cannot connect my printer to my Mac desktop.

[BCRAST]

The printer was not working correctly so I deleted it and now can not reinstall, It does not show up on the printer list. Thanks for any help.

[Nal_NR · Accepted solution]

Hi @BCRAST,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

I understand how frustrating it must be to not have your printer functioning when you need it. Let’s work together to get your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 reconnected to your Mac desktop.

• Are you trying to connect the printer wirelessly, via USB, or using an Ethernet cable?
• Is the printer powered on and connected to the same network as your Mac if using Wi-Fi?
• Have you noticed any error messages on your Mac or the printer display during setup?
• What is the current version of your Mac OS?

Let's try these steps. 

Reset the Printing System:

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners (or System Preferences if using an older macOS).
• Right-click (or Control-click) in the printer list and choose Reset Printing System.
• Confirm the reset and try adding the printer again.

Ensure Printer Is Discoverable:

• For Wi-Fi: On the printer’s touchscreen, navigate to Setup > Network Setup > Wireless Settings and confirm it’s connected to your network.
• For USB: Check the connection and ensure the USB cable is securely plugged in. Try a different USB port on your Mac if needed.

Add Printer Manually:

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and click the + button to add a printer.
• Wait for your printer to appear in the list. If it doesn’t, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... and use the IP option to enter the printer’s IP address (you can find this on the printer's control panel under network settings).

Download and Install Latest Drivers:

• Visit the HP Support Website and search for the drivers for the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978.
• Download and install the recommended software for macOS. Once installed, try adding the printer again.

Restart All Devices:

• Power off the printer, your Mac, and your router.
• Turn them back on in the following order: router, printer, then Mac.
• Once everything is back online, attempt to add the printer again via System Settings > Printers & Scanners.

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”.

[BCRAST]

Thank you for your response. I followed all your steps including updating the driver. I continue to have the same issue. I can print from the computer but it will not connect to scan. I get the message “ HP office jet pro 6970 is currently not available. Please check if it is turned on and connected or try again later”

I’ve turned everything on and off in the suggested order multiple times. Any suggestions?

[BCRAST]

This is a repeat of your last advice. I have followed all the steps multiple times. I’m connected by internet. The connection works for printing so I must be connected but when I try to scan, I get a message that the device is busy. Any help is greatly appreciated. 

[Nal_NR]

Hi @BCRAST ,

Thank you for performing the recommended steps, I see that it has not helped. 

As a last resort, let's perform a semi-full reset to restore the printer back to its original settings.

The reset instructions are specific for your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may brick the device. 

I've sent you a private message with reset instructions, follow the reset instructions to perform a full reset and re-initialize the printer. 

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 or simply click on this link.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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