Android devices unable to find network printer

[Phil-K]

I have two HP printers wired directly to my network.  They both work properly on Windows PCs over both wired and wireless connectons.  They had both also been working properly on various Android phones and tablets connected wirelessly to the same network subnet that the printers are on.  The newer printer, an HP Color Laserjet Pro M452nw (wifi direct disabled), was -- and still is -- working via the default Android printer service.  The older printer, an HP Laserjet P2015dn, has never worked with the default Android print service (the service cannot find it at all); but the HP Printer Service Plugin for Android used to work without any problem.

Recently, I have found that the HP Print Service plugin no longer detects the P2015dn.  When setting up new Android devices, the service will not install the printer; and the devices on which it used to work, it is now always listed as unavailable.

I have tried installing several other Android print services, but none of them recognize the P2015dn either.

Both printers are on the same subnet.  Both printers are configured for DHCP, but use specific IP address reservations (essentially giving them static IP addresses, but allowing me more control).

The M452nw is automatically detected by the default Android Print Service.

The P2015 has always been unavailable via the default service, but available via the HP service (added by entering its IP address), but now is not.

When I try to install the P2015dn by IP address, it cannot be found.  The HP service says, "Unable to communicate with this printer."  When I try to print to it on devices that i used to work on, I see, "The printer is unavailable."

The problem has only started recently, and may be related to the devices being upgraded to Android 9 (I'm not sure exactly when it started because we don't print from them frequently).

According to documentation on the HP Support website, the P2015 is still compatible with Android devices via the HP Print Service.

All drivers are current.  I looked for, but could not find any HP printer drivers for Android; and the Linux drivers do not work with any of our devices.

I have tried the following:

Power-cycling printer, router, and all Android devices.

Stopping all print services on the androids, and deleting all application data for them.

Uninstalling all third-party print services, and then reinstalling and trying them again (one at a time).

Resetting network connections on each Android device.

Enabling all network services on the printer.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Phil

[BobManekshaw]

I have the same problem that seems to have started some time over the course of July 2021 with all my Android devices (S8, S6 and Galaxy Tab A6) These all use the HP Print Service Plugin updated last on July 2021.  I have a network connected CP2025dn laser printer (ethernet cable to router and BT wifi hub mini to all devices around the house. I can access the WebUI from a browser on all the devices and I can ping the printer and see all the open ports but like Phil, when I go to print, the printer is greyed out and I can't select it.  When I try and add it manually, it says it cannot communicate with the printer.

I just went to check my iPhone5 and the losers at Apple HQ wont take my IOS above ver 12 and guess what version the HP Apps need - yep 13 and above.

I have restarted the hub and router, cleared the android print spooller and reinstalled the plugin a number of times. hours later I am still no further forward.

My iMac, laptops and desktops all print OK and continue to do so. I am forced to email myself print jobs at the moment!

We surely can't be the only ones with this problem.

[Phil-K]

After searching around some more (a lot more), I found a thread in another forum, in which someone suggested an app called "Let's Print Droid."

This app was able to find both HP network printers, but did not initially print correctly.  Going into Settings > Manage Printers > {select printer} > "Change Printer,"  and changing the "Protocol" to "Raw-Jet Direct" fixed it. 

Let's Print Droid is now working with both HP network printers, on all local Android devices.

I don't have a solution for iOS (sorry, Bob), but for Android, try Let's Print Droid, and change its printing protocol to Raw.

Good luck.

(BTW, Why didn't HP tell me that there was a reply to my OP?)

[Phil-K]

PS.  Although everything's working now, I would still really like to know why it wasn't with any other printer app.  Something changed in Android OS that makes the older printer invisible to it.  If anyone out there has any idea what that might be, please share your insight.

Thanks again,

Phil

[BobManekshaw]

Thanks Phil, 

I was having just the same thought about a universal driver when i saw your message.  LPD Is great but i had to manually add my printer and duplexing and default paper sizes can't be set In the android print dialog. It also seems to jam the print spooller so it's proving to be a bit clunky for me.

PrintBot Is an alternative which found my printer first time, prints well and reliably but duplexing still an issue. Have contacted both authors.