[Solved] Mac detects HP printer drivers as malware

I heard from a reader that there may be problems with HP printers after updating to macOS 10.15.7. The Mac then recognizes the HP printer driver as malware and only throws warning messages and deletion requests. You can then no longer print with the HP printer. But how can the problem be solved? Do you have to buy a new printer? No, there is a very simple trick that you can use so that your print jobs on the Apple Mac lead to solid documents again;)

After updating to macOS 10.15.7: The Mac detects HP printer drivers as malware. Help is provided by downloading and reinstalling the printer driver from HP on the Apple Mac.
After updating to macOS 10.15.7: The Mac detects HP printer drivers as malware. Help is provided by downloading and reinstalling the printer driver from HP on the Apple Mac.

Printer driver for HP printers on macOS 10.15.7 reported as malware

A reader wrote the following to me after updating the current Mac operating system Catalina to version macOS 10.15.7:

Since I updated to the last Catalina version, the MacOS has identified components of the HP printer driver system as malware and asks for deletion in an endless loop. This also applies to newer printers. Is there a solution?

I did a bit of research and actually found a positive answer that is pretty simple at heart. It consists of reinstalling a printer driver, which has to be downloaded from the official HP website. This means that the necessary certificates come with the Mac so that it recognizes the software as trustworthy. This means that the printer software is no longer recognized as malware and you can print again.

HP Printer Essentials Printer Driver Download for macOS 10.15.7

Downloading the necessary driver called "HP Printer Essentials S 5.14.8.4" can be found with this link (direct download, starts automatically if necessary). I found clues to the problem and its solution in one, among other things Post by The Eclectic Light Company. In the meantime there is already an update after the certificate problem is supposed to be solved. 

So if you have had the problem described in the last few days, you can first try to print the necessary documents. Maybe it will work again. If not, you can still download the driver from the link given, reinstall it and then, with the newly installed certificates on the Mac, from a working driver for the HP printer benefit under macOS 10.15.7. Feel free to leave a comment with your experiences!

Did you like the article and did the instructions on the blog help you? Then I would be happy if you the blog via a Steady Membership would support.

Post a comment

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked

In the Sir Apfelot Blog you will find advice, instructions and reviews on Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Studio.