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Introduction
The lights on the front of the product indicate the product status. These lights can be on, off, or blinking (flashing), depending on the status of the product. The Power light ( ), Resume light ( ), and Check Cartridge lights ( ) can all blink in distinct patterns to indicate the product status or potential error conditions.
Figure 1: Control panel with lights indicated
Illustration of the control panel with potential blinking lights
1 - Power light
2 - Resume light
3 - Check Cartridge lights
NOTE: This document describes the light patterns on your product as blinking or flashing lights. In this document, "flashing" means the same as "blinking."
Blinking Lights
The following sections describe the most common combinations of blinking lights, followed by solutions for each combination. Find the blinking-lights pattern you are experiencing, and then follow the steps to resolve the issue.
NOTE: There might be more than one solution for some blinking-lights patterns. After you find the pattern that matches your blinking-lights pattern, try each solution to resolve the issue.
For issues regarding cartridges, first check cartridge compatibility.
To check the cartridge compatibility for your product, go to HP SureSupply . To identify your cartridge in a language other than English, click the language link near the globe icon ( ) in the upper right corner of your browser.
Issue



Power light : Fast blinking

Resume light : Off

Check Cartridge lights : Off
Solution one: Wait

The product is processing a print job. Wait until the print job finishes.
Solution two: Close the cartridge door

Close the cartridge door, and then press the Resume button ( ).

Figure 2: Close the cartridge door
Image of the cartridge door closed.
Issue



Power light : On

Resume light : Off

Check Cartridge lights : Blinking
Solution one: Test and replace the faulty cartridge

This blinking-lights pattern indicates faulty cartridges. Follow these steps to test the cartridges, and then replace the faulty cartridge.

Step one: Test the cartridges

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. Wait until the product is idle and silent before proceeding.
  2. Open the cartridge door.
    The carriage moves to the center of the product. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before continuing.
    Figure 3: Open the cartridge door
    Image of opening the cartridge door.
  3. Lightly press down on the black cartridge to release it, and then pull the cartridge out to remove it from its slot.
    Figure 4: Remove the black cartridge
    Illustration of removing the black cartridge
    1 - Color cartridge
    2 - Black cartridge
  4. Close the cartridge door.
    • If the Check Cartridge lights continue blinking , replace the color cartridge.
    • If the Check Cartridge lights stop blinking , replace the black cartridge.


Step two: Replace the faulty cartridge

Follow these steps to replace the problem cartridge. These steps are only basic instructions for installing a new cartridge. If you prefer detailed steps, go to Replacing Cartridges for step-by-step instructions (c01665149) (in English).

  1. With the product on, remove the old cartridge.
  2. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging.
  3. Remove the pink pull-tab from the new cartridge.
    CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored electrical contacts or the ink nozzles on the print cartridge. Doing so can cause bad electrical connections, clogged ink nozzles, or poor print quality.
  4. Hold the cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the product, and then slide the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place. Make sure that the icon on the cartridge matches the icon on the slot.
    • Insert the tri-color cartridge in the slot on the left.
    • Insert the black cartridge in the slot on the right.
Issue



Power light : On

Resume light : Blinking

Check Cartridge lights : Off
Solution one: Load paper

If the product is out of paper, follow these steps to load paper.

  1. Pull out the paper tray extension.
    Figure 5: Pull out the paper tray extension
    Image of the paper tray extended.
  2. Flip up the paper stop at the end of the extension.
  3. Slide the paper-width guide all the way to the left.
  4. Load a stack of plain paper into the paper tray with the print-side down. Slide the stack of paper forward until it stops.
    Figure 6: Load paper
    Image of loaded paper.
  5. Slide the paper-width guide snugly against the paper.
  6. Press the Resume button ( ).
Solution two: Clear any paper jam

Follow these steps to clear any paper jam from the product.

Step one: Remove any loose paper

Remove any loose sheets of paper from the input tray and the output tray.

CAUTION: Do not remove jammed paper at this stage. Trying to clear jammed paper from the front of the product can damage the print mechanism.


Step two: Clear the jam from the back of the printer

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product.
  2. Remove the rear access door by pressing the handle to the right, and then pulling the door out.
    Figure 7: Remove the rear access door
    Image of removing the rear access door.
  3. Carefully remove any jammed paper from the back of the product.
  4. Insert the rear access door, and make sure that it attaches firmly.
    Figure 8: Insert the rear access door
    Image of inserting the rear access door.


Step three: Open the cartridge door and clear the jam

  1. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet and from the back of the product.
  2. Open the cartridge door.
    Figure 9: Open the cartridge door
    Image of the cartridge door opened.
  3. Gently remove any jammed paper.
    CAUTION: Remove the paper jam carefully. It is possible to damage the product when removing paper from the front.
  4. Make sure that no scraps of paper remain between the rollers.
  5. Close the cartridge door.
    Figure 10: Close the cartridge door
    Image of the cartridge door closed.
  6. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet and to the back of the product.
  7. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  8. Press the Resume button ( ).
Issue
Power light : Off

Resume light : Fast blinking

Check Cartridge lights : One or both fast blinking
Solution: Remove and reinsert the cartridges and check for carriage obstructions

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. Wait until the product is idle and silent before proceeding.
  2. Open the cartridge door.
    The carriage moves to the center of the product. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before continuing.
    Figure 11: Open the cartridge door
    Image of opening the cartridge door.
  3. Lightly press down on a cartridge to release it, and then pull the cartridge out to remove it from its slot.
  4. If the cartridge has a pink pull-tab covering the nozzles, pull the pink pull-tab to remove it.
    Figure 12: Remove the protective tape
    Illustration of removing the protective tape
    CAUTION: Do not touch the cartridge contacts or nozzles.
    Figure 13: Do not touch the contacts
    Illustration: Do not touch the cartridge contacts
  5. Hold the cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the product, and then insert the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place. Make sure that the icon on the cartridge matches the icon on the slot.
    Figure 14: Example of inserting the color cartridge
    Illustration of inserting the cartridge.
    • Insert the tri-color cartridge in the slot on the left.
    • Insert the black cartridge in the slot on the right.
    Figure 15: Color-coded cartridge slots
    Illustration of the cartridges and their slots.
  6. Repeat these steps to check the other cartridge.
  7. Check for and remove any obstructions in the carriage path (the area where the cartridges move from side to side inside the product). Obstructions might include pieces of paper, or left over packing material.
  8. Close the cartridge door.
    Figure 16: Close the cartridge door
    Illustration of closing the cartridge door.
  9. Press the Resume button ( ).
Solution two: Check cartridge compatibility

Follow these steps to check the cartridges to make sure they are compatible with your product.

  1. If the product is not already on, press the Power button ( ) to turn it on.
  2. Open the cartridge door. The carriage moves to the center of the product.
    Figure 17: Open the cartridge door
    Image of opening the cartridge door.
  3. Find the number on the label on the top of each cartridge.
    Figure 18: Number on cartridge label
    Illustration of cartridge numbers
    1 - Cartridge numbers
  4. Make a note of the cartridge number printed on the label of each cartridge, and then close the front access door.
  5. Review the following table for cartridge compatibility:
    Cartridge DescriptionAbbreviated Country/Region Zone*
    North and South America, Korea (Zone 1)Europe (Zone 2)Russia, Japan (Zone 3)China, India (Zone 4)
    Black cartridge (standard yield)HP 60HP 300HP 121HP 818
    Color cartridge (standard yield)HP 60HP 300XLHP 121XLHP 818XL
    Black cartridge (high yield)HP 60XLHP 300HP 121HP 818
    Color cartridge (high yield)HP 60XLHP 300XLHP 121XLHP 818XL


If you are using incompatible, refilled, or remanufactured cartridges, replace the cartridges with compatible, genuine HP supplies.
Solution three: Clear a carriage jam

These steps are only basic instructions for clearing a carriage jam. If you prefer detailed steps, go to The Carriage is Stuck (c01671713) (in English) for step-by-step instructions on clearing a carriage jam.

  1. Turn the product off and then on again.
  2. Clear any paper jam.
  3. Make sure the carriage moves freely.
  4. Remove and then reinstall the cartridges.
  5. Plug the product directly into a wall outlet.
  6. Turn the product off and unplug the power cord, wait 30 seconds, and then plug it back in and turn it back on.
    If these steps did not resolve the issue, try the step-by-step carriage-jam troubleshooting as at the beginning of these steps.
Issue



Power light : Fast blinking

Resume light : Fast blinking

Check Cartridge lights : Both fast blinking
Solution one: Reset the product

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product.
    NOTE: The product might not turn off after pressing the Power button. Continue to the next step regardless.
  2. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product.
  3. Disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet.
  4. Wait 60 seconds.
  5. Reconnect the power cord to the electrical outlet.
  6. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product.
  7. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
Solution two: Contact HP

If the reset did not resolve the issue, contact HP to troubleshoot a fatal error.
Issue
Power light : On

Resume light : Off

Check Cartridge lights : One or both are on
Solution: Replace the problem cartridge

This blinking-lights pattern indicates one or both cartridges are low on ink. Follow these steps to replace the cartridges when print quality becomes unacceptable.

NOTE: If the Color Check Cartridge light is on, replace the color cartridge. If the Black Check Cartridge light is on, replace the black cartridge. If both Check Cartridge lights are on, replace both cartridges.


These steps are only basic instructions for installing a new cartridge. If you prefer detailed steps, go to Replacing Cartridges (c01665149) (in English) for step-by-step instructions on replacing the cartridges.

  1. With the product on, remove the old cartridge.
  2. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging.
  3. Remove the pink pull-tab from the new cartridge.
    CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored electrical contacts or the ink nozzles on the print cartridge. Doing so can cause bad electrical connections, clogged ink nozzles, or poor print quality.
  4. Hold the cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the product, and then slide the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place. Make sure that the icon on the cartridge matches the icon on the slot.
    • Insert the tri-color cartridge in the slot on the left.
    • Insert the black cartridge in the slot on the right.
Workaround: Print in ink-backup mode (single-cartridge mode)

You can print with only one cartridge installed (ink-backup mode, also called single-cartridge mode). However, the product prints more slowly in this mode, and printouts might be of lesser quality. If you print with only the black cartridge, no color will print. If you print with only the color cartridge, no black ink will print.

  1. Remove the color cartridge.
  2. Continue to print as normal.
    NOTE: You might see a recurring message on your computer to advise of single-cartridge mode. The Attention light also continuously blinks in ink-backup mode. These symptoms recur until you install two working cartridges.


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