Can I really clean my printhead without the HP app working at all?

Yes, on most network-connected models — access your printer's IP address directly in a browser to reach its Embedded Web Server, then look for a Tools or Print Quality Toolbox section offering cleaning and diagnostic functions independent of any app.

Why does testing with a guest account help diagnose this?

It cleanly separates whether the problem is specific to your user profile — often a corrupted preference or cache file — versus something affecting the app installation or your Mac system more broadly.

Is losing app features a big deal if I switch to AirPrint instead?

For basic, reliable printing, no — AirPrint handles that well and is maintained directly by Apple. You'd lose some convenience features like in-app ink monitoring, but many of those same functions remain accessible through the printer's own web page regardless.

HP Utility Not Opening on Mac? Try This Workaround

Quick-Fix Summary

Check for macOS updates, since compatibility issues follow OS version mismatches closely.
Test with a new guest user account to isolate whether it's your user profile specifically.
Access maintenance tools directly through the printer's own web page — my uncommon tip, and a complete workaround for an app that won't open at all.
Reinstall using the correct driver path, not just the app store version.
Know when AirPrint alone is the more reliable path forward.

Fix 1: Check for macOS Updates

Click the Apple menu → About This Mac → Software Update, and install anything available. App compatibility issues frequently trail behind macOS version updates.

Fix 2: Test With a New Guest or Test User Account

Create a new user account on your Mac (Apple menu → System Settings → Users & Groups → add a new user), log into that account, and try opening the HP app or Utility from there.

Why this works: this is a clean, direct diagnostic split. If the app opens fine under a fresh user account, the problem is specific to something in your original user profile — often a corrupted preference file or cache — rather than anything wrong with the app installation itself.

Fix 3: Access Maintenance Tools Directly Through the Printer's Web Page (My Uncommon Tip)

Here's the workaround that solves the actual underlying need for a meaningful share of people searching for this problem, and it completely sidesteps the app rather than continuing to troubleshoot why it won't open.

Every network-connected HP printer runs its own built-in web interface — the Embedded Web Server (EWS) — reachable directly from any browser, with no app installation required at all. You can access most of the maintenance functions people typically open the HP Utility or app for directly through this page instead.

To reach it: find your printer's IP address (check its own display or control panel, or print a network configuration page), and type that IP address directly into Safari or any browser's address bar. This opens the printer's own web dashboard. From here, look for a Tools tab, or in some cases a View Printer Webpage option available directly within the printer's entry in System Settings → Printers & Scanners on your Mac. Inside, you'll typically find a Print Quality Toolbox or similar section, letting you run printhead cleaning cycles, check ink levels, and run diagnostic pages, all without the HP app or Utility ever needing to open successfully.

Why this works: the HP app and Utility are really just friendlier front-end interfaces layered on top of functionality the printer's own web server already provides directly. When that front-end app won't launch, you're not actually locked out of the underlying maintenance features — you're only locked out of one particular, convenient way of reaching them.

Fix 4: Reinstall Using the Correct Driver Path

If you want the app itself working rather than relying on the EWS workaround long-term, remove the app completely (drag it to Trash, and also check ~/Library/Application Support for a leftover HP folder to remove), restart your Mac, then reinstall using HP Easy Start from HP's official support site for your exact model, rather than only the App Store version.

Fix 5: Know When AirPrint Alone Is the More Reliable Path

If the app continues to fail regardless of what you try, and your printer supports AirPrint, you can add and use the printer through System Settings → Printers & Scanners using AirPrint directly, bypassing HP's software entirely for basic printing.