My printer makes me save the document first instead of just printing

[devans1777]

I'm having the same problem, but when I go to change my printer isn't there.  I go to device and see my printer there so I click on it and its says it not there.  I change my google accounts and try that.  This happens all the time, sometimes I can figure it out and this time not

[Riddle_Decipher]

@devans1777

Welcome to the HP Forums!

I understand the printer makes you save the document first instead of printing it,

I'll be glad to help you out, however, for an accurate solution I will need more details:

What is the product number of your device? Use this link to find it: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2039298-1862169-16

(Do not share any personal information such as serial number, email ID, phone number or address on a public forum for your safety). 

Have you attempted any steps on your own before posting on the HP Forums?

Which operating system are you using with this printer?

Did you update the drivers or upgrade the firmware recently?

Please reply with the details for further assistance.

Eager to help!

Feel free to post your query for any other assistance as well,

It's been a pleasure interacting with you and I hope you have a good day ahead.

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accepted Solution.

And click on the Purple Thumbs up icon at the bottom of my comment.

Regards,

[KDW1]

I've had the same problem with my HP Envy 7640 which is on my private household network. I use Windows 7 and my browser is Firefox (latest version).  I've confirmed that the printer is the default option. I can print a saved file using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. I've checked the printer properties advanced options and the "print to file" option is NOT checked.  I should add that the problem cropped up yesterday for no apparent reasion--no new applications, no other printers. I haven't had the problem before. 

This happens when I try to download or print anything directly from the web. And it happens instantly--the"" save as" page appears with no chance for me to edit the print command: it doesn't show me the little grey square which gives me options.  My only option is to cancel the save.

Firefox has an options tab and for "Portable Document Files" it lists these options: preview with Firefox, save file, always ask, use Adobe Acrobat Reader (default), or Other.  The "other" option goes to virtually all the applications on my machine whether relevant or not. None of these options works.

This sounds like a Firefox problem but I can't figure out how to fix it or where to look.

I'll be very grateful for your help.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@KDW1

Thank you for the update,

I appreciate your time and efforts,

Have you changed the printing preferences from "Save as PDF or image" to print using the default printer?

If you haven't, I recommend you follow the below steps to get the same done:

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button, go over to the Print... menu and select Print Preview.Click the menu buttonand select Print. The print preview window will appear.
2. In the print preview window, make sure Scale is set to Shrink To Fit.
3. Make sure the Portrait orientation is set.
4. Click Page Setup.... The Page Setup window will appear.
5. In the Page Setup window, click the Margins & Header/Footer tab.
6. In the Margins section, make sure the page margins are set correctly (the default setting is 12.7 mm, or 0.5 in).
7. Click OK to close the Page Setup window and return to the Print Preview window.
8. Back in the Print Preview window, click Print.... The Print window will appear.
9. Make sure the correct printer is shown in the Name field.
10. Make sure the Print to file setting is not selected.

If I have helped you resolve the issue, feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, 

Followed by clicking on "Accept as solution" from the drop-down menu on the upper right corner,

Thank you for posting in the HP Support Forum.  Have a great day!

Regards,

[KDW1]

I appreciate the effort but it doesn't work. I did everything you suggested. The only spec I had to change was the shrink to fit option. But print to file isn't enabled.

The first shows the web page I access when I want to download the file--in this case, a PDF of a crossword puzzle. When I  click on the little printer icon on the lower right side, it get the second cap.  And when I click "print" there, I get the third cap. Keep in mind that I chose the Adobe Acrobat reader option from Firefox options for PDF files. The other thing to keep in mind is that I have the same problem regardless of which site I try to download from. And, to reiterate, this problem has arisen out of the blue.

I continue to be grateful for any help you can provide.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@KDW1

Thank you for the update,

I appreciate your time and efforts,

I'm glad you could send in the pictures, that does help,
In fact, that confirms that this isn't the printer but the program at fault.

That said, did you try printing that website using either Google Chrome or the Internet explorer to check if it works?

I would appreciate if you could try an alternate browser and get back to me with the results.

Also, if the other browser works and yet you prefer using the firefox, you may want to reset firefox to factory defaults and try again.

Feel free to post your query for any other assistance as well,

It's been a pleasure interacting with you and I hope you have a good day ahead.

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, 

Mark my post as Accepted Solution.

And click on the Purple Thumbs up icon at the bottom of my comment.

Regards,

[R1S]

I have just recently encountered this problem and have tried to rectify as noted in earlier messages however I still have the issue of going to save.  Has anyone else still had this problem and if so were there any solutions you fouind.

Thx

[KDW1]

I'm now persuaded that the problem is Firefox as I did not have the same issue in either Chrome or Internet Explorer. I've now posted (as KDW) in the Mozilla Forum. I did read that Firefox was going to make changes this month and they would affect plug-ins.

I found a work-around--change the option for Portable Document Files (Options--Applications) to Firefox preview. Then you use the print button and it works just fine. However, I was used to having Firefox open the PDF as a full window which enabled me to print from an icon that appeared at the bottom of the PDF when you ran your cursor over it.  That's what I want to restore.

Good luck.

[R1S]

I do appreiate the suggestion you have provided and it makes great sense however I am either missing the Chrome print dialog or this is not my problem as i am still being taken to save rather then allowing me to print.  Any other suggestions.

Thanks

[KDW1]

Sorry, my friend, but nothing else to offer. I don't use Chrome as a rule and am not all that familiar with it. Wish I could be of more help.