Can't get HP Colour Laser 150nw to work with Mac mini

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Level 1

14 points

Can't get HP Colour Laser 150nw to work with Mac mini

Hi. I realise from various forums that I'm not alone in experiencing difficulties getting my new HP Colour Laser 150nw to play nicely with my 2014 Mac mini running OS12.7, but I'm desperately in need of expert advice.

I have it connected via USB, and it shows up in the System Settings as connected by USB, and it appears to be installed with Driver 3.0. If I simply select "print" then it appears to work as expected then the printer emits a "click" then... nothing. It disappears from the print queue but nothing is printed. Occasionally, not always, I can get through to the printer webpage where it also appears to be connected to my wi-fi network but – and this is really strange – trying to print from the Mini via wi-fi makes the network disappear from the Mini! Also, trying to connect the Mini to the printer's wi-fi instead just leads to an infinite loop of asking for the password – which I know I'm inputting correctly – over, and over, and over...

Now, some good news (?) – the printer works perfectly well with my iPad if I connect the iPad to the printer's wi-fi. On a couple of occasions it has even worked from the Mini but whether that was via AirPrint or via USB I have no idea – each time it happened I thought that was that, only to be disappointed on the next attempt.

I've tried rebooting everything, I've checked firmware and software updates and am now totally stumped. Can anyone help with this please? Thanks in advance. 🤞

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Oct 20, 2023 4:20 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,533 points

Oct 20, 2023 6:18 AM in response to SaorAlba

Hello,

An HP Color Laser 150nw is listed in About AirPrint - Apple Support. This means that the model in question should be compatible with macOS 12 Monterey without the need for an additional driver, provided that the printer and the Mac computer are connected to the same network (Wi-Fi router).

Do not use USB in this case. Avoid a Wi-Fi direct (Mac to printer) connection as well.

If supported by the router, you can use WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) for a wireless printer connection to the Wi-Fi network.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06274333.pdf#G6.5749963

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06319126.pdf

AirPrint works with wireless (Wi-Fi) or wired (Ethernet) network connections, so you could choose to wire the printer to one of the LAN ports of the Wi-Fi router instead. An Ethernet connection may be more stable, and would avoid some of the difficulties related to the use of Wi-Fi.

The iPad would be connected to the Wi-Fi network provided by the router.

Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If necessary, if there is a problem with AirPrint, try a full power-cycle sequence (including the router):

Power off the Wi-Fi router, the HP printer, the Mac, the iPad, and all other devices/computers. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the HP printer. Wait a minute or two. Power on the Mac. Finally, power on the iPad and all other devices/computers.

Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 2

SaorAlba Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 23, 2023 1:26 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

Jan, thank you. I bought an Ethernet switch so I could connect both the printer and Mac to the router and now everything works as intended. As an aside, HP documentation is pathetic and HP support was less than helpful so your detailed explanation was the only thing that helped. Thank you.

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