need driver but cannot get printer online, so your "quick and easy" set up will not work

[renana]

Hi all!

Need HP Laser-Jet-MFP-M281fdw driver for a Mac

Printer will not go online, and I deleted driver because I was told to, and now I cannot install the easy way because PRINTER CANNOT BE FOUND because it's not online, PLEASE HELP!

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @renana,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Thanks for reaching out! Let's get your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw working on MacOS 12 Monterey. Since the printer is not currently showing as online and you've removed the previous driver, here's the step-by-step method to reinstall the driver and reconnect the printer:

Step 1: Download the Official HP Printer Driver

1. Go to the official HP driver page for your model:
   👉 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw MacOS Drivers
2. Under "MacOS 12", download the “HP Easy Start” utility.
3. Open the downloaded .dmg file and run HP Easy Start.

Step 2: Reconnect Your Printer to Wi-Fi

Since the printer is offline:

1. On the printer control panel, touch the Wi-Fi icon.
2. Select Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard.
3. Follow the prompts to reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network.
   • Make sure your Mac and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 3: Add the Printer Manually (if HP Easy Start doesn’t detect it)

1. On your Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Click the “+” button to add a printer.
3. If the printer appears, select it and install using AirPrint or the downloaded HP software.
   • If it doesn’t appear, double-check your Wi-Fi connection or try a USB connection temporarily to get the setup going.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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VikramTheGreat

HP Support