hp-scan command not found

In this troubleshooting guide we learn how to fix hp-scan command not found error message

Introduction

When you run more command in linux terminal / console, you get the following error message

hp-scan: command not found

or when using sudo you get the following error message

sudo: hp-scan: command not found

Solutions to hp-scan: command not found

How To Fix hp-scan: command not found in Ubuntu / Debian / Kali Linux / Raspbian

In Ubuntu hp-scan is provided by hplip package.

hplip is:

The HP Linux Printing and Imaging System provides full support for printing on most HP SFP (single function peripheral) inkjets and many LaserJets, and for scanning, sending faxes and for photo-card access on most HP MFP (multi-function peripheral) printers.

HPLIP is composed of:

  • System services to handle communications with the printers
  • HP CUPS backend driver (hp:) with bi-directional communication with HP printers (provides printer status feedback to CUPS and enhanced HPIJS functionality such as 4-side full-bleed printing support)
  • HP CUPS backend driver for sending faxes (hpfax:)
  • hpcups CUPS Raster driver to turn rasterized input from the CUPS filter chain into the printer’s native format (PCL, LIDIL, …). (hpcups is shipped in a separate package)
  • HPIJS Ghostscript IJS driver to rasterize output from PostScript(tm) files or from any other input format supported by Ghostscript, and also for PostScript(tm) to fax conversion support (HPIJS is shipped in a separate package)
  • Command line utilities to perform printer maintenance, such as ink-level monitoring or pen cleaning and calibration
  • GUI and command line utility to download data from the photo card interfaces in MFP devices
  • GUI and command line utilities to interface with the fax functions
  • A GUI toolbox to access all these functions in a friendly way
  • HPAIO SANE backend (hpaio) for flatbed and Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) scanning using MFP devices

USB and JetDirect (network) devices are supported.

To fix this problem, we can install more using the command below.

sudo apt-get -y install hplip

This command might take some time to finish depending on your machine internet connection.

You can also use apt command to install hplip.

sudo apt -y install hplip

Or if you have aptitude installed you can use the following command.

sudo aptitude install hplip

Summary

In this tutorial we learn how to fix hp-scan command not found error in Ubuntu / Debian / Kali Linux or Raspbian distribution.