The password/pin of a new laserjet pro mfp 4102fdn

[fbb17]

Hi all,
there have been several postings about the UN/PW/PIN setting of new printers, but somehow for me they don't work. Whenever I open a webpage connecting to the printer I get the reply 'A custom printer password has been set. Enter the password ...' I tried to enter 'admin', and '12345678' which are shown after opening the cartridge door (right-hand side), and '2Z623F' (using capital letters) above the serial number (left-hand side cartridge door). It's unclear how to retrieve of modify  the required credentials. I'd appreciate any help solving this issue. It's also annoying that those credentials are required: there's no access to my printer from outside of my local area network, so if I can completely switch off the credentials then I'd love to learn how that can be realized.

Thanks for any help you might provide!

[BeemerBiker]

Watch the reset video. After resetting, you generally have 2 hours to complete the setup. Decide if you want to connect the printer to the router or to print directly to the printer and bypass the router.

Many HP and other OEM printers have problems with the router when the router has two bands and both bands have the same name (SSID). Log into the modem and rename one of the bands. Alternately, contact your ISP and have them rename a band.

Or simply use Wi-Fi direct.

If English is not your native language or if you wish to get additional information not covered below, then use the HP and Microsoft support assistants. The latest HPSA supports 36 languages and can be downloaded here. Microsoft's AI assistant is in the latest Windows 10 and 11 releases and there are instructions here on how to enable the AI. Microsoft's AI assistant (Copilot) has a microphone button and supports natural language processing.

You may need to reset your printer.

Disconnecting the USB cable may still leave the printer in the wired or Wi-Fi mode. Connecting an ethernet cable may still leave the printer in Wi-Fi mode. The Wi-Fi reset is used to put Wi-Fi printers into setup mode. Some printers have a semi-reset, a full reset and a factory reset. Please refer to the user manual to find the difference. Some resets are simple and others require a video to understand. Factory resets cannot be revealed in this forum. To do a factory reset of your printer, you must contact HP.

Click here for world-wide contact info

Wi-Fi reset instructions and videos (if any) are shown below. Generally you have 2 hours to connect your printer after performing the Wi-Fi reset. Note that a reset video may show a slightly different model than yours.

Microsoft's Copilot may have more recent videos.
Watch this video to see how to reset your printer: 4102.
The steps below are Wi-Fi only and do not perform a factory reset.
Microsoft's Copilot may provide alternate solutions.

1. Go to the Home screen
2. Open the Setup menu
3. Navigate to Printer Maintenance
4. Go to Restore
5. Select Restore Factory Defaults
6. Press OK
7. The printer will restart automatically

Wi-Fi connection

Ideally, your Wi-Fi printer should connect to the modem or router. If your network has multiple boosters / repeaters, it is possible the printer may connect randomly to any of the units. The router needs to provide the same IP address on every connection. This rarely happens with random connects. An alternate Wi-Fi connection is Wi-Fi direct. Your laptop or smartphone prints directly to the printer and does not go through the router.

This video shows how to connect to the router: 4102
Wi-Fi Direct can be used to avoid configuring the router. Watch this: 4102
Wi-Fi Direct is explained on page 49 of the User Manual, this Wi-Fi setup avoids configuring the router.

Software

HP updates software periodically. Downloads shown below may be old. You should always visit the Software and Download page to look for new releases. You may need to select an operating system (OS) first. If windows 11 is missing then use 10. You can go as far back as Windows 7, 64bit to get missing drivers. After selecting the OS click the blue Open all button to view all downloads.

Full function printer drivers can be downloaded here: 4102
Full function software for scanning can be downloaded here: 4102
You can find all of the software here: 4102. You should select the OS and then look for the phrase "Open All" and click that. Drivers from Windows 7 and up are usually compatible with the latest Windows OS.

Documents

All documents are available at the below HP site. The user and reference manuals show how to get status reports and analyze error indicators on printer that have no control panel.

All HP manuals are here: 4102

Support Videos - Parts - Disassembly

HP has a YouTube site and there are a number of video in English and other languages. Typically unboxing, clearing paper jams, and cartridge problems. You may also find instructional disassembly videos from other users.

Parts, if any available, can be found here 4102. Use your serial number for more extensive information.
Disassembly is shown in this video: 4102
Printer problems could be cleared by one or more of these HP YouTube videos 4102

Printer Reference

One or more printer reference is listed below. Typically your printer may be part of a series and use the same software and manual. The exact spec may be different.

Specifications for your system: 4102

4101 4102 4104

Let me know if you have a flex system (Wi-Fi boosters or repeaters) as the setup is much more complicated for routers.

[fbb17]

Thank you for your extensive reply. However, I don't think it solves the issue. Your reply appears to be tailored to windows computers connecting to the printer. That's not what's happening in my situation: I use Debian Linux, specifically its Trixie distribution, using kernel 6.12.6. Till yesterday I used the HP Officejet Pro 8610, which has always worked perfectly well, until it reached the end of its lifetime and I had to find another printer. The laserjet pro mfp 4102fdn matches my requirements, but suddenly I must specify a pin (password) to configure the printer using a web browser. It took quite a bit of searching, but eventually I read the advice to reset the printer to its factory defaults. I did, and could reset the pin. The printer then automatically recognized my local network and I could connect to the printer, specify the pin, and I was able to configure it via the web browser. However, after changing its IP address I could still connect, but then the just re-specified pin was again considered invalid. To me it looks a bit weird if a specified pin is 1:1 associated with an IP address. Maybe it is, but in that case: where's that documented? Furthermore, there's no router:  my computers are directly connected to each other in the same local network, optionally communicating to the outside world via a single gateway. Also note that the Pro 8610 has been working perfectly well this way for years (OK [fortunately] not requiring the pin handling...)  I'm not sure how to proceed. Maybe reset the printer to its factory defaults and then accept the IP address selected by the printer? Who knows, maybe (my) tomorrow brings the solution 🙂

[fbb17]

On second thought, BeemerBike's reply appears to be a standard reply which is offered by him/her. E.g., Mary19610 posted on ‎09-19-2024 05:46 PM a similar question and to that posting BeemerBike replied almost identically. This morning I completely reset my printer (cold reset), changed the pin to a new one which was accepted by the printer, connected to the printer using a web browser, entered the new pin when requested, which was again rejected as being invalid. I appreciate support, but it's already outrageous  that users suddenly have to specify silly credentials, but it's extremely annoying if a specified credential don't work. Moreover, the user manual's index doesn't even contain entries like 'password' or 'PIN'. What has happened to HP that its products (at least the mfp4102fdn) cannot operate normally anymore?

[BeemerBiker]

Yes, i have a standard reply and I failed to notice that your system is not Wi-Fi capable.   My mistake.

I was unaware you have a Mac or I would have posted only how to reset the printer.  My only experience with Apple is my iPhone and a Hackintosh I put together a few years ago.

All I can suggest is to follow the instruction for the Mac OS install

https://support.hp.com/ee-en/drivers/closure/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-4101-4104dw-fdn-fdw-printer-series/...

Possibly you need to delete the drivers and all reference to the older HP printer.

As far as I know this printer does not have an instant ink requirement and should work just fine once connected to the router (or USB).  Perhaps our printer expert @Repairatrooper might know more about the PIN problem.

[fbb17 · Accepted solution]

Well, again: thanks for your reply (really 🙂 ). And no, I'm not using windows, but also not macs. Since the late-80s I'm using Linux, and for maybe some 10 years HP printers. So far, so good. But the new printer's documentation is a disaster. But at least I've now managed to get the printer up and running (so far). A clear case of ignoring the 'assume nothing' rule: I assumed the printer would be received up-to-date from the organization where I bought it. Apparently it was not. This (my) morning I told the printer to update its own software. It did, and since then I can access the printer, it's newly configured pin works as it should, and printing the printer's configuration details from my computer also works OK. So I guess the issues I had with the printer have been solved. Again, thanks for your replies. Maybe they weren't immediately leading to a solution, but at least you provided a 'listening ear' 😉 Thanks again, and have a great 2025!

[BeemerBiker]

For what it is worth, Microsoft is moving to WPP drivers which is what Apple has been doing for years (driverless printing)

Linux uses the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) to handle printing, which is different from the Apple printer driver model. Apple owns CUPS and also uses it for printing on Mac OS X.

(The above from Google's AI)

I always thought that Windows drivers sucked compared to Linux and Apple.