After upgrading to Windows 11, the HP 4650 lost its ability to print in color and perform automatic duplex printing. The duplex unit was not recognized, and only black-and-white printing was possible.
Complete model name is: HP OfficeJet 4650 All-in-One Printer (7781689). It supports Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz only), scanning, faxing, and of course, should support automatic duplex and color printing. One color cartridge and one black cartridge; the accurate ink level is reported.
Reason
Clearly, this is a driver-related issue in Windows 11—it all worked fine before. HP must be well aware of the problem due to the many posts in their so-called "customer forum", yet they refuse to fix it.
Print jobs from other operating systems or mobile devices work fine, so this is not the result of a botched firmware update.
Installing an older driver version might restore functionality temporarily (test page prints successfully in the printer settings, duplex unit is briefly recognized). But soon after, it seems the driver is overwritten with a faulty version or the printer’s device data gets misinterpreted.
Disabling Windows Update driver updates through "System > Info > Advanced settings > Hardware" did nothing. Microsoft, too, increasingly shows signs that customer satisfaction and quality are no longer priorities - if ever.
The HP Smart apps don’t solve the issue either—not that you’d expect them to.
Solution
- Install the driver package for the HP Envy 7640, or extract it using a tool like 7-Zip.
- Download the base driver installer from HP's product page:
https://support.hp.com/drivers/hp-envy-7640-e-all-in-one-printer/model/6617268 (40.15.1230, 54.3 MB, 24. Nov. 2021)
The downloaded file is called "Basic_Webpack_x64-40.15.1230-EN7640_Basicx64_Webpack.exe" - Extract the executable archive (.exe) with 7-Zip or a similar decompressor to a folder (right click, extract to folder)
- Go to Windows Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners, select the previously installed HP 4650 (not the fax driver entry)
- Open Printer Properties and go to the Advanced tab
- Click the button "New Driver…" (the button is at the end of the Driver pulldown menu in the dialog)
- If the driver "HP ENVY 7640 series" is not listed in the HP node in the shown vendor list, then proceed and use “Have Disk / Datenträger” (bottom right) to manually select the driver location (our extraction folder from step 3)
- Look for the file
hpygid20.inf(maybe in a subfolder), select it, and confirm. Now the installation should proceed. Allow installation if requested.
Once installed, the HP 4650 uses the Envy 7640 driver—and voilà, color and duplex printing are restored. In essence, you're substituting the not working driver with a driver of a compatible (possibly identical?) device.
Normally its HP's task to maintain their bloody drivers. Replacing both cartridges with genuine HP ink costs nearly €100 each time, making HP’s lack of product maintenance and practically non-existent support all the more baffling. It feels like customers are the enemy. Even firmware updates usually seem designed to deactivate/ obstruct functions after sale, or block third-party consumables by computer sabotage: HP's new company values?
My next purchase certainly won't be HP.