HP printer · Status lights
What the blinking lights on an HP printer mean
Sources checked · how we check
HP does not have one light code list. A DeskJet, a Smart Tank and a LaserJet Pro use different lights for different things, and the same pair of blinking lights can mean a jam on one and an overheating printer on another. Find your printer's line below and read only that table.
What this covers
Each table below comes from HP's blinking-lights document for that line, and names the models it covers. If your printer is not one of those models, HP publishes a separate document for it, and the meanings here should not be assumed to carry over.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800
Power light blinking fast
The ink cartridge door is open, or the printer is in an error state.
What to do: Close the cartridge door if it is open. If it is closed, try printing a document so the printer shows a message on your computer or phone, and follow it.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Error and Ink Level icons blinking, Ink Alert light on or blinking
At least one ink cartridge needs attention, or is faulty, missing, damaged or incompatible.
What to do: Check the cartridges are compatible, reseat them, clean the cartridge contacts and restart the printer. Replace a cartridge if that does not clear it.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Ink Level and Error icons and Resume light blinking, Ink Alert light on
At least one ink cartridge is incompatible, or the ink is low.
What to do: Make sure the cartridges are compatible and installed correctly, then replace any that are low or empty.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Error and Paper Error icons blinking, Resume light on
There is no paper in the input tray.
What to do: Load paper, slide the paper guide against the edge of the stack, then lower the output tray and extender.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
E1 or E2 on the display, Resume light blinking
The paper size set for the job does not match the paper loaded in the tray.
What to do: Load the right size paper, or change the paper size in the print settings.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
E3 or E4 on the display
The carriage or the paper is jammed.
What to do: Clear the jam. HP links separate articles for a carriage jam (E3) and a paper jam (E4).
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
E5 or E6 on the display
The scanner or the printer is in an error state.
What to do: Reset the printer: with it on, unplug the power cord from the printer and the wall, wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in, directly into a wall outlet.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Wireless light blinking, signal bars cycling
Wireless is on, but the printer cannot find a wireless signal.
What to do: Wait for it to connect. If the light keeps blinking, the problem is on the network side.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
All lights off, printer does not respond
The printer is off, or there is a problem with its power supply.
What to do: Plug it into a working wall outlet and turn it on. If it still does not start, try a different compatible power cord; if that fails, HP says the printer needs servicing.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100
Printhead icon blinking
A printhead is missing, installed incorrectly, still has its orange plug or tape on, or is incompatible or damaged. The left icon is the colour printhead and the right one is black.
What to do: Reinstall the printhead the icon points to, removing any orange plug or tape first, and check it is the right HP printhead for your printer. HP says not to open the printhead cover unless instructed.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
Ink icon blinking, Resume and Cancel lights on
One or more ink tanks are low on ink.
What to do: Refill the tank the icon points to.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
Document icon blinking, Resume and Cancel lights on
The printer has a print job but is out of paper.
What to do: Load paper in the input tray, then press Resume.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
Power light blinking
The printer is completing a task, such as a print, scan or copy job. It also blinks while the printer updates its firmware, with a racecourse animation on the display for 10 minutes or more.
What to do: Nothing, unless it is updating: HP warns that turning the printer off during a firmware update can permanently damage it.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
Power light blinking quickly
An access door is open, or the printer is in an error state.
What to do: Close the door, or follow the instructions in the printer software or the HP app.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
Blinking A on the display, Attention and Resume lights blinking
Printhead alignment failed.
What to do: Press a Copy button to rescan the alignment page, or Resume to print it again.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
E7 on the display
One or more ink tanks are out of ink.
What to do: Refill the empty tank from an ink bottle.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
E8 or E9 on the display
E8 is a fatal error; E9 is a firmware or update error.
What to do: Turn the printer off and on again. For E9, HP says to download the latest firmware if that does not fix it. If an E8 persists, contact HP.
Source: HP: Smart Tank printers — blinking lights and error codes
LaserJet Pro M14 to M17 (including the M15w)
Attention light blinking
The printer is in an error state. HP lists what the message on your computer will say: front door open, out of paper, a paper jam, toner missing, low or incompatible toner, or a paper size mismatch.
What to do: Read the message on your computer and fix that: close the toner door completely, load paper, clear the jam, or reseat or replace the toner cartridge.
Attention and Ready lights blinking together
The printer is too hot to continue printing.
What to do: Wait for it to cool down, then it will carry on.
Attention and Ready lights on, not blinking
The printer is in a fatal error state.
What to do: Reset it: turn it off, unplug it, wait 60 seconds and plug it straight into a wall outlet rather than a power strip. If the lights return, HP says to have it serviced.
Wireless light blinking
The printer is setting up a connection, or cannot find a wireless signal or connect to the network.
What to do: Wait a few minutes. If it is still blinking, reconnect the printer to your wireless network.
If none of these match your light
HP's light codes are specific to each product line: the same pair of blinking lights means different things on a DeskJet and a LaserJet Pro. If your printer is not one of the models named above, search HP's support site for your exact model number and the words "blinking lights" rather than assuming another line's code applies.
Source: HP: DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printers — blinking lights and error codes
Frequently asked questions
Why are the Attention and Ready lights blinking on my HP LaserJet?
On a LaserJet Pro M14 to M17, HP says both lights blinking together means the printer is too hot to continue. Let it cool down. If the two lights are on without blinking, that is a fatal error instead: reset the printer by unplugging it for 60 seconds.
Why is the power light blinking fast on my HP DeskJet?
On a DeskJet 2700, 4100 or 4800, HP says it means the ink cartridge door is open or the printer is in an error state. Close the door, or print a document to get an error message.
What is E1 or E2 on an HP printer?
On both the DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 and the Smart Tank printers, it means the paper size for the job does not match the paper in the tray. Load the right size or change the job's paper size.
Why is the printhead icon blinking on my HP Smart Tank?
A printhead is missing, not installed properly, still has its orange plug or tape on, or is the wrong one. Smart Tank printers use printheads and refillable tanks rather than ink cartridges, so cartridge advice does not apply.
Do HP blinking light codes mean the same thing on every model?
No. HP publishes separate blinking-light documents for each line, and the same lights can mean different things. Use the document for your own model number.