Ubuntu 18.04 doesn't see the HP scanner

Question

I have a HP 3630 all in one printer/scanner and it was working great on Ubuntu 16.04 with the HP Print manager. Now I did a clean and fresh install Ubuntu 18.04 and the printing work fine, but example Sane (or other scan software) can't find the device.

I have installed hplip 3.18.4 that I found on the HP website, but still nothing. Even to add a printer in the HP manager didn't work. In the WiFi I tried the WIFI-direct to connect with the printer and that works fine also, but the scan is not seen.

What to do to make scanning work on Ubuntu 18.04?

Solution 1

I have just finished a long install/uninstall session in order to solve similar scanning problem. I can not say this is the best approach but I can give a few points I hope this saves someone time.

• I have disabled cups auto adding of printers during this process, not sure this is important.

• I have installed an older version of HPLIP 3.17.11. Even if it says that is doesn't support Ubuntu 18.04, this version is working... at least for my printer.

• During installation, automatic is selected and I have opted out for HPLIP updates.

• After installation, I have installed hp-plugin with command

  hp-plugin -i 
  

• Scanner at this point started working if I start simple-scan as a root.

• Need for that was fixed by executing

  chmod 755 /var/lib/hp
  

For me that was all.

Solution 2

I had been using HP Deskjet 4535 MFP Scanning feature within Ubuntu 16.04. However after installing 18.04, it didn't worked, as mentioned by Tanama. (While I had fresh installed 18.04, my home directory was same as one I had used for 16.04.)

I verified that "hplip" package was installed during 18.04 stock installation, and tried simple-scan, sane-utils, hp-setup, hp-probe and so on. None of those attempts worked. Even Gimp -> Create -> xscanimage didn't helped.

Finally, following worked for me.

1. I installed hplip-gui package after going through this URL: https://websiteforstudents.com/installing-hp-printer-drivers-on-ubuntu-16-04-17-10-18-04-desktop/

2. Run Dash -> HPLIP Toolbox (HP Device Manager) and configured my device. I had used manual mode to detect device by explicitly providing static IP address I have assigned to my Wireless MFP. After that, use Actions tab within HP Device Manager, and select "Scan". It starts "simple-scan".

Solution 3

I had similar issue with Officejet 6700 All in One printer. After installing HPLIP and running "sudo apt install hplip-gui", issues are solved. Printing, scanning and fax are supported.

Solution 4

I just wanted to add that I had exactly the same experience (18.04 does not rcognize scanner HP3630). I installed simple scan in a minute and it works just fine

Solution 5

This worked for me in Ubuntu 21.04 and Ubuntu 21.10:

1. Install these packages:

   sudo apt install hplip hplip-gui libsane-hpaio
   

2. Run hp-setup

3. Choose "Network/Ethernet/Wireless", click "Show Advanced Options", and tick "Manual Discovery". Enter the IP address of the printer. (I found it couldn't find the printer automatically, but did add it once I entered the correct IP address.)

   

4. Click "Next" and finish the wizard.

It should now be possible to both print and scan.

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Comments

[Ryko]

I use simple scan to scan documents. Just run "sudo apt install simple-scan" without the quotes.

[Kalle Richter]

Don't provide information as image which can be text.

[Kalle Richter]

The commands hp-doctor and hp-setup might give you more information what's wrong.

[N0rbert]

Your AiO should work, it is fully supported by hplip.

[Tanama]

I agree the AiO should work, like he did on Ubuntu 19.04, but he doen't on Ububtu 18.04. I have tried simple scan also with the same result. No device founded.

[Mattia Scagliola]

Fresh install of hp lip 3.18.6, workaround form answers.launchpad.net/hplip/+question/485232 and today's Ubuntu update had solved my issue (I am not expert, do not know how it worked but now I can scan form my HP 1136 MFP)

[Tanama]

Thanks RMK, I did so. Now it works with a USB connection but doesn't work with WiFi. Also there are no errors now at start-up. So half solved. I wish I could remove the USB cable and use the printer for printing and scanning through WiFi only.

[colan]

Still works in 19.04.

[Daviz]

Thanks Ivan, the older version solved my problem with Ubuntu 19.04. I had tried hplip-3.18.12 and today hplip-3.19.8 but never got the scanner running and the hp tools couldn't find the printer. After a few hours trying random stuff i installed hplip-3.17.11 and everything worked out of the box. No manual steps required like you have done after installing HPLIP.