HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw – "Resend Upgrade" Error After Firmware Update

[DawidB89]

Hello HP Support Team,

I’m experiencing a persistent issue with my HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw printer. After attempting a firmware update via USB, the printer now displays the error message: "Resend Upgrade" on the screen.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Downloaded and installed the latest firmware from HP’s official website.
• Performed a hard reset (power cycle).
• Attempted to reinstall the firmware using both the HP Firmware Utility and a USB thumb drive.
• Disabled IPv6 in the printer’s network settings.

Unfortunately, none of these steps resolved the issue. The printer remains stuck on the "Resend Upgrade" error screen.

Could you please provide instructions for performing a semi-full reset or service-level reset for this model? I understand this may require private messaging due to the nature of the reset process.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Best regards,

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @DawidB89 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I'm truly sorry you're facing this frustrating situation—seeing a "Resend Upgrade" message persist after multiple recovery attempts can feel defeating, especially when you've followed all the right steps. Let's walk through a few deeper recovery options that may help restore your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw.

 

What the "Resend Upgrade" Error Means

This message typically appears when the firmware update process was interrupted or failed to complete. The printer is now stuck in a recovery mode, awaiting a valid firmware image to be resent.

 

Step-by-Step Recovery Options

1. Use HP’s Official Recovery Guide

HP provides a dedicated support article for this exact error. It outlines how to resend the firmware and recover the printer:

• HP Color LaserJet Pro – “Resend Upgrade” Error Recovery

This guide includes:

• USB firmware recovery steps
• Compatible firmware versions
• Troubleshooting tips for USB thumb drive formatting and file placement

 

2. Reformat USB Drive and Retry Firmware

Sometimes the USB drive format or file structure causes the firmware to be unreadable.

• Use a USB 2.0 drive, 16GB or smaller.
• Format it to FAT32 (not exFAT or NTFS).
• Place the firmware .ful file directly in the root directory (not inside a folder).
• Insert the USB into the printer’s USB port and power it on.

If the printer recognizes the file, it should begin flashing the firmware automatically.

 

3. Try a Different Firmware Version

If the latest firmware fails, try an earlier stable version:

• HP M281fdw Firmware – 20200612 (sp110500.exe)

This version has been known to work reliably across various setups. Extract the .ful file and follow the USB recovery steps again.

 

4. Reset 

Accessing the semi-full reset requires precise timing and button combinations:

• Power off the printer.
• Press and hold Back + Cancel buttons simultaneously.
• While holding, power on the printer.
• Continue holding for 10–15 seconds until the display changes or the printer reboots.

This may trigger a service-level reset that clears corrupted firmware states. If successful, you’ll need to reconfigure network and print settings afterward.

You’ve already done a commendable job trying multiple recovery paths. Let me know how the recovery goes—I’m here to help you get back to smooth, uninterrupted printing.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[DawidB89]

Hi Hawks_Eye,
Thank you for your detailed response and for trying to help me resolve the issue with my HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw.
Unfortunately, none of the suggested recovery methods worked in my case:

1. I followed the official HP recovery guide step-by-step, but the printer did not respond to the firmware file on the USB drive.
2. I reformatted the USB drive to FAT32, used a 16GB USB 2.0 stick, and placed the .ful file in the root directory as instructed—still no reaction from the printer.
3. I also tried using the older firmware version (20200612), but the result was the same: the printer remains stuck on the "Resend Upgrade" screen.
4. Regarding the semi-full reset method, I’m unable to perform it because my printer does not have a "Cancel" button. The only physical buttons available are:

• Back
• Home
• Question Mark

Due to this limitation, I cannot proceed with the button combination described in step 4.
I would appreciate any further suggestions or alternative recovery steps you might have. Thanks again for your support!
Best regards,

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for all your efforts and patience.

Not to worry I will help you to get a resolution to resolve the issue.

We need to perform a reset to restore the printer back to its original settings.

The reset instructions are specific to your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may brick the device. 

I've sent you a private message with reset instructions, follow the reset instruction to perform a full reset and re-initialize the printer. 

To access it, click the private message icon in the upper-right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your name.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[DawidB89]

Thank you again for your support and for providing the reset instructions.
Unfortunately, I’ve followed the steps as described, but the issue still persists. The reset did not resolve the problem.
Please let me know what the next steps are or if there’s anything else I can try.
Best regards,

[Hawks_Eye]

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

It looks like we may have to raise a service order for the same. 
 

These requests are best addressed over the phone with our dedicated support team for your region. 

I'm sending you a private message to guide you on the next steps.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye 

[DawidB89]

Thank you for your message and for the time spent during the troubleshooting process.

Following my phone conversation with your support team, I was informed that the only suggested solution is to purchase a new printer. I must express my disappointment with this outcome, especially considering that the issue was not caused by any misuse on my part, but occurred immediately after an automatic HP firmware update.

It is extremely discouraging to be advised to buy a new device from the same brand that caused the malfunction through its own software update. This experience has significantly impacted my trust in HP products and services, and I am unlikely to consider purchasing from HP again in the future.

I hope you understand the frustration this situation has caused. I would appreciate it if this feedback could be escalated internally, as I believe customers deserve better support when issues arise due to manufacturer updates.

Best regards,