HP 140w showing "!" symbol and will not print........

[ajpoakley]

Not sure if it matters but the device is a 140w   not 140we

Until yesterday the 140w was the default printer, being used almost every day with no issues.  Yesterday it would not print, window saying things like "spooler not started"...and all hints that were given were tried and failed.  The device shows up on my HPSmart app - but all it says is  "P rinter cannot print. A problem has occurred and you will be unable to print, except for printer reports, until the issue is resolved.  Check your HP account for more information.  To learn more, open the HP Smart app or visit.......xyz and sign into your account"

Trying the "Support" option in HPSmart - takes me to a failed link.  Trying all other HP options eventually lead to a "pay £21 and get help".   It was working fine......

NOW I have come thru this process and added the other printers to the online account - even though they were showing up in my HPSmart app !!...   

Just want the flashing "!" symbol to go away and start printing.   Done all the delete / add, restart network stuff I can find.

I assume I do NOT have to have all printers registered with HP "online" for the things to print ???

Anyone got any ideas ?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @ajpoakley,

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 LaserJet 140w is showing a flashing “!” symbol, won’t print, and the HP Smart app keeps saying “Printer cannot print… check your HP account.” Let’s go through a few steps to see what could be causing this.

Restart the printer and clear any error state
Turn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds, then power it back on.
This forces the device to reload its internal status and clear temporary faults.

Check for any attention-required messages on the printer
A flashing “!” often means a supply, door, or paper-path issue.
Open and close all doors, check the toner cartridge, and make sure paper is properly loaded.

Verify the printer is not stuck in “HP+ / Instant Ink” mode
The 140w (non-WE) does not require HP+, and registration is not mandatory for printing.
If the app is prompting HP account verification, sign in once, then check if the printer shows “Ready.”

Check the printer’s IP address and connection
Print a Network Configuration Page using the printer button sequence.
Confirm the printer has a valid IP and is on the same Wi-Fi network as the computer.

Restart the Windows Print Spooler
Open Windows Services → Print Spooler → Restart.
If the spooler was not started, this restores normal communication between Windows and the printer.

Remove duplicate printer entries in Windows
Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers.
Remove all entries for the HP 140w, then add it again using “Add device → Add manually → Add via IP address.”

Check HP Smart for any blocked features
If HP Smart shows a banner like “Action needed,” tap it for details.
Sometimes a privacy or firmware agreement must be accepted before printing resumes.

Print directly from the Embedded Web Server (EWS)
Type the printer’s IP address into a browser → Tools → Print Test Page.
If this works, the issue is on the computer side, not the printer.

Update the printer firmware (if available)
Outdated firmware can trigger the “!” status and block printing.
Check HP Smart → Printer Settings → Advanced Settings for updates.

I hope this helps.

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