Is it possible to run this my printer on High Sierra?

[Vismic]

I have purchased a HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One Printer. Is there any way to make it run on High Sierra?
My iMac 21.5-inch (Late 2012) won´t install anything above macOS 10.13.6 😞

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Vismic 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for sharing the details and for already checking compatibility. I completely understand how disappointing it feels to bring home a new printer only to find it doesn’t align with your macOS version. 

The HP DeskJet 2820e does not officially support macOS High Sierra (10.13.6), but you may still be able to use basic printing via USB with limited functionality.

Let’s explore what’s still possible.

 

What you need to know:

• The HP DeskJet 2820e is part of the HP+ platform, which relies on the HP App (formerly HP Smart) for setup and full functionality.
• Unfortunately, the HP App is not supported on macOS 10.13.6, and HP does not list High Sierra as a supported OS for this model.
• However, you may still be able to use basic printing over USB by adding the printer manually using Apple’s built-in drivers.

 

Try this workaround for USB printing:

1. Connect the printer to your iMac via USB.
2. Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
3. Click the + button to add a printer.
4. Wait for your printer to appear in the list.
5. If it shows up as “AirPrint” or “Secure AirPrint,” select it and click Add.
6. Try printing a test page from TextEdit or Safari.

This method may allow basic printing, but scanning and advanced features like wireless setup or ink monitoring will not be available.

 

You can view the official driver and OS support page for your printer here:
HP DeskJet 2820e – Software and Drivers

If you’re open to it in the future, using a newer Mac or Windows PC for setup could unlock full features, but for now, this workaround may help you get essential printing done.

Let me know how it goes or if you'd like help exploring alternative printer models that fully support High Sierra.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Vismic]

Thank you very much for your thorough response. I made the printer work on High Sierra using USB-connection/AirPrint, but the prints look faded and not very sharp. The ink cartridges are brand new, but have been sitting in the printer for some months, is it possible to clean printer heads, nozzle check and other things without the HP Smart app? Maybe using the physical buttons on the top panel?

Best regards
Michael Wedebye Pedersen
Graphic designer

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for replying @Vismic 

Thank you for your kind message, Michael—and I’m really glad you were able to get the HP DeskJet 2820e working on High Sierra via USB and AirPrint. That’s a great achievement given the platform limitations. 

I’m sorry the prints look faded and soft despite using fresh cartridges. You’ve done everything right by checking the ink and asking about manual cleaning options.

Let’s walk through how to clean the printheads and run a nozzle check using the printer’s built-in controls.

 

Step-by-step actions to clean printheads without the HP App

1. Use the printer’s control panel buttons

The HP DeskJet 2820e supports basic maintenance via button combinations:

• Print a Diagnostic Page (Nozzle Check Equivalent):
  1. Load plain paper into the tray.
  2. Press and hold the Information button (i) and the Cancel button (X) together for 3 seconds.
  3. The printer will print a Printer Status Report showing color blocks and alignment.

This helps confirm if cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are printing cleanly.

• Run a Printhead Cleaning Cycle:
  1. Press and hold the Information button (i) and the Resume button (triangle) together for 3 seconds.
  2. The printer will perform a basic cleaning cycle.

You can repeat this once more if print quality doesn’t improve, but avoid excessive cleaning to conserve ink.

 

2. Check ink flow manually

If the printer has been idle for months:

• Remove the cartridges and gently blot the nozzles with a lint-free cloth.
• Look for a clear ink mark—this confirms flow.
• Reinsert the cartridges firmly and run the cleaning cycle again.

This helps re-prime the ink and clear any dried residue.

Let me know how the printer responds after these steps. If the prints still look faded, we can test with a different paper type or isolate the issue by color. 

You’ve done everything right by staying observant—I’ll be here to guide you further if needed.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye