HP Smart: "you cannot use the app to scan from this printer"

[MrWeb6]

I have installed HP Smart and HP Easy Scan for my HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw but neither of those can find and use scanning feature. I have Mac mini M2 and Mac OS Sonoma 14.6.1 (23G93).  How can I scan when HP Smart says: "With HP Smart you can use this printer to print documents and photos. However, you cannot use the app to scan from this printer."

I could use my printer as scanner with HP Easy Scan in my older MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) macOS High Sierra Ver.10.13.6.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @MrWeb6,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It looks like you're encountering compatibility issues with your HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw and the scanning features on macOS Sonoma. The message you're seeing indicates that HP Smart is unable to support scanning for this particular printer model, which can be due to several reasons including driver or software compatibility.

Here’s how you can address the issue and get scanning functionality working:

1. Verify Compatibility

• Check HP’s Website: Confirm that the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw is fully supported on macOS Sonoma. Sometimes, not all features are supported on newer macOS versions due to driver updates.

2. Update Drivers and Software

• HP Software: Visit the HP Support Website and search for your printer model. Download and install the latest drivers and software for macOS Sonoma if available.
• macOS Updates: Ensure that macOS is fully up to date. Go to System Preferences > Software Update and install any available updates.

3. Use Built-in macOS Scanning Tool

• Preview App:
  1. Open the Preview app.
  2. Go to File > Import from Scanner or Import from [Printer Name].
  3. Follow the prompts to scan your document or image.
• Image Capture:
  1. Open Image Capture from Applications.
  2. Select your printer from the list of devices on the left.
  3. Use the interface to scan documents or images.

4. Check Network Settings

• Ensure your printer is properly connected to the same network as your Mac mini. Sometimes, scanning issues arise from network connectivity problems.

5. Configure Printer Settings

• HP Smart App Configuration:
  1. Open HP Smart and go to Printer Settings or Manage Printer.
  2. Check if there’s an option to enable scanning or configure scanner settings.
• HP Easy Scan:
  1. Open HP Easy Scan and try to select the printer from the available devices.
  2. Ensure that the correct printer model is selected and try scanning again.

6. Reset Printer and Mac

• Restart Printer and Mac: Sometimes, a simple restart of both your printer and Mac can resolve connectivity and driver issues.
• Re-add Printer: Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, remove your printer from the list, then add it again.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[MrWeb6]

Unfortunately HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw has in page 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/details/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m125-series/model/5303404 only one driver but downloading the HP_Easy_Start.app.zip doesn't succeed - the system says: 

The file “HP_Easy_Start.app.zip.download” doesn’t appear to be a valid download file.

Description: 

HP Easy Start is the new way to set up your HP printer and prepare your Mac for printing. HP Easy Start will locate and install the latest software for your printer and then guide you through printer setup.

Fix and enhancements:

• Added macOS 14 Support

I have Sonoma 14.6.1 so the driver should work but it is not even accepted as valid download file!

The printer works fine - only the scanner program is missing 😞

[Sneha_01]

Hi @MrWeb6 

I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571 

HP Support

[MrWeb6]

I just want to add that I tried to use the scanner in the old computer (MacBook Air 13-inch, 2017) with the HP Easy Scan as I could earlier but no more after I updated to the macOS Monterey Version 12.7.6 so I have to contact HP directly in order to get my scanner to work. Printing is doing well in both computers.

[Raj2111]

Hi @MrWeb6 

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.
 

Make sure the scanner is plugged into an electrical outlet and turned on, and that its cables are securely connected.

If you previously saw a scanning option and you don’t see one anymore, try deleting the scanner (or multifunction printer) and adding it again.

If you’re pressing a button on your scanner to perform the scan, try using an app instead, such as Image Capture or Preview, or go to the scanner manufacturer’s website to see what other apps are recommended. See Scan an image using Image Capture.

If the scanner is connected to the USB port on an AirPort base station, connect the scanner to a USB port on your Mac.

If more than one user is logged in to your Mac, log out every user. Then log in again and try to scan.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

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

-Regards
Raj-HP Support

[MrWeb6]

My printer is a network printer and there is no connectivity issues at all. I even connected it with USB cable but how an Earth that would help? I used Printers & Scanners where I already see my printer but added it twice again! I can see my printer in Print Center too as well as via Safari browser. I even see my printer well via HP Smart BUT this HP Smart says after clicking Printer Scan box (tile): "Feature Unavailable. This feature is not supported by the selected printer. Connect to a different printer to use this feature. OK". And HP Easy Scan doesn't find the printer connected.

My printer HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw has Firmware Date 20150228 i.e. it is quite many years old. The page you Raj2111 are referring says: 

1. Before setting up your scanner, make sure macOS has the latest scanner software available to it. Check with your scanner’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your scanner model.

   If you have a multifunction AirPrint printer and scanner that you use as a printer, you may need to check with the AirPrint printer or scanner manufacturer for scanning software updates.

When I go to your printer specified driver page https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m125-series/model/5303404?sku=CZ173A it says: "Detected operating system: macOS 10.15" although I have 14.6.1! That already shows that you may not have planned to have support to any MacOS later than 10.15? Is it so?

As a summarum: Your printing software finds this printer model but it doesn't cope with any scanner feature. 

Can you check and tell whether any of your softwares are capable to use printer HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw as a scanner?

All information is here in this discussion and more to come if needed. Just send me a link to the page where I can find a newer driver file or a scanning software which finds the printer so that I can scan documents as I could earlier before I updated my MacOS. 

[Raj2111]

Hi @MrWeb6 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

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

The support on the HP community is currently available within certain constraints. We are striving to enhance our assistance and broaden its scope. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

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

[MrWeb6 · Accepted solution]

Yeah, I appreciate the possibility to contact by phone. But I have some new information too: I managed to see my printer in HP Easy Scan now but by clicking "Scan" button I get error message:

Scanner reported an error

HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw[FB8949] is currently unavailable. Please check if it is turned on and connected, or try again later.
OK

Mac's Image Capture doesn't recognize HP Scanner though 😞

I have a Windows 10 Home laptop too and HP Scan program works fine with that - but so worked both my Macs before I updated those.

But I just tried again with the HP Smart (Version 17.25.1.2870) and this time it didn't say that my printer is not supported as scanner but IT WORKED!!! 

I don't know whether HP has done something i.e. made my HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125nw to cope with the program or not but the issue is now solved and I am a very happy man 🙂

Case closed!