Printer often doesn't respond

[PhillBarrett]

Hi,

I have an M252DW printer but printing to it from my MacBook Pro over my home WiFi network the printer often shows as not responding.  The print manager says "looking for printer" then "connecting to printer" but often then doesn't print eventually returning saying "the printer is not responding".  Sometimes rebooting the printer gets it to print.

Soetimes pausing the printer and resuming it will get it to print, sometimes disconnecting the MacBook from WiFi and reconnecting gets it to print.  The WiFi works fine with everything else and I still have full network and internet access when the printer wont print.

Thanks for any thoughts on how to resolve this,

Phill.

[Flower_Bud · Accepted solution]

@PhillBarrett

Thank you for posting on HP Forums,

Flower_Bud is at your service.

As I understand, your printer does not respond and gives an error message "looking for printer"

No worries, as I'll be glad to help you, that said, I'll need a few more details to dissect your concern & provide an accurate solution:

When was the last time it worked fine?

Were there any hardware/software changes made?

Let's try these steps to resolve the issue: 

Update the Firmware following steps from the link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c02919168.

Try assigning a static IP address and a manual DNS address:

* Obtain the IP address of the printer – You can touch the “wireless” icon on the printer control panel to obtain the IP address.

* Type the IP address on your web browser to obtain the printer EWS page on your computer.

* Go to the “Network” tab – Click on “Wireless (802.11) – Then click on “Network address (IPv4)

* Click on the radio button which says “Manual IP” and then click “Suggest a manual IP address” to give a manual IP address to your printer.

* Click on radio button which says “Manual DNS Server” and under manual preferred type 8.8.8.8 and under manual alternate type 8.8.4.4 (This is Google DNS server address)

Remove multiple printers from the printer list

Check for multiple devices in the Printers list, and then remove any extra entries other than one in idle status.

1. Search the Mac for Print, and then click Print & Fax, Print & Scan, or Printers & Scanners in the list of results.

2. Find the printer names that match your printer from the list of devices.

   Figure: Printers and Scanner window with multiple names of a printer in the list

   

3. If you see multiple printer queues for the same printer, remove all extra printers by selecting them one at a time, and then clicking the minus button  at the bottom of the list. Leave one 'idle' printer in the list that matches your printer if available and use this printer as the Default printer.

4. Try printing again.

   • If the printer prints, you can stop troubleshooting.

Delete the existing print queue and add the printer

Remove the printer queue from the list of printers, and then add it again. Doing so creates a new printing session.

1. Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.

2. In the Printers list, click your HP printer, and then click the Minus button  to delete it.

3. Click the Add button .

4. Find and select the name of your printer from the Printer list, and then click Add to add your printer. Do not select an HP Fax driver.

    NOTE: If your printer does not display in the list, make sure the printer is connected, turned on, has power, and is ready to print.

   Figure: Example of the printer selection list

   

5. Click Print Using or Use.

6. Select AirPrint.

   Figure: Menu showing AirPrint selected

   

7. Try printing again.

Let me know how this goes,

For I shall follow-up on this case to ensure the concern has been addressed,

And your device is up and running again,

Good Luck! 🙂

[PhillBarrett]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the reply and all the information.

It has never been completely reliable printing from my MacBook, though sees a little better printing from my iPhone.  It does seem to have become worse lately though now more ften not printing than printing.  No hardware changes have been made and the rest of the network seems fine.

I have updated the firmware directly from the printer as the support site didn't list an update, but that has not helped.

The printer already has a static IP and DNS in it but oddly I can't now find the button to enter the DNS setting you suggeted (it currently has my IPs DNS server settings in it.  Under IPv4 I can change the IP but can't see a way of changing the DNS (see picture below).

Thanks for any more thoughts,

Phill.

[Flower_Bud]

@PhillBarrett

Thank you for replying with this detailed response 😉

I appreciate your time and efforts,

You need to click network identification and assign DNS

Once completed, remove and re-add the printer,

Keep me posted,

Have a great day 🙂

Cheers 🙂

[PhillBarrett]

Hi,

Thanks for the DNS information, I hadn't found that place to enter them.

Touch wood I think it might have worked!  I'll try printing every now and again over the next day or so and see for sure, but at the moment it seems to be printing fine.  An added bonus is it now connects to hpconnected as well which it wouldnt before.

Thanks very much for the help, greatly appreciated!

Have a god one yourself,

Phill.

[Flower_Bud]

@PhillBarrett

Thank you for the update,

I appreciate your time and efforts,

I'm glad you found the solution for this concern.

You've been great to work with and it has been a genuine pleasure interacting with you.

I hope both you and your product works great and remain healthy for a long time 😉

Take care now and do have a fabulous week ahead. 🙂