If your HP printer won’t print on Mac, this article will provide you with solutions to this problem.
HP Printer Won’t Print on Mac [Solutions]
If your HP printer won’t print on Mac, do the following to resolve the problem:
i. If your HP printer and Mac are connected, ensure that the printer’s power cable is connected firmly. Also, confirm that your printer’s power cable is connected to a wall outlet and that your HP printer is on.
ii. If your HP printer is connected via a wireless network, ensure that your printer and Mac are using connected to one network. Ensure that your HP printer is on and your wireless network is working properly. If several printers are connected to your network, verify that you selected the right printer.
iii. If your HP printer is shared with another Mac, ensure that your Mac is installed with macOS 10.5 or a later version and that the device is in sleep mode. You also turn on the sharing feature if it is off.
iv. If your HP printer and Mac are connected via the USB port on your computer, go to “System Information” and then click on “USB.” You should check the user manual of your HP if the printer is listed but fails to print.
If your HP printer won’t print on Mac after doing the above, do the following troubleshooting:
1. Resume Printing – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To resume printing, do the following:
Step 1: Go to your Mac, and then check the “Dock” for the printer icon and click on it.
This action will open the printer’s queue window.
Step 2: Try any of these:
- If the toolbar has a “Resume” button, click on it.
- If a print job has encountered an error that is preventing printing, select that print job, and then click on the button with an “X” mark to delete the job.
- If a print job’s status is paused, choose that print job, and then click on the button that has a curved arrow to resume the print job.
If the print job isn’t listed in the queue, then it is likely that you sent the print job to another printer. Therefore, you should check the print queues of other printers. Alternatively, you can try to print the document again while selecting the right printer.
To check other printers’ print queues, do these:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/men.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Choose a printer from the list.
v. Click on “Open Print Queue.”
If your HP printer won’t print on Mac even after you resume printing, move to the next troubleshooting.
2. Use a Different App to Print – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
The issue might be with the app you are trying to print from; therefore, you need to confirm if the app is the reason for the problem. To do this, you need to use another app that can print the file.
If the file prints from a different app, then the issue is with the original app you tried to print from. In such a case, you need to review the documentation of that app to find out troubleshooting that you can apply to fix the issue.
If your HP printer won’t print on Mac even when using a different app, do the next troubleshooting.
3. Disable Print Dialog Extensions – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
If your HP printer employs Print Dialog Extensions (PDEs) to enable it to provide custom print choices and dialogs during printing, then the PDEs might be the reason why your HP printer won’t print. Therefore, you need to disable the Print Dialog Extensions.
How to Disable Print Dialog Extensions – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To disable Print Dialog Extensions, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
Step 2: Click on “System Preferences.”
Step 3: Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
Step 4: Choose your HP printer from the list of devices.
Step 5: Click on the button labeled “Options & Supplies.”
Step 6: Click on the checkbox for the “Use Generic Printer Features” option.
Step 7: Click on “OK.”
Do the troubleshooting below if your HP printer won’t print on Mac even after doing the above steps.
4. Check your Printer – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To check your printer that it is working correctly, do these checks:
i. Confirm that the printer is on and that the normal status LED is on.
ii. Confirm that there is no paper jam. If there is, remove the jam.
iii. Ensure that cartridge’s toner or ink level is sufficient and not empty or low.
iv. Confirm that the cables are connected properly.
Check if your printer can print after doing the above checks.
Move on to the next troubleshooting if your HP printer won’t print on Mac even after doing the above checks.
5. Add your HP Printer Again – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP printer again, use any of the methods that best suit you:
How to Add your HP USB Printer to Mac – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP USB printer to your Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Check for and update the software of your HP printer using your Mac computer.
Step 2: Turn on your HP printer.
Step 3: Confirm that it isn’t displaying any error.
If it is displaying an error message, we recommend that you read this article: HP Printer Errors and Solutions [Detailed] to learn how to resolve the error.
Step 4: Plug one end of a USB cable into your Mac and the other end into your HP printer.
If you get a message asking you to download your printer software, do that and then install the software.
Important: In case your Mac is designed with one USB Type-C port, we recommend that you use a multiport adapter.
We recommend that you watch the video below.
How to Add your HP Network or Wi-Fi Printer to Mac – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP network or Wi-Fi printer to your Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Check for and update the software of your HP printer using your Mac computer.
For AirPrint printers, you don’t need to do any software checks.
Step 2: Turn on your HP printer.
Step 3: Confirm that it isn’t displaying any error.
Step 4: Consult your printer manual to learn how to connect your HP printer to a network.
We recommend that you read this article: How to Connect HP Printer [Issues & Solutions] to learn how to connect your HP printer to a wide range of devices.
Step 5: Add your HP printer to your Mac’s available printers list.
To do this, do the following:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. If your printer is not listed, click on the “Plus” button to add your printer.
v. Select your HP printer from the displayed list.
vi. Click on “Add.”
If you get a message asking you to download your printer software, do that and then install the software.
How to add your HP Network Printer using its IP Address to Mac – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP network printer by using its IP address to your Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Check for and update the software of your HP printer using your Mac computer.
For AirPrint printers, you don’t need to do any software checks.
Step 2: Turn on your HP printer.
Step 3: Confirm that it isn’t displaying any error.
Step 4: Consult your printer manual to learn how to connect your HP printer to a network.
Step 5: Add your HP printer to your Mac’s available printers list.
To do this, do the following:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Click on the “Plus” button to add your printer.
v. Click on the IP button.
vi. Input the relevant printer information in the following fields:
- Address: Enter the IP address or hostname of your HP printer.
- Protocol: There are four protocol options you can choose from.
- Airprint: This allows you to enable the Ethernet network, USB, and Wi-Fi access to the printing as well as scanning features of your printer.
- HP Jetdirect – Socket: This allows you to access the Hewlett-Packard printer manufacturer.
- Line Printer Daemon – LPD: This allows you to access older print servers and printers that support this protocol.
- Internet Printing Protocol – IPP: This allows you to access modern print servers and printers.
- Queue: Enter your printer’s queue name. In case you don’t know your printer’s queue name, you can leave the field blank. Alternatively, you can contact your network administrator to provide you with the queue name.
- Name: enter a name that helps you identify your HP printer. We recommend that you use your printer’s model name and number.
- Use: Shows the correct software for your HP printer. If your printer’s software isn’t displayed, click “Select Software,” and then choose your HP printer from the list of the printer software.
If the list of printer software doesn’t display your HP printer, you can go to the HP Software and Driver Download page to download and then install your printer software.
How to Add your HP Bluetooth Printer to Mac – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP Bluetooth printer to your Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Check for and update the software of your HP printer using your Mac computer.
For AirPrint printers, you don’t need to do any software checks.
Step 2: Turn on your HP printer.
Step 3: Confirm that it isn’t displaying any error.
Step 4: Consult your printer manual to learn how to prepare your HP printer to be ready for a Bluetooth connection.
Step 5: Add your HP printer to your Mac’s available printers list.
To do this, do the following:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Click on the “Plus” button to add your printer.
v. Click on the “Default” button.
vi. Choose your HP printer from the list of printers.
vii. Click on “Add.”
If your HP printer is not listed, type the printer name in the search field. After that, press “Return.”
If your HP printer is not listed, ensure that you download and install the most current Bluetooth driver for your HP printer.
If you get a message asking you to download your printer software, do that and then install the software.
How to add your HP Mobile or Wi-Fi Printer that needs a Configuration Profile to Mac – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To add your HP mobile or Wi-Fi printer that needs a configuration profile to Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Double-click on the configuration profile on your computer to open the profile.
Step 2: When a message is displayed and asks if you want to install a configuration profile, you should click on “Continue.”
Step 3: When a message is displayed and asks you to confirm the profile installation, click on “Install.”
The profile will then be installed in your System Preferences Profiles pane.
Step 4: Add your HP printer to the list of printers.
To do this, do these:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Click on the “Plus” button to add your printer.
v. Click on the “Default” button.
vi. Choose your HP printer from the list of printers.
The profile of the printer will fall under AirPrint.
vi. Click on “Add.”
In case your HP printer isn’t listed, ensure that your printer’s most current profile is installed and that an available network path from your computer to your printer exists.
6. Ensure that your HP Printer Software is Up-to-date – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To ensure that your HP printer software is up-to-date, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Find out the printer software version currently in use.
To do the above, do these:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Choose your HP printer.
v. Click on “Options & Supplies.”
vi. Click on “General.”
Take note of the version of your HP printer driver.
Step 2: Ensure that your HP printer software is up-to-date.
To do the above, do these:
i. Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
ii. Click on “System Preferences.”
iii. Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
iv. Choose your HP printer from the list.
v. Click on the “Remove” button.
vi. Click on the “Add” button.
In case a pop-up menu shows, select “Add printer or scanner.”
vii. Choose your HP printer from the list.
After that do any of these:
- Use AirPrint: This option is for printers that support AirPrint that is connected via a USB cable. Click on the Use pop-up menu. After that, select “AirPrint.”
If AirPrint isn’t listed in the pop-up menu, then the feature isn’t supported.
- Use printer software installed on your Mac or downloaded from Apple: For this option, click on the Use pop-up menu. After that, select “Software.”
- Use printer software from a file on your Mac: For this option, click on the Use pop-up menu. After that, choose the file, and then click on “Add.”
7. Reset your Mac’s Printing System – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
To reset your Mac’s printing system, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
Step 2: Click on “System Preferences.”
Step 3: Click on “Printers & Scanners.”
Step 4: Press down your keyboard’s “Control” key and click on the list in the screen’s left area.
Step 5: Select “Reset printing system.”
This action will delete all the printers and scanners that were previously added. Therefore, you will have to re-add your printers and scanners.
You can read this article: HP Printer Won’t Print [Proven Solutions] to learn how to solve other issues that might prevent your HP printer from printing.
8. Contact HP – HP Printer Won’t Print On Mac
If resetting your Mac’s printing system doesn’t resolve the problem and your HP printer won’t print, then you need to contact HP Customer Support for further assistance.
If your HP printer won’t print from Macbook Air, we recommend that you try the solutions we just shared to fix the problem.
