and a free USB port on the computer itself. HP says not to connect the printer through a USB hub or docking station, because the printer might not get enough power to work properly.
- An administrator account. Windows may ask for administrator approval when you install a driver.
- An internet connection. You need it for the HP download, and Windows uses it to fetch drivers through Windows Update.
Which CP1215 Driver Should You Use?
The CP1215 is an older printer, so the right route depends on your operating system. HP’s download page lets you pick from Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, plus Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Linux. Windows 11 and macOS are not in that list.
| Your system | Where to get the driver | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista or XP | HP’s download page | A small HP package made for the CP1210 printer series |
| Windows 11 | Windows built-in driver or Windows Update | Basic printing; HP does not list a Windows 11 download |
| Linux | HP’s HPLIP software | Needs HPLIP 3.9.2 or later and a driver plug-in |
How to Download the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 Driver
Use these steps on Windows 10 or an earlier version of Windows.
- Go to the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 Software and Driver Downloads page on HP’s support site.
- Check the Detected operating system line. If it is wrong, click Choose a different OS, pick the Operating system and Version, and click Update.
- Open the Driver-Product Installation Software section. For 64-bit Windows 10, HP lists one item under Basic Drivers: the HP Color LaserJet CP1210 Series Plug and Play Package, a 7.0 MB file.
- Click Download next to the package. Most browsers save it to your Downloads folder.
- Open the downloaded file and follow the installer’s prompts.
- Connect the printer to your computer with the USB cable when the installer tells you to.
Result: The CP1215 appears in your list of printers. The package name says CP1210 because the CP1215 belongs to HP’s CP1210 printer series, so that is the correct file. HP dates this package April 2013, so do not expect a newer version to appear.
How to Use the Windows Built-In Driver Instead
Use this method on Windows 11, or on any Windows PC where you only need basic printing. HP’s HP printer setup (Windows built-in driver) guide explains how to set up a USB printer without downloading anything:
- In Windows, search for and open Change device installation settings, and make sure Yes (recommended) is selected. This lets Windows download drivers automatically.
- Turn on the printer, then connect the USB cable to the printer and to a USB port on the computer.
- If a Found new hardware message appears, follow the prompts. Then try to print. If the page prints, the driver is installed and you can stop here.
- If you cannot print, search for and open Add a printer or scanner, click Add a printer or scanner, and wait while Windows looks for printers.
- Select the CP1215 when Windows finds it, then click Add device.
Result: Windows installs a driver with basic printing features. On Windows 11 you can also get to the same place through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Our guide on how to add a printer in Windows 11 walks through that screen.
If Windows does not list the printer
HP’s guide continues with a manual method for a printer that does not show up in the list:
- On the Add a printer or scanner screen, click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
- Select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, then click Next.
- Select Use an existing port, choose USB001 (Virtual printer port for USB) from the drop-down menu, and click Next.
- If prompted, click Windows Update and wait for the list of print drivers to refresh. This can take a few minutes.
- Under Manufacturer, select HP or Hewlett Packard, select your printer’s name, click Next, and follow the prompts.
- Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to finish the setup.
If the CP1215 is not in the list of printer names, Windows does not have a driver for it on that PC, and HP’s documentation does not name a substitute model to pick instead.
How to Confirm the Driver Works
Print a one-page document from an app on the computer, such as Notepad or your web browser. A page printed from the computer proves that the driver and the USB connection both work.
To look at the driver’s options, search for and open Printers & scanners, click the printer’s name, and open Printing preferences. HP notes that the built-in Windows driver provides basic functionality, so some tabs and options from the HP package may be missing if Windows installed the driver for you.
After the printer installs, Microsoft suggests checking Windows Update for updated drivers. See Microsoft’s Download and install the latest printer drivers article, or our guide on how to update a printer driver in Windows 11.
What to Do If Windows Doesn’t Detect the Printer
HP’s HP printer setup (USB cable) guide suggests starting fresh if the printer was already connected. Removing the printer deletes it from your printer list on this PC only, and you add it back in the last step.
- Disconnect the USB cable.
- Open Printers & scanners, select the printer, click Remove device (Windows 11 may show Remove), then click Yes.
- Restart the computer.
- Reconnect the printer directly to a USB port on the computer and repeat the install steps.
A few other things to check:
- The download page shows the wrong system. Click Choose a different OS and pick your version by hand. Download the package that matches your system type, 32-bit or 64-bit.
- No download appears for your system. HP does not offer one for that operating system. Use the Windows built-in driver method above.
- The installer never finds the printer. Make sure the printer is turned on and that the cable goes straight into the computer, not into a hub or dock.
- You use an ARM-based PC. Microsoft says some ARM PCs, such as Copilot+ PCs, cannot add a printer with a manufacturer’s installer. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device instead.
- An old copy of the printer is in the way. See how to remove a printer from Windows 11, then add it again.
If the problem continues, see our general printer troubleshooting guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an HP Color LaserJet CP1215 driver for Windows 11?
HP’s download page for the CP1215 does not include Windows 11 in its operating system list. The newest version it offers is Windows 10. On Windows 11, connect the printer by USB and let Windows install its built-in driver, then check Windows Update. HP staff on HP’s support forum have suggested trying the Windows 10 package on Windows 11, but HP’s download page does not list that combination, so treat it as something that may or may not work.
Is there a CP1215 driver for Mac?
HP’s CP1215 download page only offers Windows and Linux as operating system choices, so there is no Mac download there. HP’s general USB guide says macOS can add a USB printer on its own: connect the cable, open Printers & Scanners, and add the printer if its name is not already listed. HP’s guide does not say whether this works for the CP1215 on current macOS versions.
Does the CP1215 work with Linux?
Yes, according to HP. Its HPLIP page for the Color LaserJet CP1215 lists the printer as supported starting with HPLIP version 3.9.2. HPLIP is HP’s printing software for Linux. HP notes that this printer requires a downloadable driver plug-in, which you install by running the hp-setup tool.
Why is the file called a CP1210 Series package?
HP groups the CP1215 under its Color LaserJet CP1210 printer series, and one package covers the series. The file HP lists on the CP1215 page is the right one for this printer.
Is it safe to download the driver from other websites?
Stick to HP’s support site or Windows Update. Microsoft also recommends getting printer drivers from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website. Driver files from third-party download sites may be outdated or bundled with software you did not ask for.
Can I change other CP1215 settings after installing the driver?
Yes. For example, see how to restore default settings on the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 or how to add a watermark. You can also set an available time for the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 so it only prints during certain hours.
Where can I find drivers for other HP LaserJet printers?
Search for your model on HP’s support site, or see our guide to the HP LaserJet P2055dn driver.
Next Step
Once a test page prints, open Printing preferences and set the paper size and color options you use most, so every job starts with the right defaults.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.