HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 printer is printing erratic continually letters, symbols w/o stop. Wassup?

[KarunaHC21]

Hello! My HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 printer is doing weird things. Despite downloading the MS app to print and unplugging the printer x 60 seconds and restarting, it is not printing the PDF file I am sending to it (wirelessly). Instead, it rapid fires out print outs of randome letters, symbols (a few 2-5 lines) and doesn't stop, page after page. The only way to stop this paper-ink waste, is to press "X" on the printer display and it shoots out 1 extra page then stops. What do I do? My 2 year warranty expired in 2022, can I still l get tech support from HP? I cannot seem to find anyone (virtual or live) to help me. Thanks in advance!

[MysteriousMe]

Welcome to HP Support Community. @KarunaHC21 

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

Troubleshooting for HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 printing random letters and symbols

1. Cancel all print jobs
   a. Press Windows + R
   b. Type: control printers
   c. Right click your HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 series printer
   d. Select “See what’s printing”
   e. Cancel all documents
   If any job is stuck: select Printer on the top menu, then select “Cancel All Documents”

2. Restart the Print Spooler
   a. Press Windows + R
   b. Type: services.msc
   c. Find Print Spooler in the list
   d. Right click and select “Restart”

3. Remove the existing printer and driver
   a. Open Control Panel
   b. Go to Devices and Printers
   c. Right click your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 and choose “Remove device”
   d. At the top, select “Print server properties”
   e. Go to the Drivers tab
   f. Select HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 Series driver
   g. Choose “Remove” and select “Remove driver and driver package”

4. Reinstall the printer using the correct HP full software
   Do not use the Microsoft Store HP app. It often causes this issue.

a. Download the full feature software for HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 from the HP support website
b. Run the installer
c. Follow the steps to connect your printer to Wi Fi again through the HP software

5. Print a test page
   Open Settings
   Go to Bluetooth and devices
   Go to Printers
   Select HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 series
   Select “Print test page”
   If the test page prints normally, the issue is fixed.

6. Test with a USB cable
   This helps check whether Wi Fi drivers were the cause.
   a. Connect the printer to the computer using a USB cable
   b. Print the same PDF
   If USB printing works, the wireless driver was the problem.
   If USB also prints random characters, the firmware may be corrupted.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.