Looking for Printer - MacOS High Sierra

Question

Level 1

10 points

Looking for Printer - MacOS High Sierra

Hello everyone... I am having a perplexing issue with printing. This has been occurring at least since Snow Leopard, and I've finally decided to post a question here for feedback.

Background/Topology:

I have a wireless network at my home, with an HP printer (HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 series) and an Epson printer (Workforce WF-7620). Both printers connect wirelessly, and both are assigned static IP addresses. Both printers are within 25 feet of my wireless router and both report excellent signal strength.

Issue:

On occasion (seemingly randomly) I attempt to print to one or both of my printers and the print jobs just sit in the queue. Inspection of the queue reveals a "Looking for Printer" message. This occurs both on my Macbook Pro and my iMac machines, both of which are up-to-date with the current build of High Sierra. Rebooting the printer does not resolve the issue. Rebooting my wireless router does not resolve the issue. Rebooting the Mac having the issue seldom resolves the issue. The only reliable method for resolving the issue appears to be opening the printer's status page (webpage); this seems to "reset" the printing system and restore proper communication with the printer (for a while at least).

I have already reset the entire printing system on both Macs and reinstalled both printers; this did not resolve the issue.

I have just installed a second instance of the Epson printer, and forced the queue to be IP-based (instead of the default, Bonjour or AirPrint options) to see if this will "fix" the issue. I will update this thread with my observations with this experiment after it's been in place for a while.

Any comments or suggestions anyone can or wants to offer are welcome!

macOS High Sierra (10.13.4)

Posted on May 4, 2018 5:57 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

RobertHumes Author

Level 1

10 points

May 31, 2018 3:56 PM in response to RobertHumes

OK everyone who might be following this post, or might be having a similar issue... Here is an update about a month after my initial posting.

As detailed in my original posting, I created a second instance of my Epson WF-7620 printer using its reserved IP Address and creating an "IP" printer instead of the default "Bonjour Multifunction" printer type.

I have continued to have issues when printing to the "Bonjour Multifunction" installed printer, but have not had any printing issues or delays when printing to the "IP" instance of the printer. So... in short, the "IP" version of the printer appears to have resolved the issue.

For additional background information, I have had this issue with a Netgear wireless router, a LinkSys wireless router, as well as my current Ubiquiti Networks Amplifi HD wireless router system.

Reply

Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

157,770 points

May 5, 2018 8:46 AM in response to RobertHumes

You already did everything reasonable to isolate the problem; in fact you exhausted nearly every potential cause. The only comment I have is to use AirPrint to the extent possible, since it is the only method Apple will unequivocally stand behind and support. If AirPrint doesn't result in 100% reliability, Apple would refer you to both the printer and wireless router's respective manufacturers for the possibility of firmware updates that could resolve the problems.

The fact the problem has persisted since Snow Leopard strongly suggests an underlying cause beyond your Macs, and installing new (non-AirPrint) printer queues isn't likely to help. Since it involves multiple Macs and multiple printers, the only remaining component common to all your devices—and most likely to be responsible—is the router.

A static IP address is a very good idea. If it should occur again, determine if you can ping the printers. Use Terminal or Network Utility. Most likely, you will get either "request timeout" or "no route to host". Each one suggests different causes, so report your result.

Needless to say, if you are using any non-Apple "anti-virus", "cleaning", or "Internet security" junk, anything at all in that broad category of useless garbage, don't. A lot of things won't work if you do.

Reply

Answer 3

RobertHumes Author

Level 1

10 points

May 5, 2018 8:56 AM in response to John Galt

John,

Thank You for your response.

I would agree that, based on my experiences, the printers and/or the network itself would be the indicated cause of the issue. However, I have had this issue with a previous wireless router, which I replaced with a more "commercial" Ubiquiti Networks wireless networking system. Both printers are current on BIOS/Firmware updates, as is the wireless network itself. Further, Windows devices I have on the same network (WinXP, Win7, and Win10) do not experience the same printing issue.

I do not have any non-Apple security or "cleaning" software on either of my MacOS devices... I concur with your feelings on those types of software (in general) create more issues than they resolve.

Again, a huge Thank You for your willingness to take the time to reply to my post. I will try a simply "ping" of the printer(s) the next time I am unable to print using the "Bonjour" connected printer queues. Hopefully a simply "ping" or the "IP-based" printer I have installed will resolve the issue. It has not been enough time for me to postulate if this attempt will be successful... I will be posting my results once I am more confident this attempt has (or has not) resolved the issue.

Reply

Answer 4

May 14, 2018 9:37 PM in response to RobertHumes

Robert...did you fix it? I have had the same problem. My Epson Workforce 520 worked fine off my Mac running OS 10.11 until suddenly it would print one document or one "test page" and then couldn't find the printer next time. The printer works fine off my Windows machine. It shows "Connected" and "Ready" but when I send a second job or even send another test page it starts by saying "Printing" then "Looking for Printer" and eventually shows "Printer not connected." I've tried reinstalling the Epson drivers, rebooting the printer, the Mac, the router....but all the same results. I've tried resetting the printers (deleting them all and reinstalling only the Epson). I don't know how to "ping" the printer, but will be curious to see if you have solved your problem.

This is so frustrating...especially since I am basically a Windows user and have no clue why something this simple should be so hard.

Elizabeth/Jim

Reply

Answer 5

May 14, 2018 9:39 PM in response to John Galt

John, I also thank you for your response even though it hasn't helped me solve the problem. You suggest it may be the router, but why would the printer work perfectly every time from all my Windows devices? I don't know how to "ping" the printer but will wait to hear if Robert can solve the issue with that.

Elizabeth/Jim

Reply

Looking for Printer - MacOS High Sierra

Similar questions