HP Printer Utility issues

Question

Level 2

178 points

HP Printer Utility issues

I have just upgraded to an M1 iMac and Big Sur, and am having issues with the HP Printer Utility for my Color LaserJet Pro M454dw. I'm not sure whether my query belongs here or in the HP forum, but I have already posted there without any replies.

While printing to this printer works fine. there are at least two issues with the printer utility:

Whenever I ask for toner supply levels, the utility crashes (quits). No other commands seem to do this.
Whenever I print, and sometimes when I don't, I get a big panel in the top centre of the screen (not normal notification position) telling me that one toner cartridge is low. While I certainly wanted to know that, I don't need to be told dozens of times a day. But I can't find a way to turn off this recurring message now that it has made its point.

The printer utility is version 5.46.0. Is this the latest version available, and if not where do I find an update? If it is current, does anybody have any thoughts about what might be causing these issues and how I can fix them?

Thanks,

Paul.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Jul 4, 2021 1:09 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,954 points

Jul 5, 2021 2:22 PM in response to Paul Fryer

According to this Apple document, About AirPrint - Apple Support, your printer is AirPrint capable. Check it's user manual on how to add it to your LAN. Then go to the System/Printers & Scanners preference pane and remove your printer from the left hand pane. Then add it back with AirPrint. No drivers necessary. You can then print from any app.

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Answer 2

karina184

Community Specialist

Jul 5, 2021 10:52 AM in response to Paul Fryer

Hello Paul Fryer!

Looks like you had some questions about how to get your HP printer working on your new M1 Mac. We want to help get that issue resolved! Reinstalling the drivers you are using for that printer is a great idea, here is an HP article for where to download the latest version: HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads.

Take care!

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Answer 3

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

178 points

Jul 6, 2021 7:36 AM in response to karina184

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.

But my problem wasn't that I couldn't print (because I could), but that the print utility was mis-behaving. I did try your suggestion of reloading divers, but got led astray by HP trying to get me interested in HP Smart instead - which I didn't want and the installation failed anyway.

I got a partial solution to my issue by following Old Toad's recommendation, which essentially identified that I shouldn't have been using that Print Utility anyway and getting proper access to the Embedded Web Server in the printer. However, I still have the repeated Low Toner message problem.

Paul.

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

215,954 points

Jul 6, 2021 1:23 PM in response to Paul Fryer

Take it out, rotate it a couple of times about its long axis and reinsert firmly into the printer. Then see if you still get the low toner warning.

As for the crashing, is there a newer HP Printer Utility available, I get the toner status via my browser. I get the iPV4 address from the info page that you can print from the printer and enter that into the URL window of a browser.

I don't have to use the printer utility. See if that can work for you.

FWIW: I use 3rd party refills for my HP Laser printer because it's so much cheaper and I see no difference. The OEM cartridge costs about $76 and a refurbished cartridge is only about $17 each. I won't use refurbished cartridges for inkjet printers but will for laser printers.

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Answer 5

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

178 points

Jul 6, 2021 2:50 PM in response to Old Toad

Shook the cartridge, no change. I don't have a problem with getting a low toner message once, it's just that I don't want the message coming every time I un-sleep the computer or print a page, or do several other things. Each time I get it, it overlays what I am doing, and I have to manually dismiss it.

The AirPrint procedure you suggested earlier now gives me a printer web page similar to yours, and I can see the toner levels there - if I think to go and look. I don't use the print utility, and so there are no more crashes.

I agree that HP cartridges are wickedly expensive. But I have had a couple of bad experiences with 3rd party ones in the past, including one that leaked toner all over the printer innards. I'm inclined to stay with HP, even though lifetime toner costs will exceed the cost of the printer.

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Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

215,954 points

Jul 6, 2021 8:31 AM in response to Paul Fryer

I sometimes get than when I use 3rd party toner cartridges with my HP LaserJet printer. Are you using 3rd party or OEG cartridges?

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Answer 7

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

178 points

Jul 6, 2021 7:30 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for that suggestion.

I did it, and now have access to the Embedded Web Server for the printer instead of the print utility, so the crashing/quitting problem I reported has gone.

But I am still getting the repeated notifications about low toner, so that must be a different cause. Any ideas?

Paul.

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