error: Failed to create /var/spool/cups/tmp/.hplip

Question

Whenever I try to print to an HP printer, I get a "Filter Failed" notice near the printer. "sudo service cups status" shows the following error message:

error: Failed to create /var/spool/cups/tmp/.hplip

How can I fix this?

EDIT:

$ sudo namei -l /var/spool/cups/tmp/.hplip

returns:

f: /var/spool/cups/tmp/.hplip
drwxr-xr-x root root /
drwxr-xr-x root root var
drwxr-xr-x root root spool
drwx--x--- root lp   cups
drwxrwx--T root lp   tmp
drwxr-xr-x lp   lp   .hplip

Answer 1

This is the solution that worked for me:

1. Reinstall hplip:

sudo apt remove hplip
sudo apt install hplip

2. Reinstall the printer from the command line (not from the Printers GUI):

hp-setup -i
n (=network printer)
d (=download driver)

3. Remove the old printer from the Printers GUI.

Answer 2

I know I am kind of late, but maybe it helps someone. Running:

sudo apt install printer-driver-escpr

solved the issue (got the same error message out of nowhere) for my Epson XP-415, under Ubuntu 20.04.

After installation the printer was added automatically (its in the same network) and I was able to print from PDF without any problems.