HP MFP M281 not printing PDF files

[Armstronglpc]

Hi,

As of last week, my HP MFP M281 printer will not print PDF files from my Mac computer(s). As other users have reported: When I send the job to my HP MFP M281 printer, the Printer dialogue box on my Mac will say "Printing-- waiting for job to complete" and the printer turns on as if it is going to print the PDF, then suddenly the printer stops as if it has printed the document. I am getting no printer error message when this happens.

I have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (version 2020.013.200.74). I have Mac OS Catalina 10.15.7. I have turned the printer on and off and unplugged it to let it reset to see if that helps. I deleted the printer from my Mac and reconnected it to see if that helps, but none of this has worked. Please advise.

Thank you,

Courtney Armstrong

[Kumar0307]

@Armstronglpc, Welcome to the HP Support Community!

• Are you able to print other files like Word or webpages?
• Have you tried printing the PDF files from the Preview app on the MAC?
• Refer to this document to know how and check if that prints.

Update the printer firmware

Click here to download and install the latest printer firmware from your MAC.

Click here to know different methods of updating printer firmware.

Also, check for any software updates on MAC

Click the Apple icon > About This Mac > Software Update and install any available update.

You may also try printing the PDF as an image from the Adobe app.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day! 

[Granaturov]

Although I was successfully able to print PDFs on this computer, I am now having the same problem - PDFs sent to the printer from MAC OS do not print.  Print dialog box opens, and the computer seems to be communicating with the printer, but nothing prints.  Most of the time. Occasionally a single page will print.  I have tried all suggested troubleshooting but nothing has worked.  PDFs sent from a Windows 10 laptop work fine.

[Granaturov]

The M281 will print files from other applications sent from the MAC OS - Word and other Office files.  It will print image files.  Just not PDF files

[Granaturov]

I have already tried all recommended “fixes” - updated firmware and drivers, uninstall and re-install the printer, update HP utility software.  I have spoken extensively with MAC Tech Support - they think this is a printer firmware problem, not a MAC OS problem - an incompatibility that needs to be be fixed in the printer firmware.

[Granaturov]

BTW I have found HP Support to be completely inadequate and unhelpful.  HP has the worst customer support of any company I have ever dealt with.

[Kumar0307]

@Granaturov, Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Have you tried printing the PDF as an image from the Adobe app?

Also, try the preview app to print PDF documents to check if that helps.

Update the printer firmware

Click here to download and install the latest printer firmware from your MAC.

Click here to know different methods of updating printer firmware.

Let me know how it goes.

[kjck]

Hey,

I am having exactly the same issue. I am sure its a firmware update as the printer works absolutely fine for the first 1 year. Then suddenly from mid 2020 onwards, printing PDF files from Mac printers has become sporadic. One page pdf's turn out fine, but for multi-page PDF's it either

1) registers the print, whirls up about to print, then nothing prints and it resets back to the main menu

2) registers the print and prints a random number number of pages... it never completes

I am at my wits end with this printer and spent alot of money on toner cartridges. One year gone and I there is absolutely no support whatsoever. I have tried all the fixes in all these forums. About the pull the trigger on any printer except HP. Had different canon printers for 20 years and will likely go back to them. HP makes your money on the printer and supports you for one year, then you are forgotten as they spend time on new printers.

[Kumar0307]

@kjck

If you have tried the steps and the issue persists, I think this issue needs some additional technical assistance that can be better provided through one-on-one interaction or a remote session with our HP Support team.

Please reach out to the HP Technical Support team in your region for further assistance. 

Keep me posted for any other assistance.

[Granaturov]

This problem started when I was a couple of months past the expiration of my one-year warranty.  I cannot get access to technical support and cannot purchase after-warranty support for this printer.  I feel abandoned by HP, which is why I made the comment above about HP customer service.  There are two problems for HP to fix: first, it needs to take the printer problem seriously and examine the firmware bug that is preventing fully functional use of our printer; second, you need to look at your customer service policies so that people like us are able to get the support we need.