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Lights on the Printer are Blinking

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Support details

Introduction
Printer lights blink in certain patterns to tell you about specific problems.
Read this document until you see the pattern that your lights are making. The solution is below each pattern.
NOTE: There may be more than one reason why the printer lights are blinking, so you may see several solutions.
Blinking lights
PRINT CARTRIDGE lightsRESUME lightPOWER light
OffOffFlashing
Issue

The Power light is flashing.

Solution

This is not an error, the light stops flashing when the printer has received all data. The printer is preparing to print.
PRINT CARTRIDGE lightsRESUME lightPOWER light
OffFlashingOff
Issue

The Resume light is flashing and the printer will not print.

Solution one

The printer might be out of paper. Place paper in the In tray, and then press the Resume button.

Solution two

There might be a paper jam. Follow the instructions below to clear a paper jam.

  1. Press the Resume button on the front panel of the printer. If the paper jam does not clear, then go to the next step.
    1 - Power button and light
    2 - Print Cancel button
    3 - Resume button and light
    4 - Report Page button
    5 - Quiet mode button
    6 - Secure Easy Setup Button
    7 - Network light
    8 - Print cartridge status lights
    9 - Wireless status light
  2. Turn off the printer.
  3. Push the two latch handles on the rear access door of the printer toward each other, and then remove the door.
  4. Remove any paper that is inside the printer by pulling the paper out from the back of the printer.
    NOTE: If printing labels, verify that a label did not become detached from the label sheet while passing through the printer.
  5. Replace the rear access door securely.
  6. If the paper jam cannot be removed from the back of the printer, raise the printer cover, remove the paper jam from the front of the printer, and then lower the cover.
    CAUTION: Remove the paper jam carefully because it is possible to damage the printer when removing paper from the front of the printer.
  7. Turn on the printer, and then press the Resume button.
  8. Print the document again.


Solution three

Verify that the print cartridges are the correct print cartridges for the printer and are properly installed.

Solution four

The printer might be stalled. Follow the instructions below to correct a stalled printer.

  1. Press the Resume button.
  2. If the printer does not start printing again, raise the printer cover, and then disconnect the power cable from the back of the printer.
    CAUTION: First, check for any loose or broken parts in the printer. If you find loose or broken parts, click contact HP on this page to find ways contact a support representative. Do not continue with these instructions.
  3. If there are no loose or broken parts, check for and remove any obstacles, such as packing tape or materials, that prevent the print cartridges from moving back and forth.
  4. Make sure the print cartridges are installed securely in the print cartridge cradle.
  5. Make sure the tri-color print cartridge is installed in the left side of the cradle and the black or photo print cartridge is installed in the right side of the cradle.
  6. Check for and clear any paper jam.
  7. Lower the printer cover.
  8. Connect the power cable to the back of the printer, and then turn on the printer.
    • If the Resume light is not flashing, continue printing the document.
    • If the Resume light is flashing, press the Resume button. If the light still flashes, repeat steps 2-8.
PRINT CARTRIDGE lightsRESUME lightPOWER light
OnOffOff


or

Issue

One of the Print Cartridge status lights are on.

NOTE: The left status light represents the tri-color print cartridge, which is installed in the left side of the print cartridge cradle. The right status light represents the black or the photo print cartridge. Either of those print cartridges can be installed in the right side of the print cartridge cradle.


Solution one

The printer might be out of paper. Place paper in the In tray, and then press the Resume button.
PRINT CARTRIDGE lightsRESUME lightPOWER light
FlashingOffOff


or

Issue

One of the Print Cartridge status lights is flashing.

NOTE: The left status light represents the tri-color print cartridge, which is installed in the left side of the print cartridge cradle. The right status light represents the black or the photo print cartridge. Either of those print cartridges can be installed in the right side of the print cartridge cradle.


Solution one

Verify that the correct print cartridges are installed.

Solution two

If you were printing a borderless document when the light started flashing, follow the borderless printing guidelines.

  • Verify that the paper size that is specified in the Paper Size drop-down list on the Printing Shortcuts tab matches the size of the paper that is loaded in the In tray.
  • Select the appropriate paper type in the Paper Type drop-down list on the Printing Shortcuts tab.
  • If printing in grayscale, select Print in high quality grayscale on the Color Option drop-down list on the Printing Shortcuts tab.
  • Do not print borderless documents in ink-backup mode. Always have two print cartridges installed in the printer when printing borderless documents.


Solution three

  1. Raise the printer cover, remove the print cartridge on the right, and then lower the cover.
  2. Follow one of these steps:
    1. If the light is flashing: Open the printer cover, replace the print cartridge that you removed, and then remove the other print cartridge. Proceed to step 3.
    2. If the light is off: There is a problem with the print cartridge that you removed. Proceed to step 3.
  3. Manually clean the print cartridge by following these steps:
    You need the following items to clean the print cartridges.
    • Distilled water (tap water can contain contaminants that can damage the print cartridge)
    • Cotton swabs or other soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the print cartridge
    Be careful not to get ink on your hands or clothing as you clean.
    1. Open the printer cover.
    2. Wait until the print cartridge cradle moves to the right side of the printer and is idle and quiet.
    3. Remove the print cartridges and place them on a piece of paper, with the copper strips facing up.
      CAUTION: Do not leave the print cartridges outside the printer for more than 30 minutes.
    4. Lightly moisten a cotton swab with distilled water and squeeze any excess water from the swab.
    5. Wipe the print cartridge copper contacts with the cotton swab.
      CAUTION: Do not touch the print cartridge ink nozzles. Touching the ink nozzles will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.
      1 - Ink nozzles (do not touch)
      2 - Copper contacts
    6. Repeat this process until no ink residue or dust appears on the swab.
    7. Insert the print cartridges in the printer, and then close the printer cover.
  4. After cleaning the print cartridge, reinsert it into the printer. If the light continues to flash, replace the print cartridge.
PRINT CARTRIDGE lightsRESUME lightPOWER light
FlashingFlashingFlashing


or

Issue

All of the lights on the printer are flashing.

Solution one

  1. Press the Power button to turn off the printer, and then press the Power button to restart the printer. Proceed to step 2 if the lights continue to flash.
  2. Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
  3. Disconnect the printer power cord from the electrical outlet.
  4. Reconnect the printer power cord to the electrical outlet.
  5. Press the Power button to turn on the printer.


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