How To Fix HP Printer Not Working on Ubuntu 20.04

Learning how to install HPLIP on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or its previous stable edition of Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa is a wise step for Ubuntu users wishing to streamline their HP device administration. With the ease of your Linux environment, the HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) software gives your HP devices a plethora of features, including printing, scanning, and faxing.

An overview of the benefits that HPLIP offers is as follows:

Broad Device Compatibility: HPLIP is likely to work with your device as it is compatible with more than 3,000 HP printer models.

Complete Solution: Take use of functions like borderless and duplex printing, integrated print spooling, and automatic printer discovery.

Scan and Fax: HPLIP isn't limited to printing; on multifunction HP machines, it fully supports scanning and faxing capabilities.

Regular Updates: HP provides regular updates that guarantee your drivers are always up to date with the newest features and corrections.

User-Friendly Interface: HPLIP's graphical application, the HP Device Manager, simplifies and makes device management easy to use.

Community-driven: Being an open-source project, HPLIP is free and is constantly improved with feedback from the community.

Printer issues with HP printers on Ubuntu can be frustrating, but there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the problem:

Install HPLIP on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via DEFAULT APT

Check Connections: Ensure that your HP printer is properly connected to your Ubuntu system via USB cable or network connection.

Install HPLIP (HP Linux Imaging and Printing): HPLIP is a software package that provides support for HP printers on Linux systems. Check if it's installed on your system by running:

Check Printer Status: Use the hp-check command to check the status of your printer and its compatibility with HPLIP:

Follow any instructions or recommendations provided by hp-check.

Restart CUPS Service: Sometimes, restarting the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) service can resolve printer issues:

Configure Printer with CUPS: Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:631/. This is the CUPS web interface. Go to the Administration tab and click on Add Printer. Follow the prompts to add your HP printer.

Check Printer Drivers: Ensure that the correct drivers for your HP printer model are installed. You can usually find them on the HP website. Download the appropriate driver package and follow the installation instructions provided.

Check Printer Settings: Make sure the printer settings, such as paper size, print quality, and color settings, are configured correctly both in the printer properties and the print dialog of the application you're using.

Check for Firmware Updates: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your HP printer. Sometimes firmware updates can improve compatibility and performance.

Check for Error Messages: If you encounter any error messages when trying to print, take note of them as they can provide clues to what might be wrong. Search for these error messages online or consult the printer's manual for troubleshooting guidance.

Check for Community Support: Sometimes other users might have encountered similar issues with the same printer model on Ubuntu. Search online forums and communities for advice and solutions.

By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve most common printer issues with HP printers on Ubuntu. If you're still experiencing problems, don't hesitate to seek further assistance from HP support or Ubuntu forums.