OfficeJet Pro 9018: how to change to USB connection on a Mac

[frustrat_ed]

I set up this printer with a wireless connection because I was given no option to use USB connection during the setup process. I want to use it with a USB connection because my wireless connection is unreliable. Adding a USB cable only gets me error messages saying the computer can't connect via USB. Searching either HP support or just online through a search engine keeps getting me only information for how to switch from USB to wireless or how to do this on a Windows system.

Somebody please tell me how to switch this OfficeJet Pro 9018 from a wireless connection to a USB connection on a Mac running High Sierra.

-- it's an all-in-one and I do also need to be able to scan with it, but there doesn't seem to be any board option either for discussing the types of connection or for both printing and scanning.

[ShlomiL · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Please connect the USB from the printer to your Mac.

Next, open the HP Smart app, right-click the listed printer, and select remove printer.

Next, click the plus sign and select the listed USB printer, then follow the steps on screen to configure it:

https://support.hp.com/ie-en/document/c06188214

If the printer is not listed or any other error appears, please clarify what exact error message or behavior occurs.

Shlomi

[frustrat_ed]

Thanks. I'll try that;  but it may not be for a couple of days if the wireless stays up, as I need to be able to print a batch of stuff and if I mess the change up won't have time right now to fix it.

Will let you know (and use the accept button) if it worked.

[frustrat_ed]

I wound up doing this sooner than expected because the printer refused, yet again, to recognize the wi-fi connection even though the wi-fi was up. I had previously followed the steps given by HP to fix this problem, but apparently it won't stay fixed more than a couple of days. Even aside from my intermittent connection issues, the printer is useless as a WiFi printer unless the user's willing to keep resetting and resetting it.

Your technique does appear to have worked. I can only hope the printer won't decide in a couple of days that it won't recognize this type of connection either.

Additional notes:

1) At first, after following the procedure you recommended, although HP Smart said the printer was connected, I couldn't print and was getting "printer not connected" as the reason. I had to open System Preferences --> Printers and Scanners, right click in the printer list, reset the printing system, and add the printer back in again there also.

2) Scan to computer in the ordinary fashion is now broken, which is very annoying. There is no reason this can't work through USB, printers did this for many years. It is however possible to scan to computer from System Preferences -- again, go to Printers and Scanners and open the scanner from there.

I would strongly recommend that HP set all of this information -- both the information you gave me, and the information I've added above -- up as a help document. It was extremely frustrating to be able to find instructions only for Windows systems and for converting in the other direction. I have had enough trouble getting this printer working to be seriously considering buying somebody else's next time.