The Short Answer: There Is a Workaround
If your HP Designjet 500 or HP Designjet 800 has stopped communicating with your Windows 11 computer, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions we receive at LPS Computer, and the good news is that there is a solution. Neither HP nor Microsoft officially supports these legacy plotters under Windows 11, but with the right driver approach, you can get your printer talking to your PC again.
Here is what you need to know about Designjet 500 Windows compatibility and getting your plotter back online.
Why the HP Designjet 500 and 800 Have Windows 11 Driver Issues
The HP Designjet 500 and 800 are older large-format plotters that HP no longer actively supports. When Microsoft released Windows 10 and later Windows 11, HP did not issue updated drivers for these models. As a result:
- Windows 11 will not automatically detect or install the correct driver
- The HP driver page auto-detects your operating system and may show no applicable drivers
- Standard "Add a Printer" methods will typically fail without a manual workaround
- The printer may appear to connect but produce no output, or fail silently
The solution requires manually selecting a legacy driver from a different OS version on HP's support page.
How to Connect Your HP Designjet 500 or 800 to Windows 11
This workaround was shared by one of our customers and has been confirmed to work by multiple users since. Follow these steps carefully:
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1
Visit the HP Drivers page: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-designjet-500-printer-series/25301
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2
On the driver page, click "Choose a different operating system" and manually select Windows 8.0 (not Windows 8.1; see the important note below)
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3
Download the file labeled "HP Designjet 500 PCL3GUI 64-bit" (filename: hpdj500wx64pclen)
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4
Unzip the downloaded file to a dedicated folder on your C: drive
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5
Connect your plotter to a USB port and power it on
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6
Open Windows Settings and navigate to "Add a Printer"
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7
Choose to add the printer manually and scroll through the list of HP printers; update the list if prompted
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8
Select "Have Disk" and point the installer to the folder you created in step 4
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9
Complete the installation and run a test print to confirm the connection
Important Note on Driver Versions: One of our customers confirmed in April 2026 that the Windows 8.1 driver does NOT work reliably. When using that version, the printer throws an error and requires a restart to recover. The Windows 8 PCL3 x64 driver is the one that works, even though its filename and reported version may appear similar to the 8.1 package. Use Windows 8.0 specifically when selecting your operating system on the HP support page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HP Designjet 500 compatible with Windows 11?
Not officially; HP does not provide a native Windows 11 driver. However, the Windows 8 PCL3 x64 driver has been confirmed by multiple users to work successfully on Windows 11 via a manual installation process.
Is the HP Designjet 800 compatible with Windows 11?
HP doesn't offer a Windows 11 driver for the 800 either. The same manual method should work using the Designjet 800's own driver from HP's support page. So far our confirmations come from Designjet 500 owners, so if you try it on an 800, let us know how it goes.
Will this work on Windows 10 as well?
Yes. The same manual driver installation method applies to Windows 10. Follow the same steps and select the Windows 8 PCL3 x64 driver.
Why does HP not provide a Windows 11 driver for these printers?
The Designjet 500 and 800 are legacy products that HP no longer actively supports. Driver updates for these models have not been issued for modern operating systems; however, the older PCL3 driver remains functional when installed manually.
What if the workaround still does not work for my setup?
Contact LPS Computer. Our team has supported Designjet 500 and 800 users for decades and may be able to help troubleshoot your specific configuration.
Resources and Technical Support
LPS Computer continues to support these legacy models long after HP stopped. If you need parts, technical guidance, or help diagnosing a problem, we are here:
Email usSALES@LPSCOMPUTER.COM
Call us760-749-1580 for free HP Designjet tech support
Designjet 500 and 800 parts: parts for your 500 or 800 series plotter
LPS Computer specializes in parts and support for HP Designjet plotters that HP no longer supports, including custom-manufactured replacement components built from LPS-owned injection molds.
Thanks for the tip. I did as instructed and can finally print to the plotter. However, it will only print 24" wide using this driver, regardless of the roll width and me specifying the roll width before plotting. There has to be a setting I haven’t found yet.
Hello, I tried what you did without success. I am on Win10 64bit, and no matter what I try, I get an error message: I am thinking or resorting to VM ware to use the plotter, or get an old used 32bit computer to print.
If there is any other ideas out there it would be great to know. I am glad I found this site. I have an old DJ500 42, and I am tired of paying for printheads on my IPF8400 and ink, but I did not realize HP stopped upgrading drivers….
Thanks for any help.
Thank you! I’ve been struggling to get seasonal employees connected to our DesignJet 500 for several years, and this did the trick for everyone this summer!
This one really works!! I struggled for a couple days trying to get my Designjet 500 to print with Windows 11.
This one really works!! I struggled for a couple days trying to get my Designjet 500 to print with Windows 11.