HP 9018e printer is stuck on validating....please Wait

[10FeetUnder]

Hello. I have a HP 9018e printer for work that is stuck on “Validating... Please Wait.” It has not been used for a couple months. I plugged it in yesterday, typed in the username and password for the WiFi, and that’s when the message came up. It was still on the screen when I came back to work today. I unplugged it from the wall for a couple minutes then plugged it back in but it’s still showing that message for almost 2 days now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much and have a great day!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @10FeetUnder,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP OfficeJet Pro 9018e is stuck on “Validating… Please Wait” after reconnecting it to Wi-Fi. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Perform a full power reset
With the printer turned on, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer and the wall outlet.
Wait at least 60 seconds, then plug it directly into a wall outlet and turn it back on.

Disconnect the printer from Wi-Fi temporarily
If the screen allows it, cancel or back out of the validation screen.
Restart the printer and do not connect it to Wi-Fi yet to see if it boots normally.

Restart your network equipment
Turn off the router and modem for 1–2 minutes.
Power them back on fully before reconnecting the printer to Wi-Fi.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi using a fresh setup
On the printer control panel, re-enter the Wi-Fi setup and select your network again.
Carefully retype the Wi-Fi password to rule out authentication issues.

Check date and time settings
If accessible, confirm the printer’s date and time are correct.
Incorrect time settings can cause the validation process to stall.

Update firmware using the HP app (if accessible)
Open the HP Smart app on your computer and add the printer if possible.
If an update is offered, allow it to complete before retrying normal use.

Restore network settings on the printer
From the printer menu, restore or reset network settings only (not a full factory reset).
Restart the printer and reconnect it to Wi-Fi afterward.

Leave the printer powered on after reconnecting
After reconnecting to Wi-Fi, allow up to 10–15 minutes for validation to complete.
Avoid unplugging during this period, as it can interrupt internal checks.

I hope this helps.

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