HP OfficeJet Pro 6978, settings are locked, can't unlock

[LakeGator]

As with other victims, I need to make some changes to the setup of my printer.  For some reason, the solution seems to be a dark secret where each victim receives a private answer.

I need to make some changes but virtually everything is locked.  Can someone PLEASE give me the way to unlock the thing?

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @LakeGator,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding printer!  

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

I understand your frustration, and I want to assure you that there’s no secret behind resolving this issue. HP is committed to helping you unlock the necessary settings and get your printer working as needed. Could you let me know which specific settings are locked, and if you’re seeing any error messages? I’ll be happy to guide you through the steps to fix this

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[LakeGator]

You for your reply and kind offer to help.

I kept trying to solve my Fax issue and resolved it when I discovered the Control Panel Lock being checked in the Administrative Settings under Security in the HP Smart application.  I certainly did not set this and all the various settings on the printer that were locked became unlocked when I unchecked this setting and restarted the printer.

The one setting I wanted to change was the Rings to Answer in the Fax Preferences.  This was locked as were virtually every other setting of any import in the printer control panel.  Now, all these are available.

My only theory would be that subscribing to Instant Ink may have made the change to lock the preferences.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @LakeGator,

Thank you for your response. To assist you with unlocking the settings on your printer, please follow these steps. It's possible that the printer's settings are locked due to a security feature that restricts changes, but it’s easy to resolve:

Unlock Printer Settings

Access the Printer Control Panel:

• On the printer’s display panel, go to the Home Screen.

Enter the Printer Settings Menu:

• Tap the Setup icon (usually a wrench or gear icon) on the screen.

Access the Security Settings:

• From the Setup menu, scroll down and select Printer Maintenance.
• Then, select Security.

Unlock the Settings:

• If your settings are locked, you should see an option to Unlock or Disable Settings Lock.
• If prompted, enter the Admin Password. If you haven’t set one, the default password is usually 000000 (six zeros). If that doesn’t work, check the printer's manual or any documentation you may have for the default password.

Save Changes:

• After unlocking the settings, you should be able to make any changes you need, such as network settings, ink settings, or advanced options.

If You Can’t Find the Lock Option:

If these steps don’t work, it’s possible that the printer has been set to a locked state through a management system or remote configuration, often seen in business environments. In that case, you may need to contact the administrator who configured the printer.

Reset the Printer (Optional):

If you're unable to unlock it, you can also try performing a factory reset on the printer to remove all settings, including any locks.

1. From the Home Screen, tap on the Setup icon.
2. Select Printer Maintenance.
3. Choose Restore Factory Defaults.

This will reset all settings, but note that you’ll lose any custom configurations such as wireless network settings, so make sure to have those ready to reconfigure.

I hope this helps.

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

[LakeGator]

Thank you for your very detailed reply.  Unfortunately, my printer does not have a Security option under Printer Maintenance.  The closest to that is the last entry of Restore.  

As I said above, I was able to use the HP Smart app on my computer to reset the 'locked' options.

My printer is HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 and it indicates that it has the latest update.

I wish you a fun day!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @LakeGator,

A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,