macOS 28 Network Scanner Support for WS-Scan MFPs without eSCL support

[adville]

I have an HP LaserJet 200 color MFP M276nw. I'm currently running macOS 26 Tahoe, and my question is about network scanning support when macOS 28 drops support for Rosetta 2.

My understanding is:

1. This MFP, and other older MFPs, do not have eSCL (AirPrint Scan) hardware capability for network scanner discovery; it only broadcasts network scanning via Microsoft's WS-Scan protocol.
2. Apple's native scanning architecture (ICA framework) only accepts network scanners that broadcast using eSCL.
3. HP Scan 3 app (which is installed in the Library, not the Applications folder on macOS) includes a proprietary translation driver. That driver acts as a middleman, translating the printer's WS-Scan language into something the Mac framework understands.
4. However, HP Scan 3 is Intel-based, which is why the first time I scan after an OS update, I am warned that HP Scan 3 will not work with a future macOS upgrade (macOS 28). This means that when macOS 28 completely removes Rosetta 2, that Intel-compiled HP middleman driver will no longer work.
5. Because the driver won't be able to run, and macOS natively refuses to speak WS-Scan over a network, the network scanning path completely breaks. 
6. Therefore, starting with macOS 28, scanning using macOS Image Capture Architecture (ICA framework) and any third-party apps that rely on it (which is almost all scanning apps on macOS), will not work over a network, and will ONLY work when connected via USB.

Is this correct? Does HP plan to update/recompile the WS-Scan --> eSCL translator to Apple silicon code that will run in macOS 28?

It seems HP has the software written already, it's just a matter of re-compiling it for Apple Silicon instead of Intel code. Any insights appreciated!

[Deep_World]

Hi  @adville 
 
Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

Thank you for sharing such a detailed explanation and for outlining your understanding of how network scanning works with your HP LaserJet 200 Color MFP M276nw on macOS. I can certainly see why you are looking ahead to future macOS compatibility and wanting to ensure that scanning continues to work smoothly.

To better understand your setup and provide the most relevant guidance, could you kindly confirm a few details?

• Are you currently able to scan successfully over the network while using macOS 26 Tahoe?
• Which scanning application are you currently using most often: 
  • HP Scan
  • HP Easy Scan
  • Apple Image Capture
  • Another third-party scanning application
• When you scan over the network today, does the scanner appear automatically in the application, or was any additional HP software required during setup?

In the meantime, kindly try the following checks:

1. Verify whether the printer firmware is running the latest available version.
2. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, remove the printer, and then add it again using the current network connection.
3. Test scanning using Apple Image Capture to determine whether the scanner is detected directly by macOS.
4. If available, test scanning through HP App and compare the behavior with HP Scan.
5. Connect the printer temporarily via USB and verify whether scanning functions correctly through the same application.
6. Check whether the printer's Embedded Web Server (EWS) is accessible by entering the printer's IP address into a web browser.

For additional information about scanning on Mac devices, kindly review the following HP support documents: HP Printers - Scan with HP Smart App (macOS) - Click here 

I hope this helps. 

[adville]

Hi @Deep_World

Yes, I am currently able to scan successfully using macOS 26 Tahoe.  

I use Image Capture as well as other third-party applications that use the Image Capture Architecture (ICA) framework.  

And the scanner currently appears automatically in these applications.

But, as mentioned in the original post, this is because HP Scan 3 app includes a proprietary translation driver to translate the WS-Scan network discovery framework that my HP MFP understands into the eSCL framework that Apple's ICA framework uses. That works fine currently because HP Scan 3 is Intel-based and Apple's Rosetta 2 framework translates for Apple silicon. But it will not work when Apple removes Rosetta 2 in macOS 28.

I want to know:

1) Is it correct that my HP LaserJet 200 color MFP M276nw does not support eSCL and requires WS-Scan?

2) Will HP recompile the WS-Scan to eSCL driver currently found in HP Scan 3 for Apple Silicon for macOS 28 support?

3) Are there any other solutions you know of for getting WS-Scan scanners to work with eSCL?

If support is not determined yet, can you pass this on as a feature request? It seems like a very easy task, since the software is already written, it just needs to be recompiled for Apple Silicon, and this is a small piece of getting these scanners/MFPs to continue to work over the network. (For instance, my understanding is that the scanner will continue to work when connected over USB - this just relates to network discovery.)

Thanks!