iMac no longer recognizes my printer

jrcallaway wrote:

-HP OfficeJet Pro 8720

That printer lists support for AirPrint.

Is that the printing path you are using here, or are you using HP vendor drivers?

Print wirelessly from your Mac to your printer - Apple Support

Is that printer running the 2105A version of firmware from 2021?

The printer firmware can apparently be updated from the control panel and (if you can get to it using Safari or another web browser) from the embedded web server. See page 28 here: https://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05050200.pdf

jrcallaway wrote:

-When I got my new Mac I transferred all my old Mac stuff/settings via the Apple setup software to the new Mac and the new Mac has worked just fine for close to a year. It still works fine but it can't find the printer when I try to add it.

Just to make sure I understand. Are you saying that your new Mac was never able to print to this printer?

If so, one thing you can try is to create a new user account on this Mac. Log out of your current user, and then, log back in with the new account. Try printing again. If successful, then we narrowed it down to your current account. If not then, as MrHoffman is alluding to, you need to verify if you are using AirPrint or the HP printer drivers to print. This can be verified with the printer's web server.

To get to this server:

1. Open a web browser and enter the printer's local IP address in the web address window.
2. Select the Network tab.
3. Select AirPrint > Status.

In my case my HP 6970 is configured on my M2 Pro Mac mini for both the HP drivers, and AirPrint (the default). I can switch between them if needed. Typically, I just use the AirPrint one. Note: You don't need to do this, I'm just giving you an example. AirPrint works over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.

Try resetting the new iMac's Printing System and then re-Add the HP Printer.

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem - Apple Support

Which model HP printer?

Just to rule anything simple out:

• Which exact model is your HP printer? Is it AirPrint capable?
• I'm assuming that both Macs and this printer are connected to the same wireless network and on the same local network subnet ... correct? That is, your local network is not configured for multiple VLANs.
• You have already used the printer's administrator panel to remove, and reconnect to the local wireless network successfully.
• On the new iMac did you use the same printer settings as you did with the old one?

If you tried loading the firmware update from the printer, it would appear there are printer, or network issues.

Can you provide some network configuration details? Do you have, for instance, more than one Wi-Fi router active, or a mixed wired and Wi-Fi network?