Can’t connect HP Printer to MacBook Air

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Level 1

9 points

Can’t connect HP Printer to MacBook Air

I just bought a brand new MacBook Air and a brand new HP DeskJet 3700 series printer for my daughter to use at college. We got the printer to connect to the MacBook wirelessly at home, but once we moved it to her dorm room, it no longer works. We contacted HP support and they said the printer will not work wirelessly over the dorm’s unsecured network. I got a USB to USB-C adapter and hard-wired the two together and it still wouldn’t work. HP Support then said it was because the port on the laptop is 3.0 and the cable is 2.0. So how does one print, either wirelessly or hard-wired, from a MacBook Air to an HP printer??

Posted on Aug 22, 2019 6:57 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dwb

Level 7

33,232 points

Aug 23, 2019 7:46 AM in response to JenifrMishL

Open System Preferences and select Printer & Scanners. Right click on the window pane that has the printer list. Yes, you want to reset the printer system. You'll be asked for the admin password (that should be the password for the account your daughter uses). Enter it. This will delete the printer settings and reset the printer system.

Connect the printer with the cable - yes, USB 3 is backward compatible with USB 2. I'm using an older printer with my newer computer. Make sure the printer is on. Now click on the + symbol to add a printer. If the computer doesn't see the printer probably the cable is defective or you need to do an SMC set. Here's a link for that: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

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Answer 2

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Aug 22, 2019 8:00 PM in response to JenifrMishL

Does here room have have an ethernet plug? Could buy your own router. Plug router into eithernet port and run a room network. Might be a mess if every room has their own router. Seems like an odd restriction. Could try to return it since it doesn't meet your needs.

HP Support then said it was because the port on the laptop is 3.0 and the cable is 2.0.

So? Usb 3.0 is backward compatible with usb 2.0.

Better call them back. web site says it has 2.0 port.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-deskjet-3700-all-in-one-printer-series/8954253/document/c05046448

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Answer 3

JenifrMishL Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 22, 2019 8:38 PM in response to rccharles

Yes the room has an Ethernet port (and I have an Ethernet cable and Ethernet to USB-C adapter for the MacBook) but the college does not allow personal routers, so that is out.

Can’t return printer since it’s past the store’s return policy time limit.

Re: USB 2.0 vs. 3.0 backwards compatibility — that’s what I thought. I don’t think the support tech knew what she was talking about.

We just can’t get the printer to work either wirelessly or connected via USB cable. It’s becoming very frustrating.

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Can’t connect HP Printer to MacBook Air

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