Envy Photo 6234 no longer scans from HP Smart App

[ufufufucjvibib]

I have had an ENVY Photo 6234 printer and scanner for the past several years that I use primarily for scanning. To interface with the printer, I use my Android phone with the HP Smart App. Today I tried scanning for the first time in a couple months but am no longer able to do so. When I select my printer, then "Scan" in the app I see the message "Scanning from the printer is not available when connected remotely."

I have always been able to scan this way in the past. Could you please explain why I am unable to do so now? 

I have restarted the printer and the app several times. Google Play store indicates that I have the latest version of HP Smart, and the menu on the front of the printer indicates that there are no updates available.

Both my phone and the printer are connected to the same wifi network.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @ufufufucjvibib,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

I am sorry to hear that you're experiencing issues with scanning using the HP Smart App on your Android device for your HP ENVY Photo 6234 printer, where you receive the message "Scanning from the printer is not available when connected remotely," here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Check Network Connection:

• Ensure that your Android phone and HP ENVY Photo 6234 printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Scanning may not work if the devices are on different networks.

Reboot Devices:

• Restart both your Android device and the printer to refresh network settings and software applications.

Re-add the Printer:

• In the HP Smart App, remove the existing printer by navigating to the printer settings and selecting "Forget this printer" if available.
• Re-add the printer by choosing the option to add a new printer and follow the setup instructions provided.

Check HP Smart App Settings:

• Ensure that the app permissions are enabled on your Android device, allowing it access to the network and any relevant device features.

Reset Printer Network Settings:

• If the issue persists, you might consider resetting the printer's network settings and reconnecting it to your network.
• Refer to your printer's manual or HP support for instructions on how to perform a network reset.

Use HP Print and Scan Doctor:

• If possible, run HP Print and Scan Doctor from a computer on the same network. This can help identify and fix common scanning issues.

Take care and have an amazing day!

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards

Pallipurath.

[ufufufucjvibib]

Hi Pallipurath,

I would appreciate it if you would carefully read my original message as I explained that I have already done most of what you suggested. 

I do not have a Windows computer to run HP Print Scan Doctor because I use Linux. Remember that the problem is scanning from the printer/scanner to my Android Smart Phone using HP Smart which worked well for many years but stopped after the most recent HP Smart update.

I really feel that this is a change in the app that has removed my ability to scan using my printer/scanner. Would you please suggest something meaningful that I could try, or contact the HP Smart product team to ask why this is happening?

Many thanks, and best regards.

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @ufufufucjvibib,

Thank you for the response.

I understand your HP ENVY Photo 6234 no longer scans from the HP Smart app on Android and now shows “Scanning from the printer is not available when connected remotely.” Let’s go through a few clear steps and explanations to understand why this changed and what can still be done.

Clarify what “connected remotely” means
This message appears when HP Smart believes the printer is not in local (direct) mode, even if it’s on the same Wi-Fi.
Recent HP Smart updates changed how the app determines “local vs remote” connections.

Understand what changed in HP Smart
HP Smart updates over the last year restricted or removed direct scan-from-printer features for some older ENVY models on mobile devices.
This is an app-side change, not a printer firmware failure.

Confirm the printer is in local network mode
On the printer control panel, check Wi-Fi status and confirm it shows connected (not cloud-only).
If Web Services or cloud mode is active, HP Smart may treat the printer as remote.

Toggle Web Services off and on
From the printer menu, turn Web Services OFF, restart the printer, then turn Web Services back ON.
This sometimes forces HP Smart to re-detect the printer as a local device.

Remove and re-add the printer in HP Smart (fully)
In the HP Smart app, remove the printer completely.
Clear the app cache (Android Settings → Apps → HP Smart → Storage → Clear Cache), then reopen the app and add the printer again.

Check Android app permissions
Go to Android Settings → Apps → HP Smart → Permissions.
Ensure Local network, Nearby devices, Storage, and Camera permissions are allowed.

Disable VPN or private DNS on the phone
If a VPN or Private DNS is enabled, HP Smart may classify the connection as remote.
Turn these off temporarily and test scanning again.

Important limitation for ENVY Photo 6234
The ENVY Photo 6234 does not support “Scan to mobile” via cloud-only mode.
Scanning requires local LAN discovery, which HP Smart now limits on some legacy models.

Why this worked before and not now
Previously, HP Smart allowed mobile scanning over broader network conditions.
Recent updates tightened this behavior, which unintentionally removed functionality for some older printers.

Practical workaround (supported)
Use a computer-based scanning method on the same network (Windows/macOS), or
Use third-party Linux scanning tools (SANE / simple-scan) which still support this model locally.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[ufufufucjvibib]

Thank you very much Kuroi_Kenshi with your detailed message and for explaining the meaning of the messages in HP Smart.

The problem was indeed related to a private VPN being active on my phone. After deactivating it I could indeed scan again from the scanner to my phone.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi,

A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,