Where is full featured Mac driver for HP Color Laser MFP 178nw (for full DPI options)?

[northmaven]

I bought this printer/scanner on the basis advertised, that it scans up to 600 dpi.

I am currently archiving family history documents like letters so need a high dpi to capture fine detail.

From what I can gather from other posts, the HP Smart interface only handles 300dpi so I need to download "full featured" scanning software. But when I go to the driver page for Mac OS this doesn't appear, only HP Smart. 

(Don't say that I have bought a dud and HP don't actually provide a Mac driver for the scanner that is capable of high-res scanning?)

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @northmaven,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you're looking for a full-featured driver to maximize the capabilities of your HP Color Laser MFP 178nw, especially for high-resolution scanning. 

Here are a few steps you can take to try to find the appropriate driver for your needs:

• Check HP's Official Website: Visit the official HP website and navigate to the support section. Enter your printer model (HP Color Laser MFP 178nw) and select macOS 12.0 Monterey as your operating system. Look for the drivers and software section. Sometimes, HP provides separate drivers for printers and scanners. Make sure to download any available scanner drivers as well. Software and Drivers for HP Color Laser MFP 178nw
• Check for Firmware Updates: Sometimes, firmware updates for the printer/scanner can improve compatibility and functionality. Make sure your device's firmware is up to date by checking for updates through the HP Smart app or the printer's control panel. 

Refer to this document: HP Color Laser MFP 178nw

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[northmaven]

I have just discovered (under my own steam) that HP stopped providing full feature drivers for HP printers in 2020. This means no Mac user can scan above 300dpi using an HP Laserjet. Swell. What a utter waste of my time and money. I only bought this to scan archival material because it was advertised as having high dpi.

"As of 2020, Mac full feature drivers with HP Utility are no longer available for most consumer HP printers. As an alternative to HP Utility, use the HP Smart app to set up and manage your printer, or use Mac's built-in print driver for basic printing and scanning tasks." https://support.hp.com/ie-en/document/ish_7333519-7333646-16

(Gaya1239, you must be well aware of this if you work for HP. Your reply to me was therefore spectacularly unhelpful.)

I want to register my disgust that this information is buried in the HP site, and Mac users are not made aware of this at point of purchase. Every driver webpage for the OS operating systems should have this writ large in red letters - I have wasted days trying to solve this issue.

[A_Gayathri]

HI @northmaven ,

Thank you for your response I'm sorry to know that. If you need further assistance feel free to reach out to us. 

Have a great day ahead!