It can be incredibly frustrating when your HP printer stops responding on your Mac, especially when you need to print something urgently. This is a common issue for Mac users, but the good news is that it’s usually easy to fix. In this blog, we’ll cover some simple solutions to get your HP printer back up and running on your Mac.
Common Causes for HP Printer Not Responding on Mac
Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand the common reasons why your HP printer might not be responding:
Outdated Printer Drivers:
If the drivers installed on your Mac are outdated, your printer may not communicate properly with the system.
Connection Issues:
A disrupted connection between your Mac and your printer, whether through Wi-Fi or a USB cable, can cause problems.
Incorrect Printer Settings:
If your printer isn’t set as the default or the right printer driver isn’t selected, it may not respond.
MacOS Updates:
Sometimes, new MacOS updates can interfere with printer functionality if your drivers aren’t compatible with the latest version.
Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix HP Printer Not Responding on Mac
1. Check Printer Connections
One of the first things to check is the connection between your HP printer and Mac. Depending on your setup, this can mean checking the USB cable or your Wi-Fi connection.
For USB Printers:
Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the printer and your Mac.
Try a different USB port to rule out issues with the port itself.
For Wi-Fi Printers:
Ensure both your Mac and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
You can print a network configuration page from the printer to verify the connection status.
If there is no issue with the connection, move on to the next steps.
2. Restart the Printer and Mac
Sometimes a simple restart can resolve communication issues between your printer and your Mac.
After turning off, unplug the printer for thirty seconds, plug it back in, and turn it on.
Restart your Mac to reset any potential software issues.
After both devices are restarted, check to see if your printer is responding.
3. Update or Reinstall HP Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupt printer drivers can cause your HP printer to stop responding on Mac. Here’s how to update or reinstall the drivers:
Check for Software Updates:
Go to the Apple Menu and select System Settings.
Click on Software Update to see if there’s an update available for your MacOS. Updates often include printer driver updates as well.
Reinstall Printer Drivers:
Open System Preferences and go to Printers & Scanners.
Select your HP printer from the list, click on the Minus (-) button to remove it.
Click the Plus (+) button and select your printer from the list of available devices to reinstall the correct drivers.
Alternatively, you can download the latest drivers directly from the HP Support Website.
4. Reset the Printing System
If your printer still isn’t responding, resetting the printing system can help resolve underlying issues with your Mac’s printer configuration.
Go to System Preferences and click on Printers & Scanners.
Right-click anywhere in the printers list and select Reset printing system.
This will remove all printers and reset your printing preferences. Once the reset is complete, add your HP printer again.
Note: This will also delete any pending print jobs, so be sure to restart those after resetting.
5. Check Printer Queue and Clear Pending Jobs
A stuck or corrupted print job can also cause your HP printer to stop responding. The print queue can be cleared as follows:
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your HP printer from the list and click on Open Print Queue.
If there are any stuck print jobs, click on them and press Delete (the “X” next to the job).
After clearing the queue, try printing again.
6. Ensure the Printer is Set as Default
If your HP printer isn’t set as the default printer on your Mac, it may not respond when you try to print. Here’s how to make it the default and check it:
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Right-click on your HP printer and select Set as default printer.
See whether printing again fixes the problem.
7. Check for Firmware Updates on the HP Printer
Just like your Mac’s software, your printer’s firmware needs to be up-to-date to function properly. You can check for firmware updates on the HP printer itself or through the HP Smart app:
Open the HP Smart app on your Mac.
Check the printer settings to see if there’s a firmware update available. If so, install it by following the directions displayed on the screen.
After updating the firmware, restart your printer and Mac and check if the issue is resolved.
8. Check Firewall Settings
Sometimes, your Mac’s firewall can block communication between your computer and the printer.
Go to System Settings > Network.
Click on Firewall Options and make sure the firewall is not blocking printer communication.
You can temporarily disable the firewall and see if your printer starts responding. If it does, you’ll need to adjust the firewall settings to allow printing.
9. Contact HP Support
If you’ve tried all the steps above and your HP printer is still not responding, you may need to contact HP’s customer support for further assistance. HP offers phone, chat, and email support to help resolve technical issues.
Visit the HP Support Website to get started with customer service.
FAQs
1. Why won’t my HP printer connect to my Mac?
Check your Wi-Fi or USB connection, ensure the printer is turned on, and verify that the correct drivers are installed.
2. How do I reset the printing system on a Mac?
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, right-click in the printer list, and select Reset printing system.
3. How do I check for HP printer driver updates on my Mac?
Go to the Apple menu, select System Preferences > Software Update, or visit the HP Support website for the latest drivers.
4. Why is my HP printer not showing up in Printers & Scanners?
Ensure your printer is turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. You may need to reinstall the drivers if it’s not showing up.
Conclusion
Dealing with an HP printer that’s not responding on your Mac can be frustrating, but it’s usually easy to fix. By checking your printer connections, updating or reinstalling drivers, clearing print queues, and performing a reset, you can resolve most issues. If these steps don’t work, firmware updates or firewall settings may be causing the problem. In the worst case, reaching out to HP support can provide you with additional troubleshooting steps to get your printer working again.