The HP DeskJet 2600 is an excellent entry-level All-in-One printer . It lets you print and scan without the hassle of connecting the printer to your computer via a cord. Also, the printing speed is quite decent for the price. But the lack of a touch screen can prove to be quite challenging for new owners.
Thankfully, the HP DeskJet 2600 has pretty nifty tricks up its sleeves when it comes to scanning documents efficiently. So, whether you want a physical copy or want to send the document to a phone or a computer, it can be accomplished effortlessly.
The best thing about it is once you place the document on the scanner the rest of the job can be handled seamlessly through your phone or PC.
In this post today, we will see two ways to get scanned copies easily on your phone and computer from your new HP DeskJet 2600 All-in-One printer.
Method 1: Scan Documents to Your Computer
Step 1 : Before we get down to the actual process, make sure you have the necessary drivers installed on your system. If you haven’t installed it yet, visit the link below to download it and install it like any other .exe file.
Download Drivers
After your PC extracts the files, you’ll be prompted to choose your connection options. I chose Wireless.
That will start the printer discovery mode. Once your PC discovers the printer, select it and click Next.
Step 2 : After the setup process completes, open Settings (Windows key + I) and search for Printers. Select Printer & scanners from the menu and click on the Add a printer or scanner button to well, add the new printer.
At this point, make sure that both the PC and the printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network . Once the scan is complete, the DeskJet 2600 printer will be visible on the menu.
As soon as you click on the Add Device button, you’ll see a Launch App window (or an Open Printer App button).
Step 3: Click on the button, and the HP Smart app will open right up. The key advantage of this app is it gives a visual representation of the ink level of the printer cartridges.
Apart from that, you’ll find a host of options like Print documents, Scan and Print Photos, among others.
Step 4 : Click on Scan, and you’ll see a variety of options on your screen. Here you can choose the Output Type (Color or Gray), Resolution (the highest being 1200dpi) and the Compression levels (Medium, High and Low).
After making changes, click on the Scan button at the lower-right corner to start the scan.
Step 5: Once the scan is complete, you drag the handles to make any alteration to the scanned document. Now, all you have to do is tap on Apply > Save, and ta-da! Say hello to your first scanned document on your new HP DeskJet 2600.
You can also attach additional pages to the same document by clicking on the Add Pages button at the upper-left corner.
Method 2. Scan Documents to Your Phone (iOS and Android)
The HP DeskJet 2600 also lets you send scanned copies of documents to your iPhone and Android. The setup process is simple and is as easy as a walk in the park.
Here also, the same rule applies. Both devices should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The HP Smart app makes it possible.
Download HP Smart for Android
Download HP Smart for iOS
Both the apps are almost similar in terms of features and settings. However, the iOS app has a slightly different interface and a few extra features.
Step 1 : Open the app and select the Scan to Email tab. iOS users can choose Scan.
Compared to the PC app, you won’t find features like choosing the DPI and the Compression levels. You do get to choose the paper size.
Step 2 : Now, all you have to do is tap on Scan, and the printer will start the job.
iOS users can tap on the big blue icon at the bottom ribbon. Once your system transfers the scanned copy, you can either choose to save a JPG or PDF copy directly or edit it further.
Step 3 : To edit the copy, tap on the Edit icon at the upper-right corner. iOS users can hit the Edit button. Once you’ve made all the changes, tap on the Save button.
Android users will find the file automatically saved to the HP Smart folder under Documents.
iOS users would need to explicitly tap on the Save to Files button on the Share Sheet and select the folder location manually.
Get the Most out of the HP DeskJet 2600 Printer
We live in a paperless world where nearly all of our transactions and transfers are digitized. However, as you might already know, this doesn’t hold true for all files and documents. Whether it’s a small receipt or a rental agreement, there are times when you need to scan a document, and a scanner is the most obvious solution.
So, the next time you end up in a situation like this, follow our guide, get the app and scan away.
Next up: Are you looking for CamScanner alternatives? The following post has some of the best options for you.
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- Access the print queue on your computer and manually clear any stuck print jobs that might be causing the issue.
- Ensure you have the latest printer drivers installed. If not, update them or reinstall the drivers to resolve compatibility issues.
- Use your computer’s built-in printer troubleshooter tool to detect and fix common printer problems.
Preliminary Fixes
- Check Printer Connection : You should first try power cycling both your computer and printer. Refreshing the connection between your devices may solve this problem much quicker than you had anticipated.
- Check Pages and Ink : If your printer has run out of pages or ink, you may receive the ‘documents are waiting’ error. You should refill the ink or add more pages to your printer for a smooth operation.
- Check your Printer Status : Ensure your printer’s status is not set to offline. This will make the printer undetectable for your computer. As a result, your PC won’t be able to communicate with the printer.
Fix 1: Run the Printer Troubleshooter
Step 1: Navigate to Settings . Then, open the System and select Troubleshooters .
Step 2: Select Other troubleshooter . Now, Run the printer troubleshooter from the following menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
If the troubleshooter cannot solve your problem, try restarting the Print Spooler service.
Fix 2: Restart the Print Spooler
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open a new Run window.
Step 2: Then, type services.msc and press Enter .
It opens the services menu.
Step 3: Scroll down to Print Spooler .
Step 4: Right-click on the service and select Stop .
The service should no longer be running now.
Step 5: Now, launch File Explorer and go to the following path.
C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers
Step 6: Delete the content of the folder. By doing that, you’ll delete the printing queue.
Note : Don’t delete the folder itself.
Step 7: Restart your computer.
Step 8: Go back to Print Spooler and restart the service.
Step 9: Set the Startup Type to Automatic .
If the steps above are too complicated, complete the same task from the Command Prompt menu.
Step 1: Launch the Command Prompt as admin.
Step 2: Run these commands and press Enter after each one.
net stop spooler
del /Q %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.*
net start spooler
Check if the error is gone. If this doesn’t resolve, check out the next fix.
Fix 3: Reinstall the Printer Drivers
If your print drivers got corrupted, are missing, or are running outdated drivers, you may not print your documents. That’s why you need to update your drivers. Or reinstall them if they get corrupted.
Step 1: Launch the Device Manager . Then, go to Print Queues and expand the list.
Step 2: Select Update driver and check if the problem is gone.
If it persists, select Uninstall device to remove your current print drivers. Restart your computer. Your device will automatically install the latest print drivers.
Check if your printer still says documents are waiting to be printed.
Fix 4: Remove and Add Your Printer
If nothing worked, maybe re-adding your printer to your computer will do the trick. It’s a handy way to fix the printer ‘documents waiting’ error.
Step 1: Head to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners menu.
Step 2: Select your preferred printer.
You can check the printer’s details. You can run the troubleshooter from the same menu too.
Step 3: Click Remove .
Now, go back and select Add device . Once Windows detects your printer, click Add device .
You may need to cancel documents waiting to print and try again.
If the printing error only appears while using Google Chrome , check our dedicated guide to troubleshoot it. Before you rush to the nearest store to print your documents and files, use the tricks above to fix the problem.
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A Windows Hello USB fingerprint reader can make the mundane task of logging in to your Windows PC an easy and convenient affair. If you want to save time, here are some of the best external fingerprint readers you can buy for your PC.
Arcanite USB Fingerprint Reader
Arcanite USB Fingerprint Reader
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The Arcanite fingerprint reader is small, compact and resembles the dongles for wireless mouse or keyboard. It plugs into a USB-A port and protrudes slightly with the scanner on top. The sensor is positioned at the top of the reader, so it’ll work best only on vertically oriented USB ports.
Registering the device with Windows Hello allows you to store up to ten fingerprints. So, if multiple users access your PC, each can log in using their biometrics. While the Arcanite fingerprint reader works straight out of the box, you may have to download the device driver from Arcanite’s website if prompted.
What We Like
- Small and tiny
- Affordable
- Stores up to 10 fingerprints
What We Don’t Like
TEC Mini Fingerprint Scanner
TEC Mini Fingerprint Scanner
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While Arcanite’s fingerprint reader should work fine for most people, it only unlocks your PC. TEC’s mini fingerprint, thanks to its proprietary software, goes one step ahead by allowing you to unlock locked files and folders.
The TEC fingerprint reader draws parallels to the one from Aracnite in the design department. It has a sensor on the top portion of the dongle for easy access. However, it has an ordinary build quality and may disintegrate after a few months. As such, we’d recommend against repeatedly plugging the dongle in and out of the USB port to extend the scanner’s life. On the upside, it’s affordable and won’t drain your pocket.
What We Like
- Small and portable
- Unlock files and folders
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Poor build quality
Yoidesu Fingerprint Reader
Yoidesu Fingerprint Reader
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Yoidesu’s offering comes with a side-mounted scanner, unlike the fingerprint readers from Arcanite and TEC. This design makes it a better choice for those who use a laptop over a PC. You can leave it plugged into a USB port on the side and use it like a built-in scanner.
Above all, it has a better build quality, thanks to the metal construction. At the same time, the Yoidesu fingerprint reader has a larger footprint compared to the devices above. At the same time, you can register up to ten fingerprints. Moreover, the scanner boasts snappy unlocking speeds, so you should be able to unlock your laptop in the blink of an eye.
What We Like
- Faster response time
- Excellent build quality
- Larger footprint
- Stores up to 10 fingerprints
What We Don’t Like
- N/A
Verifi P2000
Verifi P2000
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The Verifi P2000 is also compatible with some popular apps and password managers. So, if you use LastPass or 1Password, you can access all your credentials using just your fingerprint.
What We Like
- Reliable
- Works with apps and password managers
What We Don’t Like
- Works with older versions of Windows
Kensington VeriMark
Kensington VeriMark
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Kensington is synonymous with security. So, if you’re looking for a reliable, secure solution for Windows Hello, the VeriMark fingerprint reader is the best option. In fact, it’s being deployed in U.S. Federal Government institutions and organizations, and has some of the best acceptance rates for a fingerprint reader.
That said, it doesn’t work on a plug-and-play basis with Windows 11. As such, you may need to download the drivers manually. But, if you can get past this step, we highly recommend VeriMark for professional users who want to keep their accounts secure.
What We Like
- Reliable
- Able performer
- Practical design
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Not plug-and-play
A fingerprint reader is arguably more secure while a webcam is more convenient since you just have to look into it. You can pick either of them depending on your preference.
A long and difficult password can be harder to crack and might just be safer than using a fingerprint reader. But most of the time, a fingerprint reader is good enough since it’s both secure and convenient.
You can use Windows Hello on Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.
