Are HP print drivers too old to connect to computers on a network. IPad IOS 17.7.2 and MacBookOS14.5

[BKwap]

Can view 6500 printer in HP smart but won’t connect? Same with MacBook….can see printer but offline. Both are connected to the network. Are the divers too old? Help me connect…The printer works great when it prints!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @BKwap,

Welcome to the HP Support Community

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP Product. Not to worry I will help you to get a resolution to resolve the issue.

To assist better:

• May I have the exact name of the model of the product? Refer to this document for steps to find the product details. Do not share your personal information such as serial, phone number, email ID, etc.
  
  HP OfficeJet 6500 or HP DeskJet Plus Ink Advantage 6500 Printer Series?

Could you please elaborate in detail? 

I hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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!

Gaya1239

HP Support

[BKwap]

My printer: HP Officejet 6500 E709a

i have my printer networked via Ethernet with Xfinity router. Xfinity rebooted my gateway yesterday and I now can use HP Smart to print files.Takes a couple of minutes but it now connects my IPad via HP Smart. However my MacBook Air running macOS 14.5 and Safari 17.5 continues to show the printer off line. This computer was new 9/2023 and info was transferred from a much older MacBook. 
The HP Smart app shows that the printer is ready…. However when I attempt to print the printer remains offline. Two printers show up:

One is Officejet 6500 E709a  The other is Officejet 6500 E709a 3. No luck with either one…Can’t just delete print drivers and reinstall as I don’t have copies and HP is of little help. They no longer support (As you know) the older printer that works quite well! Also have a bunch of ink cartridges $$

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Also of note, the Xfinity support person was excellent and knowledgeable.

Thank You!

[BKwap]

PS. Since writing my last message the HP Smart connection with my IPad is now not connecting. Printer was ready but disconnected 

when I was ready to print???????

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @BKwap ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP Officejet 6500 E709a printer network connectivity issue. 

Here’s how to troubleshoot and resolve the issues you're experiencing with your HP Officejet 6500 E709a printer:

1. Clarify the Situation

• Printer Connection: Your printer is connected to the network via Ethernet to an Xfinity gateway.
• Devices:
  • iPad (iOS 17.7.2): Works intermittently with HP Smart.
  • MacBook Air (macOS 14.5): Sees the printer as offline.

2. Address Network Issues

Since Xfinity rebooted your gateway recently, ensure that:

• The printer has a static IP address to prevent it from getting reassigned a new IP when the router restarts.
  • On the printer's control panel, print a Network Configuration Page.
  • Locate the current IP address, then log in to your Xfinity gateway via a web browser and assign this IP as static in your router's DHCP settings.

3. iPad (iOS) and HP Smart

If the printer is connected but sometimes disconnects:

• Check for signal strength and ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected.
• Restart the HP Smart app, remove the printer from the app, and re-add it:
  1. Open HP Smart.
  2. Tap the printer icon and select Forget this printer.
  3. Re-add the printer using its IP address.
• Ensure iOS is on the same WiFi network as the printer.

4. MacBook Air (macOS 14.5)

The MacBook shows the printer as offline, which often indicates driver or configuration issues.

Steps to Fix on macOS:

Remove Old Printer Drivers:

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
• Select both instances of the Officejet 6500 E709a and click the minus (-) button to delete them.

Manually Add the Printer:

• Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
• Click the plus (+) button.
• Select Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
• If the printer doesn’t appear automatically, click IP at the top.
• Enter the printer’s IP address (from the Network Configuration Page) and choose HP JetDirect - Socket as the protocol.
• Choose the generic PostScript driver if the HP driver isn't listed.

Check HP Drivers:

• macOS 14.5 may not fully support the old drivers for this printer. Download and install the latest compatible drivers from HP’s support page for older printers.
• If no drivers are available, macOS should default to the Generic PCL or PostScript driver.

Reset Printer System (if necessary):

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
• Right-click (or Control-click) on the printer list and select Reset printing system.
• Re-add the printer after the reset.

5. Firmware Update: Check if the printer's firmware is up to date via its embedded web server (EWS).

• Multiple Printer Instances: Avoid having duplicate instances of the printer in macOS or HP Smart.
• AirPrint: If supported, use AirPrint instead of HP drivers on macOS for simpler connectivity.
• HP Smart: Ensure the latest version of the HP Smart app is installed on all devices.

6. Xfinity Network Optimization

• If the printer still disconnects intermittently:
  • Place the printer and devices closer to the gateway or use a mesh WiFi extender.
  • Check for firewall settings in the Xfinity gateway that might block certain ports (e.g., port 9100 for printing).

Refer to this document:  Troubleshoot a Wi-Fi connection to an HP printer
HP printers - Wi-Fi connection is lost after router or network settings change

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!

[BKwap]

Thanks for your detailed instructions! I have made it to the Xfinity gateway and have set the printer to Reserved IP.

Can’t delete the printer from HP smart as described??? The printer reads unavailable but sometimes suddenly appears as available.

I print a page successfully and go back and the printer is unavailable. Very frustrating!

Have not done much with the Mac Air yet…..

Looks like Ipad has IPv4 IP address correct. It also shows a MAC address. Do I need to make any additional Wi-Fi setting changes?

Thought it might be my Ethernet connection so changed cable with similar results…. 

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @BKwap,

Thank you for your response, 

To resolve the intermittent connectivity issues with your HP Officejet 6500 E709a printer on the network, let's take an advanced troubleshooting approach.

Steps to Further Troubleshoot and Optimize Connectivity

Confirm Network Stability

• Ethernet Connection Check:
  • Ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the printer and the Xfinity gateway.
  • Test the cable with another device to verify it’s functioning.
• Xfinity Gateway Settings:
  • Log into the Xfinity gateway and confirm that the Reserved IP setting is properly applied to the printer's MAC address.
  • Restart the gateway to apply changes.

Printer-Specific Configuration

• Disable IPv6:
  • Access the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS) by entering its IP address in a web browser.
  • Go to Network Settings and disable IPv6 (this helps in networks primarily using IPv4).
• Set a Manual DNS:
  • In the EWS, configure the printer's DNS manually:
    • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
    • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
• Update Firmware:
  • Check the printer's EWS or HP Support site for firmware updates and install the latest version.

HP Smart App on iPad

• Reinstall the App:
  • Uninstall and reinstall the HP Smart app to clear any corrupted settings.
• Add the Printer Manually:
  • Open the app and add the printer using its static IP address instead of automatic detection.

MacBook Air Troubleshooting

• Remove Old Printers:
  • Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and delete all instances of the printer.
• Add Printer via IP Address:
  • Use the IP address method as described earlier, selecting HP JetDirect - Socket as the protocol.
• Generic Driver:
  • If HP drivers are unavailable, select Generic PostScript Printer or Generic PCL Printer.
• AirPrint Compatibility:
  • Ensure AirPrint is enabled on the printer for simplified setup with macOS.

[Raj_05]

Network Diagnostics

• Ping the Printer:
  • Open Terminal (Mac) or a network diagnostic tool (iPad) and ping the printer's IP address:

ping <printer_IP_address>
 

• Look for consistent responses. If there are timeouts, this indicates a network issue.
• Firewall and Port Checks:
  • Access the Xfinity gateway settings and ensure the following ports are open for printing:
    • 9100 (Standard TCP/IP printing)
    • 5353 (Bonjour/mDNS for discovery)
    • 443 (HTTPS for management)

Test with Another Device

• If possible, connect the printer to another device (e.g., a Windows PC or another macOS device) to see if the issue persists. This helps identify whether the problem is device-specific or network-related.

Note:

• WiFi Mesh Setup:
  • If you experience frequent disconnections due to distance or interference, consider using a WiFi extender or mesh network system for improved stability.
• Printer System Reset (as a last resort):
  • If all else fails, reset the printer to factory settings and reconfigure the network settings from scratch.
     

By following these advanced steps, you should be able to stabilize the connection and resolve the intermittent issues effectively.

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!

Alden4

HP Support 

[BKwap]

No IPv6 in the printer settings 

Set manual DNS

No updates for Officejet 6500 709a.  HP no longer supporting

have no idea on how to get generic print drivers…..

Airprint on an older HP printer???

I know I’m connected…. 1 or 2 print jobs successful but goes back to unavailable and idle on MacBook Air.

Have not even tried in IPad….

Close to too many hours on this project….. Thanks!

[BKwap]

Don’t know how to Ping?

Cant find the ports on Xfinity gateway?

Printer doesn’t connect to IPad, MacBook Air or my IPhone 

Thanks for both of your efforts!