In this tutorial, we will show you how to install HPLIP on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. For those of you who didn’t know, HPLIP is a powerful software package developed by HP to provide comprehensive support for their printers and scanners on Linux systems. It includes drivers for printing, scanning, and faxing, as well as a handy toolbox for managing and troubleshooting your devices. By installing HPLIP on your Ubuntu 20.04 LTS system, you can unlock the full potential of your HP devices and enjoy a smooth, hassle-free experience.
This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of HP Linux Image and Printing on Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04, and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
Prerequisites
- A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu 20.04, 18.04, and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint or elementary OS.
- It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
- SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
- A
non-root sudo useror access to theroot user. We recommend acting as anon-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.
Install HPLIP on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa
Step 1. First, make sure that all your system packages are up-to-date by running the following apt commands in the terminal.
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade
Step 2. Installing HPLIP on Ubuntu 20.04.
You can download the latest version of HPLIP right now from the official website for your favorite GNU/Linux distribution:
wget https://nchc.dl.sourceforge.net/project/hplip/hplip/3.23.12/hplip-3.23.12.run
Next, make it executable:
chmod -R 755 hplip-3.23.12.run
Finally, run the command to start installing HPLIP:
./hplip-3.23.12.run
Follow the on-screen instructions, and provide the basic info to build the HPLIP on your system, once the setup is completed unplug and plug the printer and start the printing.
Step 3. Accessing HPLIP.
After installing HPLIP, you need to configure your HP printer and scanner. Run the following command in your terminal:
hp-setup
This command will launch the HP Device Manager, which will guide you through the process of adding and configuring your devices.
If you prefer a graphical user interface (GUI) for setting up your devices, you can use the HP Toolbox. To launch the HP Toolbox, search for it in your applications menu or run the following command in your terminal:
hp-toolbox
The HP Toolbox provides a user-friendly interface for managing your HP devices, allowing you to add new devices, configure settings, and troubleshoot issues.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed HPLIP. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing HP’s Linux Imaging and Printing software (HPLIP) on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official HPLIP website.
