My HP Envy 6500E Printer still does not print

featherfoot · January 4, 2026, 10:28pm

I am running Tumbleweed on one of 3 linux distributions on my system: openSUSE, Mint, and Fedora (KDE spin.) My HP 6500E printer works correctly on Mint and Fedora. It does not print on openSUSE: The printer seems to be trying to move the paper but it does not print. The print queue is empty after the motion stops.

I first reported this problem in August, 2025. At the time, I had the impression that the developer (Sauerland) was aware of the problem. Tumbleweed is still my preferred distribution but it is of limited use when printing is impossible.

Has there been any progress on resolving this problem? Can I provide any additional information?

deano_ferrari · January 4, 2026, 10:37pm

As a first step, could you please compare the printer driver and CUPS backend details from the openSUSE system and one of the working systems? In particular, the PPD and filter in use often make the difference here.

On Tumbleweed, please run egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/* and also include lpstat -t results. Do the same for the working system.

featherfoot · January 4, 2026, 10:50pm

Results from yast printer print test page errors:

W [04/Jan/2026:16:29:14 -0500] Printer drivers are deprecated and will stop working in a future version of CUPS. See https://github.com/OpenPrinting/cups/issues/103
W [04/Jan/2026:16:29:14 -0500] CreateProfile failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
W [04/Jan/2026:16:29:14 -0500] CreateProfile failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
W [04/Jan/2026:16:29:14 -0500] CreateDevice failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
W [04/Jan/2026:17:20:08 -0500] CreateProfile failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
W [04/Jan/2026:17:20:08 -0500] CreateProfile failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
W [04/Jan/2026:17:20:08 -0500] CreateDevice failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown:The name is not activatable
jc@

On Tumbleweed:

c@localhost:~$ sudo su
[sudo] password for jc: 
localhost:/home/jc # egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/*
*PCFileName: "hp-envy_4500_series.ppd"
*ModelName: "HP Envy 4500 Series"
*ShortNickName: "HP Envy 4500 Series hpijs"
*NickName: "HP Envy 4500 Series, hpcups 3.25.8"
*cupsModelNumber: 0
*cupsFilter: "application/vnd.cups-raster 0 hpcups"
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *OutputMode Photo
*UIConstraints: *OutputMode Photo *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel CMYGray *OutputMode Photo
*UIConstraints: *OutputMode Photo *ColorModel CMYGray
*UIConstraints: *PageSize PhotoL.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize PhotoL.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo3.5x5.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo3.5x5.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo4x6.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo4x6.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo4x6tab.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo4x6tab.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo10x15.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo10x15.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo10x15tab.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo10x15tab.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A6.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize A6.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Hagaki.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Hagaki.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo5x7.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo5x7.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo2L.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo2L.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Photo13x18.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Photo13x18.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A5.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize A5.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize 8x10.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize 8x10.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Letter.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize Letter.FB
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A4.FB *ColorModel KGray
*UIConstraints: *ColorModel KGray *PageSize A4.FB
*OpenUI *ColorModel/Output Mode: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *ColorModel
*DefaultColorModel: RGB
*ColorModel RGB/Color: "<</cupsColorSpace 17/cupsBitsPerColor 8/cupsRowStep 0>>setpagedevice"
*ColorModel CMYGray/High Quality Grayscale: "<</cupsColorSpace 1/cupsBitsPerColor 8/cupsRowStep 1>>setpagedevice"
*ColorModel KGray/Black Only Grayscale: "<</cupsColorSpace 1/cupsBitsPerColor 8/cupsRowStep 2>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *ColorModel
localhost:/home/jc #

and

localhost:/home/jc # lpstat -t
scheduler is running
no system default destination
device for HP_Envy_6500e: hp:/net/HP_Envy_6500e_series?ip=10.0.0.153
HP_Envy_6500e accepting requests since Sun 04 Jan 2026 05:41:43 PM EST
printer HP_Envy_6500e is idle.  enabled since Sun 04 Jan 2026 05:41:43 PM EST
localhost:/home/jc #

I will not get the results from Mint

featherfoot · January 4, 2026, 10:57pm

jc@bopper:~$ sudo su
[sudo] password for jc:        
root@bopper:/home/jc# egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/*
*PCFileName: "drvless.ppd"
*ModelName: "HP Printer"
*NickName: "HP Printer, driverless, 2.0.0"
*ShortNickName: "HP Printer"
*cupsFilter2: "image/urf image/urf 0 -"
*cupsFilter2: "image/jpeg image/jpeg 0 -"
*% ColorModel from print-color-mode-supported
*OpenUI *ColorModel/Print Color Mode: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *ColorModel
*ColorModel AutoGray/Auto Monochrome: ""
*ColorModel RGB/Color: ""
*ColorModel Gray/Monochrome: ""
*ColorModel ProcessGray/Process Monochrome: ""
*DefaultColorModel: RGB
*CloseUI: *ColorModel
root@bopper:/home/jc#

and

root@bopper:/home/jc# lpstat -t 
scheduler is running
system default destination: JCPrinter
device for JCPrinter: ipps://HP%20Envy%206500e%20series%20%5B513804%5D._ipps._tcp.local/
JCPrinter accepting requests since Sun 04 Jan 2026 04:16:56 PM EST
printer JCPrinter is idle.  enabled since Sun 04 Jan 2026 04:16:56 PM EST
root@bopper:/home/jc#

deano_ferrari · January 4, 2026, 10:58pm

The YaST output is irrelevant - not related to the print issue you’re encountering.

The PPD output confirms you have CUPS configured to use the HPLIP driver, which evidently has issues due to Python versioning.

In your last topic, linked here…

…it was evident that you did not provide the requested diagnostic command output that might have helped us help you with using the driverless option instead.

deano_ferrari · January 4, 2026, 10:59pm

featherfoot:

jc@bopper:~$ sudo su
[sudo] password for jc:        
root@bopper:/home/jc# egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/*
*PCFileName: "drvless.ppd"
*ModelName: "HP Printer"
*NickName: "HP Printer, driverless, 2.0.0"
*ShortNickName: "HP Printer"
*cupsFilter2: "image/urf image/urf 0 -"
*cupsFilter2: "image/jpeg image/jpeg 0 -"
*% ColorModel from print-color-mode-supported
*OpenUI *ColorModel/Print Color Mode: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *ColorModel
*ColorModel AutoGray/Auto Monochrome: ""
*ColorModel RGB/Color: ""
*ColorModel Gray/Monochrome: ""
*ColorModel ProcessGray/Process Monochrome: ""
*DefaultColorModel: RGB
*CloseUI: *ColorModel
root@bopper:/home/jc#

As you can see, you are using driverless printing with the working distro. You should do the same with TW. I can help you with that if required.

deano_ferrari · January 4, 2026, 11:13pm

featherfoot:

On Tumbleweed:

c@localhost:~$ sudo su
[sudo] password for jc: 
localhost:/home/jc # egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/*
*PCFileName: "hp-envy_4500_series.ppd"
*ModelName: "HP Envy 4500 Series"
*ShortNickName: "HP Envy 4500 Series hpijs"
*NickName: "HP Envy 4500 Series, hpcups 3.25.8"

Reading back through the output you provided, it looks like you had the incorrect model selected for your HP Envy 6500E printer. That would explain your description…

featherfoot · January 4, 2026, 11:32pm

I believe that HPlip provided the incorrect PPD file. I don’t think there is a PPD file for the printer.

I am not a printing expert. If you could help me with setting up driverless printing, that would be great.

deano_ferrari · January 4, 2026, 11:59pm

Remove the existing printer definition. You can do this via the CUPS web interface (using a browser) pointed at http://localhost:631/printers or YaST or
with sudo lpadmin -x HP_Envy_6500evia a terminal.

For automatic driverless printing, make sure that mdns is allowed through the firewall (if active). If in doubt share the current configuration…
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all

Run driverless and report back with the output. You should observe something like ipp://HP_Envy_6500e._ipp._tcp.local/ipp/print reported.

In general automatic (Avahi) discovery is sufficient for CUPS, but if you desire you can use the driverless output to make a persistent configuration with something like

sudo lpadmin -p HP_Envy_6500e -v "ipp://HP_Envy_6500e._ipp._tcp.local/ipp/print" -m everywhere -E

featherfoot · January 5, 2026, 2:20am

localhost:/home/jc # sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
public (default, active)
  target: default
  ingress-priority: 0
  egress-priority: 0
  icmp-block-inversion: no
  interfaces: enp4s0
  sources: 
  services: dhcpv6-client mdns
  ports: 
  protocols: 
  forward: yes
  masquerade: no
  forward-ports: 
  source-ports: 
  icmp-blocks: 
  rich rules: 
localhost:/home/jc # driverless
localhost:/home/jc #

My printer is located at 10.0.0.153. I don’t understand how to get it to show up.

Should the printer have an entry in /etc/hosts ?

featherfoot · January 5, 2026, 3:21am

I used lpadmin to create the print queue.
When I did that, driverless reports my printer.

ocalhost:/etc # driverless
ipps://HP%20Envy%206500e%20series%20%5B513804%5D._ipps._tcp.local/
localhost:/etc #

I was then able to use cups to create the printer. It found a driver label for HP_Envy_6599e driverless. When I tried to finish creating the printer, it could not locate the actual PPD file. (Apparently a driverless printer needs a driver!). I poked around and couldn’t find it either.

deano_ferrari · January 5, 2026, 3:32am

Do

sudo lpadmin -p HP_Envy_6500e -v "ipps://HP%20Envy%206500e%20series._ipps._tcp.local/" -m everywhere -E

The -m everywhere part tells CUPS to use the driverless / IPP Everywhere backend.

The ipps://… URI is exactly what the working Mint system is using.

deano_ferrari · January 5, 2026, 3:39am

No, Avahi will take care of hostname resolution.

opsusemaco · January 5, 2026, 4:06pm

Still strange that the hplip setup script doesn’t select the same PPD in mint and tumbleweed… maybe there is a reason why driverless is selected. (??)
I’ve had a look at the list of PPDs in the hplip package. There is one for “Envy 6000 series”, and one for “Envy 6400 series”, with identical contents except the name and ID obviously… here are the lines in these PPDs that identify the printers:

hp-envy_6000_series.ppd:*1284DeviceID: "MFG:HP;MDL:envy 6000 series;DES:envy 6000 series;"
hp-envy_6400_series.ppd:*1284DeviceID: "MFG:HP;MDL:envy 6400 series;DES:envy 6400 series;"

Out of curiosity, I would be tempted to use either of these 2 with your Envy 6500, and see if it does something.

deano_ferrari · January 5, 2026, 8:42pm

CUPS itself is evolving away from PPD-centric drivers toward driverless printing (IPP Everywhere / AirPrint) as the default. Modern network printers expose their capabilities directly over IPP, and CUPS uses that to configure queues that actually work without manual configuration required. HPLIP certainly remains as an option for those who require advanced printing features for such supported printers though (as with other vendor supported printers).

Some interesting reading around this:

https://www.msweet.org/pappl/

Yes, worth a shot if the OP wants to stay with using the HPLIP driver.

opsusemaco · January 5, 2026, 9:42pm

Very interesting… thank you!

featherfoot · January 5, 2026, 10:53pm

I tried to change the driver inside CUPS on a printer setting to the 6500e driverless entry. It failed saying it couldn’t find the driver. (Even though it was on the list of drivers available.)

I deleted the printer in CUPS and recreated it. This time there was no 6500e driver in the list, so I took a chance (based on comments here) and used the Envy 6400 driver. It worked!

The problem is solved but I don’t think creating a printer should be this hard.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

deano_ferrari · January 5, 2026, 10:54pm

Thanks for the update. Good to know that you have the correct model ppd now. As you can see the other distro is using driverless printing instead.