Missing Printer Application / Icon - Mac OSX 10.11.6

[PlugGuy]

For the past year or so the printer icon has been missing, and the ONLY way to get to the scan feature is to click the Apple Icon, go to System Preferences, Printers, and click scan.

The printer is installed properly, driver is latest (from Oct 2019) and the printer and scanner work.  But after the last OSX update last year, the printer no longer appears in the Applications Folder where one can launch the scan options.

I've yet to find anything on HP's site, or any updates that would resolve.  Any suggestions welcomed.

[Jay_G24]

Hi @PlugGuy

Welcome to the HP Support Community. I'd be happy to assist you with the  "Cannot find printer driver on mac" issue. 

Uninstall the printer driver from the compute-

1. Click Finder in the Dock.

2. In the menu bar, click Go, click Applications, and then open the HP or Hewlett Packard folder.

a) If HP Uninstaller is in the folder, double click it, and then follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the software.

b) If HP Uninstaller is not in the folder, continue to the next step.

3. Click and drag the HP or Hewlett Packard folder to the Trash icon in the Dock.

4. In the menu bar, click Go, click Go to Folder, type /Library/Printers, then click Go.

The Printers folder opens.

5. Click and drag the HP or Hewlett Packard folder to the Trash icon in the Dock.

6. Restart the Mac.

7. Right-click or Ctrl + click the Trash icon, and then select Empty Trash.

Install the updated drivers from Software and drivers page

Also, try updating the printer's firmware - HP Printers - Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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!

Have a great day! 

[PlugGuy]

Thanks, but done this twice, no joy.  The issue is not that the printer is 'not' there....it's that the HP SCAN icon is no longer in the APPS folder.

To scan, I must hit the apple, go to System Preferences, bring up printers, etc.  Nothing like it was the past few years.

Any other suggestions appreciated.  Printer works fine, but HP SCAN icon is no longer in the mix, and even after restoring from time machine, it showed, but was not functional.

And software has not been changed on HP's site since October last year.

[pchat]

I called Apple Corporate and spoke with a friend who is a senior Apple technical guy. He asked if HP has teamed with Apple to solve this and other compatibility issues.  T could not answer that so I pass it on to you to deal with.

VR

Paul CV

[Jay_G24]

Scan and edit documents and photos with HP Easy Scan, a free scanning app available from the App Store or in supported driver packages from the HP website.

1. Download and install the HP Easy Scan app (in English) from the App Store.

   If the app does not automatically open, search the Mac for scan, then click HP Easy Scan in the list of results.

2. Place the document or photo printed side down on the scanner glass, then close the scanner lid.

   If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), you can use it to scan multiple page documents at one time. Do not load photos in the ADF to prevent damage to the photos and the printer.

3. In HP Easy Scan, select your printer name from the Scanner drop down menu.

4. Select your scan type from the Presets menu.

   To change any basic settings to the preset you selected, click Edit Settings.

   Figure : Presets menu in HP Easy Scan

   

5. Click Scan.

6. Click Scan Next Item to add additional pages, or click Done.

7. Click the thumbnail version of the scanned item in the left panel. The item displays in the right preview pane.

8. Click Edit to adjust colors, straighten the scan, or crop the size.

   Figure : HP Easy Scan editing tools

   

9. To save your scans to a folder on the Mac, click Send in the bottom right corner of the window, then click Folder.

   Figure : Click Send to save a scan to a folder on the Mac

   

10. In the window that displays, click the Where menu to browse to the folder you want to save the file to, then click Save.

    Figure : Use the Where menu to select a folder to save the scan to

    

Keep me posted!

[PlugGuy]

Reinstalled today and printer is fine, but still no scanner app in the apps folder, so I took the advice and downloaded the APP from the APP store for scanning purposes.  Wish the software was newer (Oct 2019) but at this point everything works ok.  Scanner is pretty weak compared to other multifunctions I own, but really do appreciate the support here and the suggestions.  Thanks!

[Jay_G24]

Those are only updated drivers we have.

Do you any security software that's installed on your computer?

Try step 2-5 in the document -Fail to install easy start

or you can use -Scan with Apple Image Capture

Apple Image Capture comes with macOS and OS X and provides a quick and simple way to scan.

1. Place the document or photo print side down on the scanner glass, and then close the scanner lid.

   If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), use it to scan multiple page documents at one time.

      CAUTION: 

   Do not load photos in the ADF.

2. Open Finder , and then click Go in the top menu bar.

3. Click Applications, and then double-click Image Capture.

4. Click your printer name in the Devices or Shared list.

   NOTE: 

   If a Software for this device is not installed message displays after you select your printer, click Install, and then follow the instructions to complete the installation.

5. Click Show Details at the bottom of the screen.

   A preview of the scan displays, and then change any of the following settings:

   • Scan Mode: Select the scanning bed or automatic document feeder.

   • Kind: Set scan as color, black and white, or optimized for text only documents.

   • Resolution: Higher resolution produces better quality images by using more dots (pixels) per inch. Higher resolution increases the file size of the scan. Use a higher resolution for scans with graphics or items that require the best detail. If you are scanning black and white text, higher resolution is not necessary.

   • Size: Use a standard paper size or select the Use Custom Size option.

   • Scan to: Select the folder you want scans to save to or use the Mail option to attach the scan to an Apple Mail email message.

   • Name: Type a name for the saved scan file.

   • Format: Select the file type for the scan.

     NOTE: 

     To save multiple page documents or multiple images into a single file, select the PDF or TIFF format, and then select the box next to Combine into single document. This feature is only available with these formats.

   • Image Correction: Click the pop-up menu, and then select Manual to display color change options such as brightness and saturation.

6. Click Scan.

Keep me posted!

[PlugGuy]

I spoke too soon.  I did install the Scan app, but it's not working worth a hoot.  Scanned a 3 pager from the doc feeder, it came out 'reversed'....

Then had to open System Pref's, go to Printer, Scan, then wait for it to figure out where the paper was coming from (feeder vs flatbed), then it too ran slow but did the trick.

I think it's time for a different printer.  This thing was working fine until recently, but clearly the software is flawed and if there are not driver updates, this is not going to work efficiently to be used for anything other than printing.  What a bummer.

[Jay_G24]

I have escalated your issue to HP’s Support Team in your region. They will review and check for possible options available, if any, to resolve your issue.  You should be contacted within 2-4 business days (this does not include weekends or holidays).  Response times may vary by region