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When an HP printer won’t print, HP says the cause is almost always one of four things: the printer lost power or hit an error, it lost its connection, the job is stuck in the queue, or paper is jammed. HP’s own “Cannot print” guide starts with a reset and then asks a short series of questions to find which one it is. This page follows the same order and points you to the right fix for each answer, including the specific error messages HP lists.

Step 1: Reset the printer

HP’s first step for a printer that won’t print is a full power reset, because it clears most temporary errors:

• Remove the battery if your printer has a rechargeable one.
• Turn the printer off with the power button, or unplug the cord from the printer if it will not turn off.
• Unplug the cord from the wall and wait 60 seconds.
• Plug it directly into a wall outlet and into the printer, then turn the printer on.

This is not a factory reset and changes no settings. For the other kinds of reset, see how to reset an HP printer.

Step 2: Find out why the HP printer won’t print

Is the printer offline or disconnected?

A message or a blinking light can mean the printer is offline. HP’s order is: check the printer and network connections, run Diagnose & Fix in the HP app, and if that fails, remove and re-add the printer in the HP app. Our guide for an HP printer that is offline but connected to Wi-Fi walks through those checks, and the HP app guide shows where Diagnose & Fix is.

Is the job stuck in the print queue?

If you click Print and nothing happens at all, HP says the job is most likely waiting in the queue. Make sure the printer is not set to Use Printer Offline in Windows, clear the queue, then reset again or fix the connection. When Windows shows User Intervention Required instead, follow HP’s fixes for that message.

Is paper jammed?

A jam stops printing and shows a message. Open the doors and look inside; some printers also have access panels at the back or underneath. Remove any paper carefully, close every door and restart the printer. If you find no paper, HP says a restart can still clear the message, and it may take two or three power cycles. Our page on a paper jam message with no paper covers that case.

Does an error message appear?

An error on the printer or a blinking light blocks printing until it is fixed. HP links separate guides for these errors from its “Cannot print” page:

If your message is not in the list, HP suggests searching for “HP printer” plus the exact wording of the error.

It prints, but the pages are wrong

If the printer runs but black is missing or pages come out faint, that is a print quality problem rather than a printer that won’t print. Start with HP’s checks for missing black ink. If printing stopped right after an Instant Ink plan ended, see why cancelled Instant Ink cartridges stop working.

When Windows says the driver is missing

If Windows lists the printer with “Driver is unavailable”, no document will reach it. Our driver unavailable guide explains how to replace the driver, and the driver installation guide shows the full package method.

Still not printing?

If none of the steps above works, HP’s last step is to contact HP Support with your serial number at hand.

Sources

• HP Support: HP printers – Cannot print

hpdrivers.net is independent and not affiliated with HP Inc. The order of the checks follows HP’s guide; the explanations are ours.

To reset an HP printer you first have to decide which reset you need. HP describes three different ones: a simple power reset that clears a stuck state, a Wi-Fi reset that puts the printer back into setup mode, and a factory reset that returns every setting to its defaults. They are not interchangeable, and the button combinations differ by printer family. This guide follows HP’s own support documents and tells you which reset to try first and how to do each one on the common DeskJet, ENVY, Smart Tank, Ink Tank and LaserJet models.

1. Power reset (try this first)

The gentlest way to reset an HP printer is a power reset. HP puts it at the start of many troubleshooting guides. It clears temporary errors and keeps your settings:

• If the printer has a rechargeable battery, remove it.
• Turn the printer off with the power button. If it will not turn off, unplug the power cord from the printer.
• Unplug the cord from the power source and wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the cord straight into a wall outlet, not a power strip or surge protector, and into the printer, then turn the printer on.

If the printer was offline before the reset, our guide to an HP printer that is offline but connected to Wi-Fi covers the next checks.

2. Reset the Wi-Fi settings (Wi-Fi setup mode)

HP calls this restoring Wi-Fi setup mode. It returns the network settings to their defaults so the HP app or setup software can find the printer again. HP says the mode is enabled for two hours during first-time setup, and after you restore it you have two hours to add the printer in the app. HP recommends it when the printer is not found during setup or the connection is lost.

Printers with a touchscreen

Touch the Setup or Wireless icon, select Network setup or Settings, then Restore Network Settings, and confirm with Yes. Wait 60 seconds until the Wireless light blinks blue.

Printers with buttons

Your exact printer may use a slightly different sequence; HP keeps the full list in its document Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer. If the printer asks for a WPS PIN or a Wi-Fi Direct password while you reconnect, see where to find the HP printer PIN and passwords.

3. Factory reset: restore an HP printer to factory defaults

A factory reset returns all printer settings to their defaults. HP says it can help with setup issues, connection problems and error messages. Before you start, note one point from HP: restoring factory defaults does not remove the printer from your HP account and does not cancel an Instant Ink subscription. For a printer you are selling, donating or recycling, HP has a separate preparation guide.

From the HP app or the Embedded Web Server

1. Open the HP app and click your printer, then Advanced Settings. Or type the printer’s IP address into a browser to open the Embedded Web Server.
2. Click the Settings or System tab. If you are asked to log in, HP says to enter admin as the username (LaserJet only) and the PIN from the printer label, which is usually inside the cartridge access area or door.
3. Most printers: click Restore Factory Defaults (or Factory under Restore Defaults), then Yes. LaserJet printers: click Service, then Restore defaults, then OK.
4. The printer restarts by itself after about 20 seconds.

From a touchscreen

Touch Setup or Menu (on some models swipe down for the Dashboard first), then Tools, or Printer Maintenance and Restore, then Restore Factory Defaults and confirm. On the Smart Tank 790 and 7600 the path is Menu, Tools, Maintenance, Restore Settings.

With the control panel buttons

HP lists more families, including the LaserJet MFP M232-M237 with separate steps for flatbed and document-feeder models, in Restore factory defaults on your HP printer.

After you reset an HP printer

• After a Wi-Fi or factory reset, add the printer again in the HP app within the two-hour setup window. Our page on the HP app that replaced HP Smart explains the app.
• If you print over USB or prefer the full software, the HP driver installation guide shows how to reinstall it.
• A factory reset leaves your Instant Ink enrollment in place. If the printer stopped printing after an Instant Ink cancellation, a reset will not change that; see why that happens.

Sources

• HP Support: Restore factory defaults on your HP printer
• HP Support: Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer
• HP Support: HP printers – Paper Mismatch error (power reset steps)

hpdrivers.net is independent and not affiliated with HP Inc. Button sequences are taken from HP’s documents; if your printer behaves differently, follow the HP page for your exact model.

An HP printer not printing black, or printing it faint, usually comes down to the printhead, the cartridge or alignment, and HP tests them in that order. HP’s guide for the DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers lays out the sequence for missing black ink, wrong colors and other print quality problems. This article follows it and adds the one point people miss after installing a new cartridge: wait a few hours before you judge the result.

One limit first: HP wrote this guide for the DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers. Menus differ on other models, so use it as a map of what HP checks rather than a button-by-button guide for every printer.

Step 1: Clean the printhead from the HP app

Load plain white paper. Open the HP app, click your printer, and under Diagnostics or Tools click Print quality tools, then Clean printhead (or View all print quality tools, OK, then Clean Printhead). A test page prints. If the quality is acceptable you are done. If not, the app offers a second-level and third-level cleaning, which are more thorough and take a few extra minutes. HP says badly clogged printheads might need another cycle, and to wait at least 30 minutes before cleaning again.

Step 2: Clean the ink smears

In the HP app go to Settings, then Advanced Settings (or Settings, View All, Advanced Settings) and look for a Tools menu or Print Quality Toolbox. Click Clean from the Clean Smear tool. HP says this cleans the printhead contacts and can improve print quality issues.

Step 3: Check the cartridges if the HP printer is not printing black

• Genuine HP cartridges. HP says very low ink, non-HP cartridges and rough handling can all cause print quality problems, and that it cannot guarantee the quality of non-HP or refilled cartridges.
• Ink levels. Replace any low or empty cartridge.
• Right after installing a new cartridge. HP says rough handling during transport or installation can cause print quality problems, and to wait a few hours for the printer’s automatic servicing routine to finish before trying again. This can explain a “new cartridge, still no black” case.
• Backup mode. The printer can print with one cartridge if a replacement is not at hand. Remove the low or empty cartridge to continue. Depending on which one you remove, blacks are lighter or color prints come out in grayscale. Whether your cartridge number allows this is covered in our guide to printing with an empty cartridge.

Step 4: Check paper, print settings and the file

HP names plain paper with ColorLok technology for documents and HP Advanced Photo Paper for photos. Use clean, wrinkle-free paper, since wrinkled or curled sheets cause dark horizontal defects. Load the print side up for a rear load tray and down for a front load tray. In the program you print from, open File, Print, then Options, Printer Setup or Preferences (or the Paper Type/Quality or Media & Quality menu) and check the color, paper type, paper size and quality settings. A higher resolution photo or document also prints clearer.

Step 5: Align the printheads

Load plain white paper, open the HP app, click your printer, and under Print quality tools click Align printheads. An alignment page prints. On single-function printers you choose the alignment pattern on screen and click Done. If the page tells you to scan it, follow the instructions to finish.

When to stop

If nothing helps, HP says to service or replace the printer, and to keep a print sample that shows the problem, because the support agent may ask for it if a printer or cartridge is replaced under warranty. Check your warranty status first. If your cartridge is not recognized at all, see our guide to the “Use SETUP cartridges” error.

Questions people ask

Does cleaning the printhead use a lot of ink?

HP does not give an amount in this guide. It only says to wait at least 30 minutes between cleaning cycles, so avoid repeating the cleaning back to back.

Can I print in black with only the color cartridge?

On printers that allow single-cartridge mode, HP says colors print normally and black prints lighter than usual. Which printers allow it depends on the cartridge number.

Source: HP Support, HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers – No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues; HP Support, HP inkjet printers – Print with one or more empty ink cartridges.