HP OfficeJet 6950 in Error

[GregR01]

I am no longer able to print to my OfficeJet 6950 printer from my desktop computer.  Every time I try to print, the printer goes into an error state and the print job is listed as being in error.  I have tried printing from different applications (Word, PDF, email and even Test Print) and they all go into error.  Once I cancel the print job(s) from the print queue, the printer returns to an Idle state.  The printer still works when printing from my phone and/or laptop, just not my desktop.  The printer is connected over the Wi-Fi network.  I have tried running the Diagnose & Fix function from within HP Smart multiple times but this does not resolve the problem.  I have download drivers from the HP website for the printer twice.  The first time, this seemed to fix the problem, but a day or two later it stopped again and when I downloaded drivers again today, this did not fix the problem.  The only way I have been able to temporarliy resolve the problem is by removing the printer via Windows Printers & Scanners and then adding the printer again.  However, when I do this, Printers & Scanners cannot find the printer automatically, I instead need to add it manually and the only way I've been able to get this to work is to take the option to add it via it's IP address, which works while the printer stays on, but once I shut it down and restart it, the printer gets a different IP adress and stops working again.      

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @GregR0,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand the issue you're encountering seems to be related to the dynamic IP address assignment for your printer. When the printer restarts and gets a new IP address, your desktop can no longer find it. Here are a few steps to help resolve this problem:

Step 1: Assign a Static IP Address to Your Printer

Assigning a static IP address ensures that your printer keeps the same IP address even after it restarts.

Find the current IP address of your printer:

• On the printer's control panel, go to the network settings or print a network configuration page to find the current IP address.

Access your router’s settings:

• Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address (common addresses are 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.1.254).
• Log in with your router's credentials.

Assign a static IP:

• Locate the DHCP settings or the IP reservation section (the name might vary depending on your router).
• Find your printer in the list of connected devices, or add a new device manually using its current IP address and MAC address.
• Assign a static IP address to your printer, ensuring it is within the range of your network but outside the range of the DHCP pool to avoid conflicts.

Step 2: Update Printer Settings on Your Desktop

After assigning a static IP address, you need to update the printer settings on your desktop.

Remove the current printer configuration:

• Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
• Select your printer and click Remove device.

Add the printer with the static IP:

• Click on Add a printer or scanner.
• If Windows does not find your printer automatically, select The printer that I want isn't listed.
• Choose Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
• Enter the static IP address you assigned to the printer.

Step 3: Reinstall Printer Drivers Software and Drivers for HP OfficeJet 6950 All-in-One Printer series

Download the latest drivers from HP:

• Visit the HP support website.
• Search for your printer model and download the latest drivers for Windows 11.

Install the drivers:

• Run the downloaded driver installation file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 4: Verify Printer Settings

Check printer settings on your desktop:

• Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click on your printer and select Printer properties.
• Ensure the port is set to the static IP address you assigned.

Test printing:

• Try printing a test page from your desktop to verify that the connection is stable.

Additional Troubleshooting

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you can try these additional troubleshooting steps:

Update Windows 11:

• Ensure your operating system is up to date by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Check firewall settings:

• Ensure your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking the printer. Add the printer’s IP address to the allowed list if necessary.

Reset the printer:

• Perform a factory reset on your printer (refer to the printer's manual for instructions).

Refer to this document: HP OfficeJet 6950 All-in-One Printer series User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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

[GregR01]

Thank you Gaya1239 for your reply and suggested resolution.  I would prefer not to move to a static IP address for the printer.  The printer used to work fine with a dynamic IP address from my desktop and continues to work fine from my laptop and phone.  I would prefer to stay with a dynamic IP address on the printer.  It seems something has changed that stops my desktop from finding the printer.  Prior to this latest situation, there was a period of time (months), when printing from the desktop, the desktop showed a message that the printer was offline, which I would ignore because the print job would still print, albeit it took some time (minuntes) before the print job would print.  In comparison, printing from the laptop and phone is virtually instanteous. 

Is there another solution that I can use that would allow me to keep dynamic IP address on the printer?

[GregR01]

By way of update, I phones HP Technical Support today who were able to diagnose and resolve the problem, for now at least, without changing to a static IP address for the printer. 

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @GregR01,

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your efforts. As the issue persists, I am sorry to hear that I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your 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.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!