Printer won't work, can't reset or do anything because of control panel lock

[MadreQP]

Printer was working fine the other day, but suddenly stopped.  Blue light is flashing.  Tried to run wireless setup, but it says the control panel is locked (which I didn't do) and asks for a password (which I don't know).  Help!

[Sneha_01]

Hi @MadreQP 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your printer's control panel is locked, which can happen if the printer settings are accidentally changed or if a password was set without you realizing. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to unlock the control panel and get your printer working again:

1. Reset the Printer to Default Settings

Some printers have an option to reset to the factory default settings, which will remove any locks or passwords.

• HP Printers (general instructions):
  1. Turn off the printer.
  2. Press and hold the # and 6 buttons on the printer's control panel.
  3. While holding those buttons, turn the printer back on.
  4. Continue holding the buttons until the control panel screen resets or displays a message confirming the reset.
  5. This will reset the printer to factory settings, and the control panel lock should be removed.

2. Try Default Passwords

If there is a password set but you don’t know it, try common default passwords that printers sometimes use:

• 1234
• 0000
• admin
• 000000 (six zeros)
• If these work, make sure to change the password to something you can remember.

3. Check the Printer’s Manual

If the above reset doesn't work, consult your printer's user manual. Most HP printers have specific steps for unlocking the control panel. Look for a section about resetting or unlocking the control panel or changing the password.

4. Try Resetting the Printer via the HP Smart App (If Installed)

If you have the HP Smart app installed on your computer or phone, you can try using it to reset or manage the printer settings remotely:

1. Open the HP Smart app.
2. Select your printer.
3. Look for any option to reset settings or manage the control panel lock.

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”.

[MadreQP · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your reply.  It looks like it might have been helpful, but I had continued searching online and found a different solution that worked prior to receiving your response.   It said to touch the home button quickly 5 times, which brought up a different support menu where I could bypass all those lock screens for a password I never set.  That allowed me to get to the resets feature, and select the semi full reset.  Once the printer powered back up, I just had to connect to the wifi again and now it's working.  There were so many complicated step solutions, and the one I found worked super easy

[Sneha_01]

Hi @MadreQP,

Thank you for your response.I'm so glad to hear that you found a solution that worked for you! It sounds like the semi-full reset really did the trick and was a much simpler fix than some of the other suggestions. Sometimes, the easiest solutions are the best!

If you run into any more issues in the future or have any other questions, feel free to reach out. Thanks for sharing what worked for you—I'm sure it will help others who might encounter the same problem.

Happy printing! 😊