Printer won’t finish booting

[Barbara1003]

Hello,

My printer is stuck in the boot phase with the printer screen showing the HP logo and the status bar at about 99% complete. I have tried many of the recommendations posted online, but no luck - unplugging/replugging cord from printer and wall, holding power button for 60 seconds, checking for paper jams, and checking the seating of the toner cartridges. I also cleared the printer queue on my computer. I have read several posts with this same issue but have yet to find a successful resolution. Any help is appreciated.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Barbara1003

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I'm sorry to hear that your printer is stuck in the boot phase. This issue can be frustrating, especially after trying the usual steps like restarting and checking for jams. It seems like the printer is having trouble completing its initialization process, which could be due to a variety of causes. Let’s try a few more solutions to hopefully get it working again.

1. Perform a Hard Reset (Cold Reset)

Since the soft reset didn’t work, try doing a hard reset:

• Turn off the printer.
• Unplug the printer from the power outlet and wait for at least 60 seconds.
• While the printer is unplugged, hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This will help clear any residual power.
• After 60 seconds, plug the printer back in and turn it on.
• This process can help clear errors that may be preventing the printer from booting up.

2. Check for Firmware or Software Corruption

The booting issue could be related to a firmware or software corruption. You may need to update or reinstall the printer’s firmware:

• Firmware Update:
  • Visit the HP support website and check if there’s any firmware update available for your printer model.
  • If you can access the printer's control panel (even briefly), there may be an option to update the firmware directly from there.
• If you can’t access the printer’s control panel, and you have access to a computer:
  • Connect the printer via USB to a computer, if possible.
  • Use the HP Smart App or HP Print and Scan Doctor to check if you can access the printer and update its firmware.

3. Check for Paper or Cartridge Issues

Even though you've checked for paper jams and cartridge seating, it’s worth checking again, especially if the issue might be internal.

• Check for small paper bits inside the printer that might be stuck in hard-to-see areas.
• Inspect the toner cartridges to ensure they are seated correctly. Even a slightly misaligned cartridge could cause initialization problems.
• If the printer has a cartridge reset button (some models have this feature), try pressing it to reset the toner.

4. Disconnect Network Connections (If Wireless)

If your printer is trying to connect to the network or has network settings causing delays in the boot phase, disconnecting the network connection temporarily may help:

• For wireless printers: Disable the Wi-Fi temporarily by turning off the router or removing the printer from the network settings and see if it completes the booting process.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support