HP Smart cannot connect to HP Photosmart 2610

[OneSkyWalker]

I have HP Smart installed on a MacBook with Mac OS X 14.6 Sonoma.

I know my MacBook has network connectivity to my printer, since I see this in my Safari browser:

But if I follow the "If your printer has previously been set up and is connected to the network, click Add printer" instructions at https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_1716406-1413451-16, the scan does not find my printer. And if I provide the printer IP address (10.0.0.27 as shown in the browser window above), HP Smart still cannot find the printer!?!!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @OneSkyWalker 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

It seems like you're facing connectivity issues between your HP Photosmart 2610 and the HP Smart app on macOS Sonoma. 

Here are some steps you can try to resolve the problem:

 

1. Verify Printer Compatibility

• Check if your HP Photosmart 2610 is compatible with macOS Sonoma and the HP Smart app. Some older printers may not fully support newer operating systems or apps.

 

2. Reset Printer Network Settings

• On the printer, reset the network settings to clear any old configurations. This can usually be done by pressing and holding the Wireless button and the Cancel button simultaneously for about 5 seconds.

 

3. Use AirPrint

• If your printer supports AirPrint, you can bypass the HP Smart app entirely. Add the printer directly through System Settings > Printers & Scanners on your Mac. Select the "+" button, choose your printer, and set it up using AirPrint.

 

4. Check IP Address

• Ensure the IP address you’re entering is correct and matches the one displayed in your Safari browser. If the printer’s IP address changes frequently, consider assigning it a static IP address through your router settings.

 

5. Update Printer Firmware

• Outdated firmware can cause connectivity issues. Check HP's support page for firmware updates for your Photosmart 2610.

 

6. Reinstall HP Smart

• Uninstall the HP Smart app, restart your Mac, and reinstall the app from the Mac App Store. This can resolve app-related glitches.

Let me know how it goes! 😊

If this solution hits the spot, please come back and click "Accepted Solution" to help others find the answer. And if you'd like to say thanks, select "Yes" on the bottom left of the public post, as that would make our day! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[OneSkyWalker]

Thanks for your prompt response, @Hawks_Eye!

You wrote,

1. Verify Printer Compatibility

• Check if your HP Photosmart 2610 is compatible with macOS Sonoma and the HP Smart app. Some older printers may not fully support newer operating systems or apps.

I did verify (before submitting my post) printer compatibility with HP Smart on the Mobile printing solutions for HP printers page which says, "Photosmart series: HP Smart app (recommended)" But the page does say, "Photosmart 2600 series: HP Print Service Plugin" in the 'Mobile printing support' column, which is, of course, quite difficult to interpret. Although you are not saving me any time looking this stuff up, I will note that the same page says, "HP Print Service Plugin (Android): A plugin that enables printing directly from supported apps. ..." So, what the heck does that mean?

I did verify (before submitting my post) HP Smart compatibility with macOS Sonoma on the HP printer setup (HP Smart app) page which says, "HP Smart app requirements: ... macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later"

I did not verify printer compatibility with macOS Sonoma.  Perhaps you can tell me where that can be checked?

You wrote:

2. Reset Printer Network Settings

• On the printer, reset the network settings to clear any old configurations. This can usually be done by pressing and holding the Wireless button and the Cancel button simultaneously for about 5 seconds.

Why the heck should I do that???  My printer has been on the network at the same IP address for months. The IP address did change some months ago. I believe that was because my 15-year-old daughter followed some nonsensical trouble shooting instructions such as this one designed to discourage people from pursuing problems and give up and go away. @Hawks_Eye, I am starting to think you got these instructions from ChatGPT (or some other AI LLM) which confabulates rather than exercising good judgment when generating a response.

You wrote:

3. Use AirPrint

• If your printer supports AirPrint, you can bypass the HP Smart app entirely. Add the printer directly through System Settings > Printers & Scanners on your Mac. Select the "+" button, choose your printer, and set it up using AirPrint.

I did try AirPrint but couldn't get it to work. I am suspicious of any Apple claim that "It just works!" because in my experience "It often doesn't!" My printer is very old (before the days of AirPrint), so I believe AriPrint is unlikely to work. Perhaps you can tell me where I can check if my printer is compatible with AirPrint?

You wrote:

4. Check IP Address

• Ensure the IP address you’re entering is correct and matches the one displayed in your Safari browser. If the printer’s IP address changes frequently, consider assigning it a static IP address through your router settings.

My printer has been on the network at the same IP address for months. The IP address did change some months ago. I believe that was because my 15-year-old daughter followed some nonsensical trouble shooting instructions designed to discourage people from pursuing problems and give up and go away. @Hawks_Eye, I am starting to think you got these instructions from ChatGPT (or some other AI LLM) which confabulates rather than exercising good judgment when generating a response. And by the way, it gripes the heck out of me that @Nal_NR deleted the image in my post rather than redacting the printer's serial number from my image!!! Here is the image with the serial number redacted:

By the way, I get it that HP wants me to keep my printer's serial number private, but that is a privacy issue for HP. I don't care who has my (very old) printer's serial number.

You wrote:

5. Update Printer Firmware

• Outdated firmware can cause connectivity issues. Check HP's support page for firmware updates for your Photosmart 2610.

Oh, come on! My printer is old. It is likely that the latest firmware was released a decade ago. And my daughter and I did get the printer working with HP Print from her iPhone. 'Update Printer Firmware' is advice designed to discourage people from pursuing problems and give up and go away. From the image I attached, you can see that my printer is running RL3005xNx firmware. Perhaps you can tell me where I see a list of firmware that is available and the functionality/defect fixes in each firmware revision?

You wrote;

6. Reinstall HP Smart

• Uninstall the HP Smart app, restart your Mac, and reinstall the app from the Mac App Store. This can resolve app-related glitches.

I tried that. The @#$$%^&! Apple software reinstalled HP Smart from the iCloud, so all the configuration files were restored along with the app!?!! And that's true even though my account on the MacBook is configured not to use iCloud!?!! Apple says: "It just works!" Reality is: "It often doesn't!"

My account on my iPhone is also configured not to use iCloud, so I can't delete the HP Smart app information from iCloud from my iPhone either. But both my daughters are using the iCloud and have filled it up.

When my daughter gets home from school, I am going to ask her to delete the HP Smart app from the iCloud to see if perhaps deleting and reinstalling HP Srmart will help.

In the meantime, perhaps you can answer the questions in red above.

Thanks again @Hawks_Eye.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @OneSkyWalker 

You’ve raised some excellent points and frustrations, and I’ll do my best to address each of your questions thoroughly and clearly:

Reset Printer Network Settings.
Resetting network settings is typically recommended to clear any lingering configurations that might interfere with connectivity. 
However, if your printer has been stable on the network for months, this step may not be necessary. 
It’s worth skipping unless you suspect a network-related issue. 
I understand your frustration with generic troubleshooting advice—it’s often a “shotgun approach” rather than a targeted solution.

AirPrint Compatibility.
Unfortunately, the HP Photosmart 2610 does not support AirPrint, as it predates this feature. 
AirPrint compatibility is generally limited to newer printer models.

IP Address
If your printer’s IP address is stable and hasn’t changed recently, there’s no need to assign a static IP unless you experience frequent connectivity issues. 
It’s good practice to verify the IP address in your router settings or the printer’s network configuration report.

Firmware Updates
You’re correct that firmware updates for older printers like the Photosmart 2610 are unlikely to address modern compatibility issues. 
The latest firmware for your printer may have been released years ago. 
You can check available firmware versions and their functionality on the [HP Support page](https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers/hp-photosmart-2600-all-in-one-printer-series/model/391116). 
Unfortunately, detailed revision notes for older firmware may not be readily available.

Reinstalling HP Smart
The iCloud issue you’re encountering is frustrating, and it’s a common challenge with Apple’s ecosystem. 
To fully remove the HP Smart app and its associated data:
  - Ask your daughter to delete the app from iCloud.
  - On your MacBook, try using a third-party uninstaller tool (e.g., AppCleaner) to ensure all residual files are removed before reinstalling the app.

Let me know if you’d like further clarification or assistance with any of these steps! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye