Color Printing Not Available Outside HP Smart App on MacBook Pro – Possible Design Flaw?

[Rana_05]

Dear HP Support,

I am writing to express my frustration and concern regarding a significant issue I have encountered with my recently purchased HP Smart Tank 7305 All-in-One printer.

The printer is set up correctly, the firmware is fully up to date, and I am using a MacBook Pro with macOS Sequoia 15.5. Despite everything being installed properly, color printing is only available through the HP Smart App. When attempting to print from other programs — such as browsers, PDF viewers, or office applications — the option to print in color is completely missing. This severely limits the printer’s usability and functionality.

Upon searching online, I have found that this issue is widely reported by other users across forums and support threads. Many people have shared their disappointment and confusion over why color printing — a basic and essential function — is not accessible outside HP’s proprietary app.

This raises a critical question:
Is HP intentionally restricting full functionality. If so, this feels like a hidden and questionable design decision.

As a customer who trusted HP’s reputation for quality, find this deeply concerning. If this is simply a technical issue, then I ask: Why has HP not resolved this despite widespread complaints? And if it is intentional, I would appreciate transparency regarding the reasoning behind such a restriction.

Please provide a clear explanation and, if possible, a workaround or solution to enable color printing from standard macOS applications.

I look forward to your response and a timely resolution to this issue.

Sincerely,

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Rana_05,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your printer!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Try these steps:

Update Printer Drivers:

• Ensure that you have the latest printer drivers installed on your MacBook Pro. You can download the latest drivers from the HP Support Website.

Check Default Printer Settings:

• Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners on your Mac.
• Select your HP Smart Tank 7305 printer and click on Options & Supplies.
• Ensure that the correct color settings are enabled under the Driver tab.

Application-Specific Settings:

• Sometimes, specific applications may have their own print settings. Check the print settings within the application you are trying to print from and ensure that color printing is selected.

HP Smart Advance:

• HP Smart Advance includes additional benefits and features. Ensure you are logged into your HP account in the HP Smart app to access advanced features.

HP Smart App:

• Since the HP Smart app provides color printing functionality, continue using it for the time being until the issue is resolved. You might also try reinstalling the HP Smart app to see if that resolves the issue.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Rana_05]

Dear HP Representative,

Thank you for your message and for trying to help me. I had already tried the steps you mentioned, but unfortunately, they didn’t resolve the issue.

In the end, I removed the printer from the “Printers & Scanners” tab on my Mac and added it again — that finally solved the problem.

Thanks again for your support.

Best regards.