Can’t get HP printer to scan to shared folder

My client has an HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw. It can scan to a computer, with the scan triggered from its control panel.

To set up the scan destination you open the printer’s built-in web server and select the Scan tab:



The computer has a share:



which I can open from my Mac with the URL


The PC has Bonjour running on it.

When I click on the Save and Test button on the HP printer’s web page, it tries for a little bit and then comes up with this:


“Cannot find the remote server. Check server name or use IP Address to connect. Check that the remote computer is turned on.”

Why won’t this work? I haven’t tried the IP address, yet, but would prefer to not have to hard-code that.

I just confirmed that with the hard-coded IP address it works.

Why will that (\\192.168.xx.yy\), but \\RYANPC\ not, work?

Your network printer needs to have a method for resolving local hostnames. Which can include:

- printer supports a DNS server (typically from a network router/gateway running DHCP service, that can register local DNS names)
- printer supports Windows network discovery protocol (same way you find other PC's on your local network)
- printer supports Bonjour (Apple's network discovery protocol)
- printer has a local host table

When your printer has none of those options, then an IP address is the only option.