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HP DeskJet 3521 Manual — Setup, Troubleshooting & Support Guide

The HP DeskJet 3521 is a reliable color inkjet printer designed for home and small office use. This guide covers essential setup, wireless connectivity, troubleshooting, cartridge maintenance, and HP support resources to keep your printer running smoothly.

USB & Wireless Connectivity Color Inkjet Printer HP 65/65XL Cartridges
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Product Setup

1

Install Setup Cartridges

During initial setup, install only the SETUP cartridges that shipped with your printer. These cartridges are labeled "SETUP" and calibrate your printer before the first print job. Do not open or uncap cartridges until ready to install, and keep orange caps on to reduce ink evaporation.

2

Load Paper into Input Tray

Place letter or A4 plain white paper into the input tray, ensuring paper lays flat with edges not bent or torn. Adjust the paper-width guide to fit snugly against all paper without bending it, and do not overfill the tray or combine different paper types and sizes.

3

Install Printer Software

Install the HP DeskJet 3520 series software from the provided CD or download it from HP's website. The software provides access to Print and Scan, maintenance tools, and printer preferences for optimal print quality.

4

Align Cartridges

After installing new cartridges, use the Printer Software to align them by clicking Print and Scan > Maintain Your Printer > Align Printheads on the Device Services tab. Load the printed alignment sheet print-side down on the scanner glass and follow onscreen instructions to complete alignment.

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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 Network Setup

Connect your DeskJet 3521 to your wireless network during initial software installation. The printer will prompt you to select your network and enter your security credentials to enable wireless printing from any connected device.

usb

USB Connection

For direct connection, use a USB cable of 3 meters (10 feet) or less to minimize injected noise. HP recommends establishing a stable USB connection before attempting wireless setup or troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Troubleshooting FAQ

Improve Print Qualityexpand_more
  1. Use genuine HP cartridges designed for your printer
  2. Check print properties and select appropriate paper type and quality from the Media dropdown in Printer Software
  3. Check estimated ink levels and replace cartridges if low
  4. Align cartridges via Printer Software > Maintain Your Printer > Align Printheads
  5. Print a diagnostics page to check for streaks or missing ink
  6. If diagnostics show issues, clean printheads automatically via Printer Software > Maintain Your Printer > Clean Printheads
Clear a Paper Jamexpand_more
If paper is jammed and accessible from the exterior, pull it out and press OK. If not visible externally, open the cartridge access door. For jams in the cartridge area, pull paper gently without touching the white encoder strip. For jams toward the back, open the cleanout door, remove paper, and close both latches securely. If paper still cannot be reached, remove all paper from the tray, rotate the printer to rest on its left side, slide out the paper tray, and remove jammed paper. Prevent future jams by not overfilling the tray, removing printed papers frequently, ensuring paper edges are flat and unbent, keeping all paper the same size and type, and adjusting the paper-width guide properly.
Unable to Printexpand_more
Download the HP Printing Diagnostic Utility for automatic troubleshooting. Ensure printer is turned on with paper in the tray. Check for error messages and resolve them. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable. Verify the printer is not paused or offline via Devices and Printers (Windows 7) or Control Panel > Printers (Vista/XP). Ensure the printer is set as the default printer (marked with a check mark). Restart the print spooler service. Restart your computer. Clear the print queue by selecting Cancel All Documents. If issues persist, remove any objects blocking the print carriage and check for jammed paper inside the printer.
Ink Cartridge Problemsexpand_more
First, remove and reinsert cartridges to reseat them properly. If the error persists, clean the cartridge contacts: turn on the printer, open the cartridge access door, remove the affected cartridge, and wipe only the four copper or gold-colored contacts on the bottom with a dry lint-free cloth. Clean the matching contacts inside the printer on the printhead similarly. Reinstall the cartridge and close the door. Do not leave cartridges outside the printer for longer than 30 minutes, as this may damage the printhead. If problems continue, replace the cartridge with a genuine HP 65 or HP 65XL cartridge.
Cartridge Not Recognizedexpand_more
Ensure you are using genuine HP cartridges (HP 65 or HP 65XL) with valid warranty dates. For supply upgrade cartridges, remove the upgrade cartridge, insert the original cartridge, close the access door and wait for the carriage to stop, then remove the original and reinstall the upgrade cartridge. For older generation cartridges marked "v1" on the box, upgrade to the newer version. If using refilled, remanufactured, or cartridges from other printers, the printer may not recognize them or ink levels may be inaccurate. Contact HP support if issues persist.
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Important Safety Instructions

  • Check estimated ink levels regularly from the control panel or Printer Software to plan cartridge replacement
  • Clean printheads automatically from the control panel (Settings > Tools > Clean Printhead) when print quality declines
  • Use only genuine HP 65 or HP 65XL cartridges to ensure warranty coverage and optimal print quality
  • Ensure the printer is turned off properly and use the Auto Power-Off feature to manage power use and maintain cartridge integrity
  • Replace cartridges only when print quality becomes unacceptable; low-ink warnings provide estimates for planning purposes only

Replacement Ink Cartridges

The HP DeskJet 3521 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
Compatible CartridgesHP 65 Black, HP 65 Color (CMY), HP 65XL Black, HP 65XL Color (CMY)
Print TechnologyThermal Inkjet Color Printing
Print ResolutionUp to 4800x1200 optimized dpi (Color), 600x1200 dpi (Black)
Color Depth24-bit color, 8-bit grayscale (256 levels)
ConnectivityUSB (3 meters/10 feet maximum recommended) and Wireless 802.11b/g/n
Paper InputUp to 100 sheets of letter/A4 plain paper; supports various paper weights and sizes
Supported Paper TypesPlain paper, photo paper, glossy paper, and other specialty media; select appropriate type in print properties
Phone SupportOne year included in North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America; available at www.hp.com/support
Manual Two-Sided PrintingSupported via manual duplex; print odd pages, flip stack, reload, then print even pages
WarrantyHP cartridge warranty valid when used in designated HP device; does not cover refilled, remanufactured, or tampered cartridges