hpfpaw73.dll is usually an HP printer-driver component, not a standalone Windows runtime file. When Windows reports that hpfpaw73.dll is missing, cannot be loaded, or is corrupt, repair the HP printer package that installed it instead of downloading an individual DLL.
Quick identification
| Item | What the evidence indicates |
|---|---|
| Filename | hpfpaw73.dll |
| Common description | “HP Settings” |
| Publisher shown in some records | Hewlett Packard Corporation |
| Associated package | HP printer-driver package prnhp005.inf |
| Common location | A Windows DriverStore folder under prnhp005.inf_amd64_neutral_...Amd64 |
| Architecture | Public records conflict, so verify the installed package rather than relying on a database |
| Role | HP printer-driver functionality, not Visual C++, DirectX, .NET, or a core Windows API |
Some third-party records call the file “HP Settings,” but that label is not enough to identify its role. Windows servicing evidence links the file to the HP printer-driver package prnhp005.inf. Public package listings also associate that package with HP Officejet and related printer families, although the exact supported models depend on the installed driver.
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The safest repair is to identify the affected HP printer, remove its damaged driver if necessary, and install the exact package from HP Software and Drivers.
First, identify the failure
The error context determines which repair should come first.
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If the error appears while printing
Windows is probably trying to load a damaged or incomplete HP driver. Go directly to the driver removal and reinstall procedure below.
If it appears during Windows Update or startup
The HP package may be referenced by Windows servicing, or a recent driver installation may have failed. Check the full path in the error and then work through the driver repair followed by DISM and SFC.
If antivirus recently quarantined the file
Do not immediately restore it. First confirm that the file belongs to the HP printer package and that the package came from HP. The Windows Security procedure below explains how to review the detection safely.
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If the message says “specified module could not be found”
That wording does not always mean hpfpaw73.dll itself is absent. A dependency required by the DLL may be missing, or Windows may be loading the wrong architecture. Reinstalling the complete driver package is safer than replacing one file.
Check the file before repairing it
These checks help distinguish a damaged HP component from an unrelated or malicious file.
1. Inspect the full path
If the error identifies a path, look for a location similar to:
C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryprnhp005.inf_amd64_neutral_...Amd64
A file associated with an HP printer driver may also be referenced through Windows component-store or servicing locations. A copy sitting in a random download folder, a temporary directory, or an unrelated application folder deserves extra scrutiny.
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2. Check Properties and the digital signature
- Open File Explorer.
- Browse to the reported file location.
- Right-click
hpfpaw73.dlland select Properties. - Open the Details tab and review the description, publisher, and file version.
- Open the Digital Signatures tab if it is present.
- Select the signature, choose Details, and confirm that Windows reports it as valid.
A valid signature supports the file’s legitimacy, but it does not prove that the file is the correct version for your printer. An unsigned file in an unexpected location should not be copied into a Windows folder.
3. Identify the printer and driver
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Record the HP printer name and model.
- Select the printer, then open Printer properties or Manage.
- Look for the driver name under the Advanced or About tab, depending on Windows version.
On older Windows versions:
- Open Control Panel.
- Select View devices and printers.
- Right-click the HP printer.
- Select Printer properties.
- Open the Advanced tab and record the driver name.
This model information is more useful than choosing a replacement based only on the filename.
Fix 1: Remove and reinstall the exact HP printer driver
This is the most likely solution.
Download the correct package
- Open HP’s official driver search page.
- Search using the printer’s product name, product number, or serial number.
- Select the exact printer model.
- Select the installed Windows version and architecture when prompted.
- Download the complete printer driver or full software package offered for that device.
- Do not download
hpfpaw73.dllseparately.
HP’s driver installation guidance explains the product and operating-system selection process.
Remove the printer
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Choose the affected HP printer.
- Select Remove and confirm.
- Restart Windows.
If the printer does not appear in Settings, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click it, and select Remove device.
Remove the old driver package when Windows allows it
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter:
printui.exe /s /t2
- Press Enter.
- Open the Drivers tab.
- Select the HP driver associated with the removed printer.
- Select Remove.
- Choose Remove driver and driver package if that option appears.
- Restart Windows.
Do not remove an HP driver still used by another working printer. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the computer, disconnect the printer, and try again after closing print-related programs.
Install the HP package
- Right-click the HP installer.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Follow the installer’s prompts.
- Connect the printer only when the installer requests it.
- Restart Windows after installation.
- Print a test page from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printer properties.
The repair worked if the installer completes, the printer returns to the printer list, and a test page prints without the DLL message.
If the HP installer still fails, temporarily remove the printer again and check Device Manager:
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- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Printers, Print queues, and Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Look for the affected HP device or a device with a warning icon.
- Right-click only the entry clearly associated with the removed printer.
- Select Uninstall device.
- Restart Windows.
- Run the HP installer again.
Do not uninstall unrelated display, storage, chipset, or network devices.
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Fix 2: Repair Windows servicing with DISM and SFC
Use this procedure when the error occurs during Windows Update, an upgrade, or a servicing operation, especially when logs mention prnhp005.inf, a hash mismatch, or a component-store failure.
- Open Start.
- Type
Command Prompt. - Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for it to complete. Do not close the window if progress appears to pause.
- Then run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart Windows.
- Retry Windows Update or reinstall the HP driver.
Microsoft recommends DISM before SFC because DISM repairs the component store that SFC uses as a source. Microsoft’s System File Checker guidance documents both commands.
If DISM reports that the source files could not be found, install pending updates first by opening Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, then restart and repeat the commands.
SFC may report that it repaired files, found no integrity violations, or could not repair some files. A successful SFC scan does not guarantee that a third-party HP driver is fixed. If the scan cannot repair the file, reinstall the HP package rather than repeatedly running SFC.
Repeating DISM and SFC without knowing which component changed can make troubleshooting slow. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for Windows issues and show what needs repair, while the full version performs the repair; it is optional, and the HP driver reinstall remains the definitive fix for this printer component.
Fix 3: Check antivirus quarantine
Windows Security may have removed or blocked the file.
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- Open Start.
- Select Settings.
- Select Privacy & security.
- Select Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review entries related to
hpfpaw73.dll, the HP installer, or the printer driver.
Only restore the file if all of the following are true:
- The file is in the expected HP driver location.
- Its digital signature is valid.
- The printer package was downloaded from HP.
- The detection is clearly a false positive or an incorrectly quarantined driver component.
If those conditions are not met, leave the file quarantined and run a full scan. Microsoft explains the risks of allowing unsafe files in its Protection History guidance.
To scan the system:
- Open Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Scan options.
- Choose Full scan.
- Select Scan now.
If you suspect active compromise, use Microsoft Defender Offline scan from the same menu. Microsoft’s Defender scanning instructions describe the available scan types.
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Fix 4: Undo a recent driver or Windows change
If printing worked until a recent update or driver change:
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- Save your work.
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter:
rstrui.exe
- Press Enter.
- Select a restore point dated before the problem began.
- Select Next, then Finish.
- Allow Windows to restart.
System Restore can return system files, settings, and installed programs to an earlier state without normally changing personal files. Afterward, install the correct HP package rather than allowing an unsuitable older driver to return.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Architecture and version checks
Do not assume that every file named hpfpaw73.dll is interchangeable. Public records conflict about architecture, version, size, and path. One record describes a 32-bit file with version 0.3.7071.0 and a size of about 0.45 MB, while other records describe a different 64-bit package. These are not universal specifications.
To check Windows architecture:
- Press Windows + I.
- Select System.
- Select About.
- Review System type.
Install the package HP offers for the exact printer and Windows installation. A 32-bit component cannot simply be substituted for a 64-bit driver component, and copying a 64-bit file into a 32-bit application path is not a repair.
What not to do
Do not download the DLL by itself
Random DLL download sites sites can provide malware, an altered file, the wrong architecture, or a version missing companion files. Even a genuine-looking replacement may not match the driver catalog or the printer’s INF package.
The safe download target is the complete driver from HP’s official driver page. Microsoft’s Windows repair commands should come from Microsoft documentation and should not be used to justify copying an individual DLL.
Do not copy it into System32, SysWOW64, or WinSxS
Manual copying can create architecture mismatches, bypass signature and catalog validation, and leave the rest of the printer package damaged. It can also make future driver removal and servicing more difficult.
Do not use regsvr32 as a general DLL repair
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that provide registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer. A printer-driver payload DLL is not automatically a COM or ActiveX component. Running commands such as these is generally inappropriate for this file:
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regsvr32 hpfpaw73.dll
Microsoft’s regsvr32 documentation explains its registration purpose and syntax.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDo not install Visual C++ just because the error mentions a DLL
There is no evidence that hpfpaw73.dll is a Visual C++ runtime file. Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable documentation applies to applications built with MSVC, not automatically to every DLL error.
If you no longer use the HP printer
If the printer is obsolete and no HP application depends on it, removing the printer and its driver may be the correct solution:
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Remove the unused HP printer.
- Open
printui.exe /s /t2. - Remove its unused driver package if Windows permits.
- Restart Windows.
Do not remove the package if another active HP printer uses the same driver.
Frequently asked questions
Is hpfpaw73.dll legitimate?
It is a real HP-related file, and Windows servicing evidence connects it to the HP printer-driver package prnhp005.inf. Verify the file path, digital signature, printer model, and source package on the affected computer.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIs it part of Windows?
It may be installed or serviced through Windows printer-driver infrastructure, but it is not a core Windows API DLL. Repairing Windows alone may not restore a damaged third-party printer driver.
Is it really an “HP Settings” file?
“HP Settings” is a commonly repeated third-party description. The stronger package evidence points to HP printer-driver functionality, so treat the label as metadata rather than definitive technical documentation.
Which HP printers use it?
Public package listings associate prnhp005.inf with HP Officejet and related families, but the exact supported models depend on the package. Use the printer’s model and HP’s driver search rather than guessing from the filename.
Should I install the 32-bit version?
No. Do not select a file from a database based on a version label. Install the package HP offers for your exact printer and Windows architecture.
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What if reinstalling the driver does not work?
Check Protection history, run DISM followed by SFC if Windows servicing is involved, and inspect the full error path. If the problem began after a recent change, System Restore may help. If the printer is no longer required, remove its obsolete package.
What if the error names a dependency instead?
A “specified module could not be found” message can indicate a missing dependency. Reinstalling the complete HP driver restores the DLL and its companion files together, which is safer than replacing only hpfpaw73.dll.
Quick Recap
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