"Printing - the printer is in use"

[susanjoyfully]

Yesterday I upgraded to the latest Version of MacOS Ventura on my (Intel) Macbook Air. Today, when I tried to print on my HP Tango X, I get the message "Printing - the printer is in use". Of course, the printer is not doing anything, and I was able to print an alignment page from the HP Smart application. Would much appreciate any advice or suggestions!

[Sneha_01]

Hi @susanjoyfully,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The "Printing - the printer is in use" message can be a bit puzzling, especially when the printer appears to be idle. Given the issue started after upgrading to the latest version of macOS Ventura, it's possible the upgrade may have affected printer connectivity or drivers. Here are several steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check Printer Queue

• Clear the Print Queue: It's possible previous print jobs got stuck. Open the print queue for your HP Tango X (you can usually find this in the 'Printers & Scanners' section of System Preferences), and if there are any jobs listed, cancel them.

2. Restart Printer and Computer

• Restart Your Printer: Turn off your HP Tango X, wait for a few seconds, then turn it back on. This can help reset its status.
• Restart Your Mac: Similarly, restarting your MacBook Air can help reset any software glitches that may be causing the issue.

3. Check for Software Updates

• macOS Updates: Go to System Preferences > Software Update to check if there are any pending updates for macOS Ventura that might include fixes for printing issues.
• Printer Firmware: Use the HP Smart application to check if there's a firmware update available for your HP Tango X. Keeping the printer's firmware up to date can prevent or solve connectivity issues.

4. Reinstall Printer

• Remove and Re-add Printer: Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, remove your HP Tango X, and then add it back. This process can often resolve communication issues by resetting macOS's connection to the printer.
• Download Latest Printer Drivers: Visit the HP website to check for the latest drivers for your HP Tango X compatible with macOS Ventura. Installing the most current drivers can help ensure compatibility.

5. Check Network Settings

If your printer is connected over a network:

• Printer Network Connection: Ensure your printer is connected to the same network as your MacBook Air.
• Network Settings: Sometimes, network settings can prevent communication between your Mac and the printer. Ensuring both devices are on the same network subnet can help.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571 

HP Support

[susanjoyfully · Accepted solution]

FYI, my HP Tango printer is working fine again, after I upgraded to MacOS Ventura Version 13.6.7 today.