How to Remove / Disable Device Administrator & EWS Password on HP Color LaserJet M653

[PostalAnnex]

I want to disable (i.e. remove, or blank) the device password that I set in the EWS. I no longer want a device password. I cannot find a way to remove the password. I found an earlier manual that says from EWS device password settings, to just type in the current password in the "old password" field and leave the new field blank. That does not work, it makes me choose a minimum length password. How can I disable the password instead of just change it or reset it? I want no device password again and I know my current one.

I do not want to do a factory reset or any type of reset that would disable or remove my network settings as my office is already set up correctly. I just want to go back to having no device password (like it was at initial setup) instead of having a password.

It would be easier if I can do this through EWS, but I can go through the touchpad console instead if necessary.

[Repairatrooper]

If you have the password, you can set the password length to zero which will allow a blank password. If that does not work see below.

If you are concerned about settings, perform a backup first so you can restore if needed. Then you will need to enter the preboot menu and perform a partial clean. 

[PostalAnnex]

Thanks for the reply. Have you ever done either of those ideas? I'd like to know beforehand if the partial clean will indeed maintain all other settings except for password. I thought about that zero-length setting later, so will give that a try too next time.

[Repairatrooper]

You say all other settings, what other settings?  If you access control, user pins or 3rd party apps installed those will be reset or deleted.

The partial clean is supposed to leave the network settings intact and most times it does. However, I never leave something like that to chance as it only takes a minute or two to backup the settings. Cheap insurance in time, should the partial clean result in unexpected settings loss.

[PostalAnnex]

Here's what I had to do.

On the Security page of the EWS, I had to set the password minimum length to 0, and I had to uncheck the enforce password complexity option (length 0 was not sufficient and then gave errors about complexity). After that, I could go to the device password page, enter the password in Old, and leave the new password blank and it took off the password.