HP Manuals Pro

HP DeskJet 1200 Manual — Setup, Troubleshooting & WiFi Guide

The HP DeskJet 1200 is a compact color inkjet printer designed for reliable everyday printing at home or in a small office. It delivers crisp black-and-white and color output using HP 65 or HP 65XL ink cartridges, offering an easy path to affordable quality prints. This page covers setup instructions, wireless connectivity guidance, troubleshooting tips, maintenance advice, and full specifications for the HP DeskJet 1200.

Color Inkjet Cartridges: HP 65 / HP 65XL Compact Home Printer
download Download PDF Manual

Product Setup

1

Unbox and Power On

Remove all packaging tape and protective materials from the HP DeskJet 1200. Connect the power cord to the printer and plug it into a wall outlet, then press the Power button to turn the printer on. Wait for the printer to complete its initialization sequence before proceeding.

2

Install the Ink Cartridges

Open the cartridge access door on the front of the printer and wait for the carriage to move to the center. Insert the HP 65 black cartridge into the left slot and the HP 65 color (tri-color) cartridge into the right slot, pressing each firmly until it clicks into place. Close the cartridge access door once both cartridges are seated securely.

3

Load Paper into the Input Tray

Pull out the input tray and load a stack of plain white letter or A4 paper, aligning it against the right side of the tray. Slide the paper-width guides snugly against the edges of the paper stack without bending the sheets. Extend the output tray to catch printed pages as they come out.

4

Install Software and Connect to Your Computer

Download the latest HP DeskJet 1200 driver and HP Smart app from hp.com/support on your Windows or Mac computer. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect the printer via USB cable or set up a wireless connection to your home network. Print a test page to confirm the installation was successful.

info

Pro-Tip: Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

WiFi Connection Guide

wifi

Wireless Setup via HP Smart App

Download the HP Smart app on your smartphone or computer and follow the guided wireless setup to connect your HP DeskJet 1200 to your Wi-Fi network. Press the Wireless button on the printer to activate Wi-Fi setup mode — the Wireless light will blink blue to indicate the printer is ready to connect. Make sure your device is on the same 2.4 GHz network you intend to use for printing.

cable

USB Cable Connection

For a direct and stable connection, connect the HP DeskJet 1200 to your computer using a standard USB cable (Type-A to Micro-B). Install the HP DeskJet 1200 driver from hp.com/support and select 'USB' when prompted to choose a connection type during installation. This method requires no network and is ideal for single-computer setups.

Troubleshooting FAQ

Wireless Light is Blinking or Wi-Fi Won't Connectexpand_more
If the blue Wireless light is blinking rapidly, the printer is in Wi-Fi setup mode and waiting to connect. If it is not blinking at all, restart Wi-Fi setup mode by pressing and holding the Wireless button until the light begins to blink. Ensure you are connecting to a 2.4 GHz network and that you are not on a VPN, as VPN connections can block printer discovery on the local network.
Printer Not Printing or Print Jobs Stuck in Queueexpand_more
Open the print queue on your computer and cancel all pending jobs, then restart both the printer and your computer. Check that the HP DeskJet 1200 is set as the default printer in your system settings. If the issue persists, reinstall the printer driver from hp.com/support to resolve any software conflicts.
Low Ink Warning or Cartridge Not Recognizedexpand_more
If the ink indicator light is on, check ink levels via the HP Smart app or your computer's printer software and replace the HP 65 or HP 65XL cartridge as needed. If a cartridge is not recognized, open the cartridge access door and remove the unrecognized cartridge, then clean the copper contacts on the cartridge and inside the printer with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water. Reinsert the cartridge firmly until it clicks, then close the door.
Poor Print Quality or Streaky Outputexpand_more
Streaks and faded output are typically caused by clogged printheads or low ink. Run the printhead cleaning utility from your computer's HP printer software or from the HP Smart app under 'Printer Maintenance.' If quality does not improve after two cleaning cycles, print an alignment page and allow the printer to self-calibrate before attempting another print job.
Paper Jam or Paper Not Feeding Correctlyexpand_more
Turn off the printer and gently remove any jammed paper by pulling it slowly in the direction of the paper path — never pull paper backwards through the rollers. Check that the paper guides in the input tray are snug against the paper without over-compressing the stack. Avoid loading more than the recommended stack thickness (typically up to 60 sheets of plain paper) to prevent future jams.
warning

Important Safety Instructions

  • Run the 'Clean Printheads' utility from HP printer software every few weeks if the printer is used infrequently, to prevent ink from drying and clogging the HP 65 cartridge nozzles.
  • Check ink levels regularly via the HP Smart app and replace HP 65 or HP 65XL cartridges promptly when low to avoid print quality degradation and potential printhead damage from printing dry.
  • Wipe the exterior of the HP DeskJet 1200 and the paper input tray with a soft, dry cloth monthly to prevent dust buildup from interfering with paper feeding and sensor accuracy.
  • Perform a printhead alignment from your printer software after installing new HP 65 cartridges to ensure sharp text and accurate color output from the start.

Replacement Ink Cartridges

The HP DeskJet 1200 printer uses genuine HP 65 / HP 65XL ink cartridges. Select your cartridge below to purchase replacement cartridges on Amazon:

shopping_cart Buy HP 65 on Amazon shopping_cart Buy HP 65XL on Amazon

Technical Specifications

Feature Specification
Printer ModelHP DeskJet 1200
Printer TypeColor Inkjet Printer
Ink CartridgesHP 65 (Standard), HP 65XL (High Yield) — Black and Tri-Color
ConnectivityUSB, Wi-Fi (Wireless button with status light)
Wireless IndicatorBlue Wi-Fi light — blinks during setup, solid when connected, off when disconnected
Print FunctionsPrint (Color and Black-and-White)
Compatible OSWindows 7 and later, macOS X 10.11 and later
Mobile PrintingHP Smart App (iOS and Android), Wi-Fi Direct
Related ModelsHP DeskJet 1220c, HP DeskJet 1280
Official Manual (PDF)Download HP DeskJet 1200 Manual