How can I scan from 9015e without connecting to HP servers

[bvz2000]

In order to scan I need to download HP Smart.

HP Smart won't let me scan without connection to my HP account.

Why on earth would scanning something from MY printer to save to MY computer require that I connect to HP's servers? I mean other than HP coercing me to provide free analytic data in order to access BASIC functionality of the product I paid money for.

I have no need for my printer to be connected to the internet. There is simply no value added for that for me. I print. I scan. I don't need anything else. But even this basic level of functionality demands that I hand over personal information to HP.

Is there a way on MacOS to use the printer/scanner that I just purchased to actually print/scan? Or did I just buy a lump of Plastic that I have to send back because it does not offer the basic functionality that HP claims it does?

[bvz2000 · Accepted solution]

Ok, for anyone else with the same question here is the answer:

1) If at all possible, consider a different brand that does not engage in these shenanigans.

2) If you are committed to sticking with HP, then this is how I got around this absurd requirement (This is for MacOS)

Use the built in ImageCapture.app to do your scanning. It appears to work by bypassing HP Smart (which you can uninstall since it does not really offer much of a help that I can see). You can run the scanner and even use the document feeder with duplexing enabled (or disabled).

That pretty much solved the issue for me and so I am keeping the printer (though my next one will be carefully researched and I will choose a brand that does not require an invasion of my privacy every time I want to print).

But going beyond that, it makes sense to log into your printer from a web browser. You can get the IP address from the display panel. Click on the little "lollypop with some radiating circles" icon that is in the top icon bar. You will find the IP address there. It will look something like 192.168.1.21 or maybe 10.0.0.21 or even 172.31.1.21 (The actual numbers may vary, but the idea is that there are four numbers separated by dots).

Put that value in the address bar of your browser. You will be taken to the control panel for your printer (you may get a warning that the destination is unsafe, but that is normal and expected. It is ok to continue to the destination. You may have to hit "advanced" or something to be able to continue.)

Once you are there, you are given a series of options. Here is what I did for my system (Note: I am no expert and you are messing with these settings at your own risk - though the liklihood of messing up is not that bad. It should be possible to reset the printer in case you get it into a totally broken state. BUT I DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR SURE, SO CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK COMFORT LEVEL).

SCANNING

Under the Scan tab, I went to "Scan to Network Folder". Here I hit the + sign and added a network location where I could scan to. You will have to know the SMB path to a folder on your mac where you can store the scan (sharing is described below). When you hit the + you will have to give this location a name that will show up on the printer's display panel (you can create multiple locations if you want). You will enter the SMB path to the shared folder location. Then you will hit "Next".

You will then have to add the user name and password of your user on the Mac. So if you log in to your mac with a user name of "ITSME" and your password is "LETMEIN" then enter those here. Hit "Next".

Then you will set up the default settings for a scan. Note: these can be overridden at the time of scanning from the scanner itself.

Now you will be able to scan from your printer directly to your Mac.

(Setting up a shared folder on the Mac is done in system preferences under "Sharing". Enable "File Sharing" in the left column and then under the "options..." button make sure that "Share files and folders using SMB" is enabled. You also want to check "on" any users on the computer that you want to be able to use the share. Then in the "Shared Folders" section you want to add a folder that you will be sharing. You can always add sub-folders in here later if you want to access them from the printer. Let's say you created a folder called "Shared". The path to this shared folder will be displayed as something like smb://192.168.1.12/Shared .  If you want to access a sub-folder then create that folder inside and then the path to that folder is what you will use. For example, if you create a "scans" folder inside the "Shared" folder that you are sharing then the path would be something like smb://192.168.1.12/Shared/scans. Note: This IP address - the four groups of numbers - is dynamic and may change. If you want to consistently be able to scan to this location you will need to set a static IP for your Mac. Ask here if you have questions and I will try to help. Otherwise, look up how to set a static IP for your mac). BIG NOTE: You might have to actually reformat the SMB path from smb://192.168.1.12/Shared  to  \\192.168.1.12\Shared   <- that was the format that worked for me.

Web Services

I have no need for web services. This is a printer and scanner. Not some entry point for people to peek in on my activities. So I disabled all web services.

To do that, go to the web services tab and hit "Remove Web Services". Note: It is possible to re-enable them later if for some reason you think you need them. Thank goodness that is gone now.

Settings

Under settings I go to Preferences/Data Collection Settings. There I disable "Allow printer and other related data to be sent from this printer"

Next I go to Supplies/Anonymous Usage Information Storage and set that to "off"

Next I go to Supplies/Supply Settings. There I turn off Cartridge Protection. I don't expect cartridge theft to be an issue for me and on the off chance I need to share my cartridge with another printer of the same model I want to be able to do that (if, say, this printer dies but I have an almost full cartridge and want to get the same printer as a replacement)

Finally, i set a password for the printer web administration. That is done under Security/Password Settings. I figure this will help thwart people trying to turn my printer into part of a botnet. If you leave the default password (which is no password as far as I can tell) and someone manages to connect to your printer they might gain a toehold to your local network. Or they might be able to turn your printer into part of a network that runs attacks on other systems. Set the password AND THEN PRINT IT AND TAPE IT TO THE PRINTER! <- go on. Ask me how I know this is a vital step. Sigh.

There is also the Security/Administrator Settings section. Here you can turn off the ability to change the settings for that feature. I think it makes sense to leave this section alone.

Anyway. Good luck if you are like me and don't want HP poking its nose into your business without any authorization.

I am glad I found a workaround, but going forward I expect I will chose a different brand than HP because this is some seriously shady stuff they are pulling. Badly done HP. Badly done.