Printer App Update Notification Stuck? Fix It Now

1. Stuck App Cache – The Real Culprit

I know this error is infuriating. You tap "Update" in the HP Smart or Epson iPrint app, it downloads, but the notification comes right back. This tripped me up the first time too. The fix is almost always the app's cache.

Your printer app saves old update files in a temporary folder. When a new update comes, it gets confused by the old stuff and thinks you still need the old version. Clean it out and you're done.

What to do (Windows 10/11):

1. Close the printer app completely. Right-click its icon in the system tray and pick Exit.
2. Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Packages, and hit Enter.
3. Find the folder for your printer app. For HP Smart, it's AD2F1837.HPPrinterControl_... (long name). For Epson iPrint, look for EpsonEurope.EpsoniPrint_.... For Brother iPrint&Scan, it's BrotherIndustries.BrotheriPrint&Scan_....
4. Open that folder, then delete the LocalCache folder. Don't worry — Windows rebuilds it on next launch.
5. Restart the app. The notification should be gone. If not, restart your PC and check again.

On Mac? Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, type ~/Library/Caches, and delete the folder named after your printer app (like com.hp.printercontrol).

I've fixed this on hundreds of devices. Cache is the problem 9 times out of 10.

2. Stuck Notification in Notification Center

Sometimes the app itself is fine, but Windows is holding onto a stale notification. This is common on Windows 11 with the HP Smart app.

Quick fix:

1. Open Settings → System → Notifications & actions.
2. Find your printer app in the list. Toggle notifications off, wait 10 seconds, then toggle them on again.
3. Clear existing notifications: Click the notification center icon (bottom right of taskbar), then click Clear all.
4. Open the printer app. The update prompt should disappear. If it shows again, skip to the next fix.

This trick works because Windows sometimes caches notification data even after the app updates. A reset forces the system to re-check the app's actual state.

3. Stuck Update in the Printer's Own Firmware

If the app still nags you, the printer itself might have a pending firmware update that's not installing properly. This is rare but happens, especially on HP Envy 6000 series and Epson EcoTank models.

Check the printer's display:

• Look for a message like "Update available" or "Firmware update required".
• If you see it, go to the printer's menu: Setup → Printer Maintenance → Update Firmware. Run it.
• If the update fails or seems stuck, reset the printer: Unplug it, wait 60 seconds, plug it back in. Then try the update again.

Still stuck? Download the firmware manually from the manufacturer's support site. For HP: visit support.hp.com, search for your model, find the firmware download, and run it from a USB drive if needed. For Epson: go to epson.com/support and do the same.

I had a client with an HP Envy 6455e that showed this loop for weeks. A manual firmware update killed it instantly.

4. Last Resort: Reinstall the App

If nothing above works, the app might be corrupted. Uninstall it completely, then grab a fresh copy from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac).

On Windows:

1. Right-click Start → Apps & Features.
2. Find your printer app, click the three dots next to it, and pick Uninstall.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Open the Microsoft Store, search for your printer app, and install it.

On Mac: Open Finder → Applications → drag the app to Trash. Then download from the App Store.

This is nuclear but works when the app's own update system is broken.

Summary Table

Start with the cache fix. It's quick, free, and works most of the time. If you're still stuck after trying all four, your printer might need a hardware reset — but that's a story for another day.