Cannot scan from HP Smart app on Android phone and tablet

[mmhmjanssen]

When I try to scan from the HP Smart app on an Android phone or tablet I get the following error message (screenshot attached of message in Dutch):

Function not available

This function is not supported by the selected printer. Connect to a different printer to use this function.

<buttons> HP Support   /   Close

[Raj2111 · Accepted solution]

Hi @mmhmjanssen 

Welcome to the HP support community.
 

I understand you're experiencing an issue with your HP device, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I'm here to help you today.

It sounds like you're encountering an issue where the HP Smart app is showing the error message "Function not available" when you try to scan from your HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Printer using your Android device. This issue typically happens when the scanning function isn't supported or isn't configured correctly in the HP Smart app or on the printer itself.

Here’s what you can do to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Confirm Printer Compatibility

The HP ENVY Inspire 7220e should support scanning via the HP Smart app, but it's important to verify that your printer's features are properly enabled and supported in your version of the app. The scanning function should be available on most HP printers, but you may encounter issues if:

• Your printer is not connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android device.
• The printer is in a state that prevents scanning (such as offline or in error mode).

2. Make Sure Printer is Connected to the Wi-Fi Network

For the HP Smart app to work properly, both the printer and the Android device need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If your printer was recently set up or has had network changes, double-check its network settings:

1. On the printer's control panel, make sure it's connected to your Wi-Fi network. If it isn't, go into the settings and reconnect it.
2. Open HP Smart app on your Android device.
3. Verify that your printer appears in the app under the "Printers" section. If not, try re-adding it by selecting Add Printer.

3. Check for Firmware Updates

It’s possible that a firmware update on the printer could resolve this issue. To check for updates:

1. Make sure the printer is connected to the internet.
2. In the HP Smart app, go to the printer settings and look for Firmware Update.
3. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

4. Check HP Smart App Permissions

Ensure that the HP Smart app has the necessary permissions on your Android device to access the printer and the camera (if needed for scanning):

1. Open the Settings on your Android device.
2. Scroll down to Apps or Applications.
3. Select HP Smart.
4. Make sure it has permission to use Wi-Fi, storage, and the camera (if required for scanning).

5. Restart the Printer and Phone

Sometimes, simply restarting the printer and the Android device can help clear out temporary glitches that might be causing the issue:

• Restart the Printer: Power off the printer, wait for about 10 seconds, and then turn it back on.
• Restart the Android Device: Restart your phone or tablet to refresh the network and apps.

6. Try Reinstalling the HP Smart App

If the issue persists, uninstall and then reinstall the HP Smart app to ensure it’s up to date and working correctly:

1. Uninstall the HP Smart app from your Android device.
2. Go to the Google Play Store and reinstall it.
3. Open the app and re-add your printer.

7. Try Scanning from the Printer

If the scanning feature is still not available through the app, try scanning directly from the printer itself. Most HP printers have a Scan button or menu option that allows you to scan documents directly to a computer or mobile device.

1. On the printer’s control panel, select Scan.
2. Choose the destination (e.g., email, computer, or USB drive).
3. Try scanning directly from there to see if the issue is specific to the app.

8. Check Printer's Scanning Settings

Sometimes, the issue can be with the settings on the printer itself. Ensure that the printer's scanning functionality is enabled and the printer is not in a state that prevents scanning (such as offline or in error mode).

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
 

-Regards
Raj-HP Support
 

[mmhmjanssen]

I did lots of the things that were suggested such as:

• reinstalling the app
• restarting the tablet
• restarting the printer
• giving the HP Smart app all possible permissions, even though I did not find 'WiFi permission'; I did find a setting in the app itself that says "Use 5GHz Wi-Fi" that I turned on, but after restarting the app it is off again

But after trying them, I still got the same error message.

In an attempt to find more information about the printer and its settings, I came across a place where I could start a webscan. During the webscan which worked, I had to provide the pincode. 

When I tried to scan via the HP Smart app again the next morning, it suddenly did work! I have no idea why it suddenly works, because it didn't work many times before. Maybe the successful webscan had positive side effects.

So I marked the advice as a solution, but I have no idea what action caused the problem to go away.

It could not have anything to do with the network connection, because scanning from a Windows computer on the same network always worked.

Edit

I have tried to scan from both my phone and tablet. Since I was trying various suggestions, it worked on my tablet, but not on my phone, even though the app did NOT have any permissions on my tablet, but several on my phone.

The difference was that I re-installed the app on my tablet and not yet on my phone. So I removed and reinstalled the app on my phone as well. And, lo and behold: now it works on my phone also.

Conclusion: the problem apparently can be solved by removing the app and reinstalling it!

[Raj2111]

Hi @mmhmjanssen 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to assist you.

I've sent you a private message with the instructions. In order to access your private messages, Click the Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link

Take care and have a good day.

-Regards

Raj-HP Support