My OfficeJet4620 is connected to my Mac by USB and prints fine but I cannot make it scan

[SharonEP]

I have tried so many fixes found on the internet - please dont ask my to dump and reinstall the up to date drivers AGAIN!  

I get an error message whether I go through Printers and Scanners in System Preferences, or via the App HP Easy Scan or through Apple's Image Capture software.  When I reloaded the software again today the SCAN test at the end failed with exactly the same error message about not being able to communicate and "please check it is connected and powered up" but it doesnt tell you what to do if that happens.

It is driving me mad ....

[greenturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for using the HP Forums.

Can ou try this:

macOS 10 12 Sierra: Adding a printer using IP address

The steps for mac OS Sierra but should be similar for El Capitan.

Hope that helps!

[SharonEP]

I have fallen at the first hurdle as when I push the blue wi-fi icon on the front of my printer I dont get the screen in the tutorial with an IP address - I just get a menu of wi-fi info to scroll down.  I am plugged in with a USB remember (as my wi-fi isn't that stable in the basement of an old house) but if I need to switch the printer over to wi-fi to do this, how do I go back and choose that option and do I have to take the USB out so as not to confuse it?

[greenturtle]

Hi @SharonEP

My apologies, missed the USB connected part (most Mac users are on wireless)

Have you tried another USB port?

If you need to switch to WIfi, it's ok to still maintain your USB. 

However, from the description, seems that using wifi may presnt another issue of low signal strength,

Thanks.

[SharonEP]

I found my IP address by another route and have switched the printer to All Sources - wi-di and USB now.  I have the printer by its IP address (re-named to distinguish it) on my list of printers now and appearing in the HP Utility list but when I use the HP EasyScan App it does not pick it up.  The Apple Image Capture doesnt see it either 😞

So still all the same error messages, with USB disconnected too

[greenturtle]

Hi @SharonEP

Can you try this:

macOS 10 12 Sierra: Enable and Use Webscan

It should work for your Operating System.  If you see some security messages that the network is not secuire, proceed on as you are in your own home network (so it's safe)

Hope this method will allow you to scan.

Thanks.