Mac printing - "printer is in use" forever

[rharder]

Here it is two years later with Mac OS X 10.12 Sierra, and I have the same problem.  My OfficeJet 6958 is the least reliable printer I've ever owned.  Every few days I have to fight the printer to get anything to print again.  The latest trouble is this "Printer is in use" message with nothing printing - not by USB, not by wifi, not by any mac on our network.

This shouldn't be so hard.  I'm about to return the printer.

[Dvortex · Accepted solution]

Hello, @rharder – Hope you are well 🙂
 

Welcome to the HP Support Forums, I'd be happy to help you with your printer issue.

Going through your post, I understand that you are having issues while printing on Officejet 6958 with your MAC Sierra. It looks like an issue with the AirPrint drivers installed on the MAC. Do not worry, I’m here to help you fix the same 🙂

Try to reset the printing system and then install the printer using the default printer drivers. Here are the steps:
 

• Uninstall the old printer drivers first. Follow the steps mentioned here: HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads
• Now run the Apple Software Update. Check here for steps: http://hp.care/2cNgw3C
• Restart your computer and printer.
• Click the Apple menu icon, and then click “System Preferences”.
• Click “Printers and Scanner” / “Print and Scan” or “Print and Fax”.
• Right-click the blank space in the Printers list, and then click “Reset printing system”.
• Click “Reset” in the confirmation window.
• Enter an administrator username and password, and then click “OK”.
• Wait until the printing system is reset and no devices show in the Printers list
• Now click HP Easy Start to download and install the printer driver.
• In the “Add printer” window, make sure you add the printer as mentioned below:

1. Click the “Add button” (+).
2. Find, and then select the name of your printer from the printer list, and then click “Add” to add your printer.
3. Click “Print Using...”, and then select the name of your printer (By default “Airprint” would be selected)

Those steps should do the trick, let me know the outcome!

Good luck 🙂

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