Having problems installing older HP Printers on later macOS versions?

[ShlomiL]

Problem

Having problems locating your HP Printer driver for older HP Printers on later macOS or Mac OS X versions?

This knowledge base article is applicable for any later OS version, starting from Mavericks and later:

​OS X Mavericks (10.9), Yosemite (10.10), El Capitan (10.11), macOS Sierra (10.12), High Sierra (10.13), Mojave (10.14), Catalina (10.15) and Big Sur (11)

Please see the Supported HP Printers list to ensure below driver is intended for your printer model. To quickly locate your printer model, click or scroll to the section for your printer model in the liked document, and then hold down the CTRL and F keys. In the search box that displays, type the printer model number (example: 8600) and press Enter to find your printer.

If your printer model is not in this list, this knowledge base is not intended for your printer, please consult HP Support for your printer model, you may also check at 123.hp.com

Resolution

Make sure your macOS is fully up to date by installing any update for your operating system:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541

Uninstall any existing HP Software by following the HP Uninstaller Utility below:

Note: if there is any error message or failure, skip it and proceed to the next step:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Installations/Essentials/HP_Uninstaller...

Next, download and install below latest drivers package for your operating system:

Big Sur (11):

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Installations/Essentials/ASU/HewlettPac...

Note: if the file fails to launch, try double-clicking it, also try-right-clicking it and selecting Open, as well make sure it is not blocked under System Preferences > Security & Privacy and then launch it again

Mavericks (10.9) to Catalina (10.15):

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Applications/ASU/HPPrinterDrivers5.1.dm...

From System Preferences select Security & Privacy and click the unlock icon at the bottom, then provide your user information. if you see an Allow button on this screen, click it to allow the HP Software installation (Skip to the next step if an Allow button does not appear)

Finally,  open System Preferences, and then open Printers & Scanners to re-add your printer by clicking the Plus sign. be sure to select the printer model within the Use drop-down menu.

For any issue, please include a clear information of the exact error or behavior on your comment, be sure to clarify your exact HP Printer Product name as described within below Support Document, your EXACT OS version (Click the Apple icon > About This Mac) and the connection type used for the printer (USB, Ethernet or Wireless)

Please note: If your printer model is not in the Supported HP Printers list for the drivers above, this knowledge base is not intended for your printer, please consult HP Support for your printer model, you may also check at 123.hp.com:

Supported HP Printers list for the drivers above

[KrazyToad]

@capibruno

Welcome to HP Support Community

I would like to help

Please ensure your Mac and Printer have the latest updates

Printer Firmware: https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c02919168

Mac update: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT2015

After checking all those details, Remove and Re-add the printer using Airprint. AirPrint is an Apple technology that helps you create full-quality printed output without the need to download or install drivers.

1.) Click the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
2.) Check if your printer name displays in the Printers list, If your printer is listed, click the printer name, click the minus sign to delete the printer.

3.) If you see multiple printer queues for the same printer, remove all extra printers by selecting them one at a time, and then clicking the minus button  at the bottom of the list.

4.) Click the plus sign , click Add Printer or Scanner, click the printer name.

5.) Click the Use or Print Using menu, select AirPrint or Secure AirPrint in the pop-up menu. Then click Add.

6.) Try to Scan

Let me know how it goes😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" on this Post and it will also help other community members with similar issue.

[capibruno]

Hi,

when trying to install latest firmware for my HP Desjket 3050 J610 all in one printer and scanner, the latest version Big Sur of MacOS is not available. I have imstalled drivers for previous version (10.15) but the printer and scanner does not work. Will new drivers be available for the latest version of MacOS?

[ShlomiL]

Hi @capibruno,

Did you tried following the Resolution section above? It should allow installing and using your printer on Big Sur.

Shlomi

[jamero]

Hello @shlomiL,

I believe what Capibruno may be saying is the HP Support Site, which you hyperlink out to for Drivers and Firmware, does not recognize Big Sur as a Mac OC.

I have been struggling with an HP Office Jet 74000 Series All-In-One for the same reasons, HP Support Site not recognizing Big Sur.

Neighbors gave me this HP 7400 All-In-One because they could never get it to work. They were throwing it in the trash. Eventually, I got it to work and "work" on my home Xfinity network but Xfinity is not happy about what I did to make this happen.

Total pages printed since purchase to October 2020: 35 pages.
Shameful how HP made this printer so complicated. No wonder my neighbors could not get it to work.

I do not believe the Firmware has ever been updated on this printer.
I find it hard to believe there has never been a firmware update for the printer.
The HP Support Site though will not allow me to check for firmware updates because there is no Big Sur, there is no update for Catalina update, etc...

Two Problems I am having:

• the app HP Smart does not fully work with this printer only half of the app works
• the printer is using WPA Security and not WPA2 which Xfinity wants to use as better security

Both of those items/issues are usually embedded/coded into the firmware as resolutions.
The app HP Smart says the firmware version of the printer is <blank>. As in no information displays.
I can connect to the printer's webserver.
When I'm on the printer's webpage I can clearly see the current firmware version, listed in the printer, is RL9002xNx.

Any guidance is much appreciated. I'm sure you are not paid enough, or if at all, to help us out.

Thank you...John G Amero

[ShlomiL]

Hi @jamero,

You are mixing two different issues in here.

For the driver, the Resolution section above in this thread should be helpful on this matter.

For the printer security, the HP Officejet 7400 is a very old model, the printer was released in 2004 (16 years ago) and never supported WPA2 or gonna support a such in the future, it supports WEP security or WPA1, not any newer standard.

You may connect the printer to your network using an Ethernet cable so this way you will bypass the need to set your router with an older security, else you would need to change your router settings or get a later printer with newer security standards supported.

For HP Smart, this is intended for much newer HP printers from 2010 or later.

Shlomi

[deedeepogo]

Reinstalling HP Officejet 4500 G-510n-z (Wireless - but wireless has not worked in a long time) on Mac Air OS Catalina version 15.7 using USB connection.

Using the latest update of HP Smart I was able to reinstall my printer (after months of trying!)

Thought I was home free,  HOWEVER the printer does everything except PUT INK ONTO THE PAPER!

When I try to print the printer goes through all the motions - clicking, extruding paper with hesitations as if it were printing. etc. but when the paper comes through there is NO INK (no printing) on the paper.  Yes, there is ink in the printer!

A few weeks ago I saw a post giving the same problem with a much later printer.  I lost the thread so I don't know if there was help for him or not.

I have lost track of how many times I have tried to load this "fix", but nothing seems to work. 

Is there anything else I can try?

If I have to get a new printer I think that HP should GIVE me one or at least a BIG discount as they have killed my printer!

I am almost 75 y.o. and have no one to help me with this.  I don't use my printer/ copier/ scanner/ fax a lot but when I need it, I NEED IT! like now for tax preparation.

Sorry, I know you are not HP employee, but maybe you can pass this along to the right person!

If you can tell me something else to do or try to fix my printer, I thank you and appreciate it very much!

[ShlomiL]

Please follow the Resolution section above @deedeepogo, the included drivers (Mavericks (10.9) to Catalina (10.15)) should allow using your printer, be sure to go through the step-by-step information to install and allow the driver, once completing the installation you should be able to print and scan with no issues.

Shlomi

[Tonino2021]

Thank you so much for your support, ShlomiL, I was finally able to get my PSC 2355 all-in-one working properly with macOS BigSur.

Regards,

Tonino

[Collins7]

My operating system is Big Sur 11.2.2.  My printer is an hp Envy 4520.  I completed every step ShlomiL recommends in the Resolution section successfully.  When I tried for the umpteenth time to use the scanner function, I received this message:  "Failed to open a connection to the device (-21345).  In an attempt to scan prior to the time just described, I received this message:  This software needs to be updated.  Contact the developer for more information.

Any suggestions to remedy this issue?

[ShlomiL]

Hi @Collins7,

This article is not intended for an Envy 4520 printer - If your printer model is not in this list, this knowledge base is not intended for your printer

Please follow below version of HP Easy Start, as soon as it launches open the top HP Easy Start menu and select Uninstall HP Software.

Follow the steps on screen and then click on Set Up New Device and follow the steps to reinstall the printer:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Applications/HP_Easy_Start.app.zip

Shlomi

[johnthad]

I'm running Big Sur 11.2.2 on my MacBook.  My printer is an hp Envy 5530. The printer appears in the Systems Preferences panel and can be printed to wirelessly but the HP Smart app cannot find it. HP Smart on my Mac Mini running Catalina 10.15.7 does see the printer. Since my Macs share their printer configs, I'm reluctant to reset the printers. The last time I did that I couldn't find the wireless printer for days, though my wife could print from her MacBook.

[capibruno]

After following all the steps, the scanner continue without working.

I don't understand why loosing that functionallity after upgrading to Big Sur. Please I need a solution.

[ShlomiL]

Hi @capibruno 

Were you able to successfully uninstall the software using the HP Uninstaller Utility or did you notice any error?

The HP Scan 3 application is a very old version of the app, meaning you do have some traces left from earlier operating systems so be sure to focus on its uninstall.

Please follow below version of HP Easy Start, as soon as it launches open the top HP Easy Start menu and select Uninstall HP Software.

Follow the steps on screen, when you see the Set Up New Device button immediately close HP Easy Start:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Applications/HP_Easy_Start.app.zip

From the Applications folder make sure you have no HP or Hewlett-Packard folder, if any such appear be sure to move it to trash and empty the trash.

Now follow the installation again to reinstall the drivers, you should already have it but make sure you use below installer:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Installations/Essentials/ASU/HewlettPac...

Finally install HP Easy Scan from the Mac app store and try scanning:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hp-easy-scan/id967004861?mt=12

Shlomi

[Keukasmallie]

Shlomi, this resolution resolved my on-going problem of not being able to scan frm my ENVY 5660 all-in-one printer to my MacBook  Pro.  Thanks for sharing your expertise!!

[Petr_G]

Thank you,

I followed your instructions.

Print and scan work!

Peter

[nettersweet]

@shlomiL,

Thank you SO much!!!  This worked!!!  I honestly spent hours trying to troubleshoot this.  I was on with Apple support and then battled with the HP website for hours trying to find a solution.  Then your response showed up to my post to the community.  Life saver!  Thanks again!

[Julia94]

Thank you so much!!! I have a HP Deskjet 3050, I have followed the instructions and it worked!! Thank you!