How to Fix HP Printer Printing Cropped Photos?

HP printers are designed to deliver high-quality photo prints with accurate colors and sharp details. However, sometimes users experience an issue where photos print cropped, cutting off edges or important parts of the image. This problem is usually related to incorrect print settings, paper size mismatch, scaling options, or driver configuration.

Common Reasons Why HP Printer Prints Cropped Photos

Before applying fixes, it’s important to understand the common causes:

Incorrect paper size selected in print settings
“Fill Page” or “Zoom to Fit” enabled
Borderless printing settings misconfigured
Mismatch between photo aspect ratio and paper size
Outdated or corrupted HP printer drivers
Incorrect layout settings in HP Smart app

Identifying the exact cause will help you apply the correct solution.

Check Paper Size and Photo Size Settings

One of the most common reasons for cropped photos is a mismatch between the photo dimensions and selected paper size.

Steps to Fix:

Open the photo you want to print.
Click Print.
Select your HP printer.
Open Printer Properties or Preferences.
Ensure the correct paper size (4×6, A4, Letter, etc.) is selected.
Check scaling options and select:
- “Actual Size”
- or “Fit to Page” (not “Fill Entire Page”)

If your image ratio doesn’t match the paper size, small portions may get cropped automatically.

Disable Borderless Printing (If Not Needed)

Borderless printing can sometimes zoom in slightly to eliminate white margins, causing edge cropping.

To Adjust Borderless Settings:

Go to Printer Preferences.
Locate Borderless Printing option.
Turn it OFF (if not required).
Save settings and try printing again.

If you need borderless printing, make sure the image matches the exact paper aspect ratio.

Adjust Photo Aspect Ratio

Photos taken on smartphones usually have a 4:3 or 16:9 ratio, while standard photo paper sizes like 4×6 use a 3:2 ratio. This mismatch causes cropping.

Solutions:

Edit the photo before printing.
Use cropping tools to match the paper ratio.
Choose “Fit to Page” instead of “Fill Page.”
Add white borders to maintain full image visibility.

Update HP Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause improper scaling and layout issues.

Steps to Update Drivers:

Open Device Manager on Windows.
Locate your HP printer.
Right-click and select Update Driver.
Choose automatic update option.

You can also reinstall the printer driver completely:

Remove the printer from Devices.
Restart the computer.
Reinstall the printer using HP setup software.

Updated drivers often resolve layout and cropping problems.

Reset Print Preferences to Default

If custom settings are saved, they may cause cropping every time.

To Reset:

Open Control Panel.
Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click your HP printer.
Select Printing Preferences.
Click Restore Defaults.
Apply changes.

This removes any saved scaling or zoom adjustments.

Use HP Smart App for Proper Layout

If you’re printing through the HP Smart app:

Open the app.
Select Print Photos.
Choose layout settings carefully.
Disable auto-enhance or auto-crop if enabled.
Preview before printing.

The preview screen will show exactly how the image will print.

Check Mac Print Settings (If Using macOS)

On Mac systems:

Open the image.
Click File > Print.
Select your HP printer.
Click Show Details.
Adjust:
- Scale to 100%
- Correct paper size
- Disable “Scale to Fit”

Incorrect scaling is often the main cause on macOS systems.

Perform Printer Firmware Update

Sometimes firmware issues can affect layout accuracy.

To Update:

Open HP Smart app.
Check for firmware updates.
Install if available.
Restart the printer after update.

Firmware updates improve compatibility and print precision.

HP Printer Not Working After Settings Change

If your HP printer stops working after modifying settings:

Restart printer and computer.
Check Wi-Fi or USB connection.
Run HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows).
Remove and re-add the printer.
Ensure no print queue is stuck.

Resetting the printer to factory settings may also resolve persistent issues.

HP Printer Customer Support and Service Options

If cropping continues despite troubleshooting:

Contact HP Customer Support via official HP support platform.
Use HP Smart diagnostics tool.
Schedule authorized service if hardware issue suspected.
Check warranty status before servicing.

Professional support can help if the issue is hardware-related (print alignment or sensor issue).

Prevent Future Cropping Issues

To avoid photo cropping in the future:

Always preview before printing.
Match photo aspect ratio to paper size.
Avoid using “Fill Entire Page.”
Keep drivers and firmware updated.
Use original HP photo paper for best results.

Conclusion

Fixing HP printer printing cropped photos is usually a simple matter of correcting paper size, scaling, or borderless settings. In most cases, adjusting print preferences or updating drivers resolves the issue quickly.

By carefully reviewing print layout settings, matching photo dimensions, and maintaining updated software, you can ensure perfect, full-size photo prints every time. If the problem persists, HP customer support and service options are available to help restore proper functionality.