Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

TL;DR: How to set up the printer 1) Plug in 2) Add ink cartridges - make sure that they are installed correctly and there are no error codes on the screen 3) Download the HP Smart App on your phone or on your computer 4) If you are on a VPN, disconnect 5) Follow the instructions on the App - the printer will either be found or not. If it is not found, try the "Manual" process where you use the App to connect to the printer wifi/bluetooth (this is easier on your phone vs on your computer and I recommend doing it on your phone). 6) Once the printer is on your wifi, you can connect it to your computer(s) around your home. 7) At any point, hit the wifi button and the cancel button to reset the wifi pairing mode on the printer and wait for the power button to start flashing. Once it starts flashing, the wifi pairing mode has been reset and you can start the process again (if you mess up like I did). Let's start with the obvious - I bought this printer for under $100 because I needed something simple for working from home. I don't do photos or large jobs or anything - just things like forms that I need to sign and scan back (and I use my phone and the adobe app for all my scanning), Amazon return labels, and small jobs. The printer is perfect for all of that. An amazing price for a good quality printer that prints well for small and non-intensive use. Let's talk about the set up - I consider myself tech savvy. I am not someone who needs help in setting up wifi tech in my house (we are pretty wired). Yet this took me over an hour to figure out. And thank goodness that I could troubleshoot on the internet when things went south. So I first followed the instructions for plugging it in/adding in the ink cartridges. After putting in the ink catridges (its one of the first parts of the set up), everything started blinking except the power button. And the screen (which is not lit very well) was flashing an E and then a 3 over and over. Had no idea what that meant (thought it had to do with it not being connected to the WIFI yet and decided to continue to set up my printer. Didn't work. I tried using my computer and tried using my phone. Didn't work. One hour went by as I tried everything - that included resetting my router, holding down the Wifi Button and the Cancel button to reset the wifi initiation mode (as suggested on the internet) but that wasn't working. And finally...FINALLY - the E3 flashing made me thinking something else was wrong. And it was - I had installed the ink cartridges wrong (they really need to be pushed in until you hear a click...I didn't do that). Once that error cleared, I pushed the wifi button and the X/cancel button and waited for the Power Button to start blinking (as the internet told me to do). This process refreshed the wifi pairing mode. Once that happened, I was able to connect the printer to the wifi using the app on my phone and once the printer was connected to the wifi, I could add it to my computer. I just needed someone (for instance, the instructions) to let me know about the error codes and making sure I was doing what I needed to do instead of wasting an hour trying to do everything. So in summary - great little printer for the price, TERRIBLE instructions and not enough information to get it set up unless you do it perfectly from the get go (which how can you when you aren't given enough information to do it!). I gave it 4 stars because its a great printer at a great price. It lost a star due to the lack of information/troubleshooting on how to set it. Error codes and what they mean should be standard in the manual OR at least the manual should have a QR code that leads you to a place that outlines what they are.