Common HP Printer Errors, Causes, And Solutions

If you’re facing issues while printing with your HP printer, you’re not alone. Almost all brands’ printers show errors and HP is no exception. If your HP printer is showing any of these error messages, before calling a professional technician, please read the solution to try it out yourself.

Paper Jam

Paper jam is the most common issue that you can face while using any of your printing devices.

Causes

It can be caused due to any reason, your printing machine might be dirty, and you need to clean it. Or you might be using the wrong paper type. There might be an issue with the printer’s roller feed because of which you are unable to use the machine.

Solution

You should be cleaning your printing device periodically. Also, you must make sure to use the correct paper size and type. If you deal with paper jamming issues frequently, you should replace the roller feed, and this might be a difficult job depending on which model of the HP printer you are using. While removing a paper jam, make sure to always pull the paper in the direction of the paper path. Pulling it backward can damage your printing machine.

Small or All of the Printing on the Page is Faded

Sometimes, when you try to print any documents, the printing on the page gets faded. You might be thinking about what causes this issue and how you can solve it.

Causes

A faded print image might be the result of one of three conditions. Your printer might be getting low on the toner. Or you might have set the print density too low. The economode printing on your printer might be turned on because of which you might be facing the issue.

Solution

Following the last two settings, you can perform a printer self-test that will show what the current settings are on your device. And if the Economode is on, and you are noticing that the print is light, you need to turn off the mode and then set the print density higher. And if you see that the toner is low, you need to remove the cartridge and shake it to redistribute the toner more evenly.

Ghosting

Sometimes, the image prints properly, but a much lighter copy of the image prints elsewhere. Such a condition is called ghosting.

Causes

The following condition might occur due to a problem with the power outlet that is supplying power to your printing device. Ghosting can also be caused when the consumable parts of the printer (including the drum or imaging kit) get overused.

Solution

You must check the power outlet. Plug in a different printer and try to do any printing work to check if the same result occurs. The consumable parts of a printer are rated for a certain number of pages. And when these parts reach the end of their life, you will need to replace them to eliminate the issue.

Toner smears or does not stay on the paper?

Sometimes, the words and images come off the paper when a hand is run across them.

Causes

If you are wondering what causes this issue, there might be many reasons for it. The fuser assembly may be damaged or at the end of its life. Or the issue might occur because the toner cartridge may be defective and letting too much toner out at one time. Or the toner may have spilled in the printer.

Solution

The solution to treat this issue would be to replace the damaged fuser assembly. However, its replacement is usually not recommended because the fuser is a consumable printer part and is not worth the time or effort to fix. In the case of a black-and-white laser printer, you will have to replace the toner cartridge. And if you are an owner of a color laser printer, you will replace the cartridge only that is exhibiting the issue.

Printing machine displaying 50.4 error message

The error message 50.4 displayed on your HP printing device indicates that there is a problem with the power supply.

Causes and solution

The reason for the issue might be the connection of your printer to the UPS. You need to disconnect your printer from the UPS or disconnect it from a power strip, and then you will plug it directly into a wall outlet. Also, you should know that a laser printer should never be connected to a UPS. The UPS might be damaged by the surges of power required by the printer to keep the fuser assembly warm.

Unable to find a driver for a particular operating system

Not all printing devices have a driver for every operating system. And as new operating systems are now released, you need to download new drivers for your existing printer.

Causes and solution

You should go through the printer manual and find out what printers the drivers will emulate. However, not all of the functionality of the printer will be available. At least basic printing work can be done.

Printer is not using the expected tray to print

When your printing device is not using the expected paper tray to print your documents, there might be multiple causes for this.

Causes

When the printer application is set to the wrong paper tray or the paper sizes in the Control Panel do not match, you might face this problematic situation.

Solution

You can resolve the error by correcting the paper tray settings in the printer application. You need to go to the printer properties and find the tray selection source. And on your printing device, check if the paper sizes in the control panel match what is exactly in the paper tray.

What if your HP printer displays a 79 error?

The error 79 occurs when there is a problem with the network print server that services the printer.

Causes and solution

While troubleshooting a 79 error, you will first open the Printer folder from the Start menu on the print server. And make sure that there are no jobs pending. A 79 error also occurs when the printer add-on component fails, such as an MIO card or a RAM module. You should remove all the add-ons and then add them back to the printer one by one to find out which module is faulty.