Printhead Problem

[ISwan]

HP Office Jet Pro 8720- Printer message "the printhead appears to be missing, not detected or incorrectly installed.

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ISwan,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're dealing with a common issue where the printer either can't detect the printhead or thinks it’s not installed correctly. Here are some steps you can follow to resolve this.

Turn Off and Unplug: Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source. Leave it unplugged for about a minute.

Reinstall Printhead:

• Open the printer’s front access door to access the printhead.
• Remove the printhead carefully and check for any visible damage or debris.
• Reinstall the printhead firmly and ensure it is seated properly.

Clean Printhead Contacts:

• While the printhead is out, use a soft, lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water to clean the electrical contacts on both the printhead and the printer.
• Let everything dry completely before reinstalling the printhead.

Check for Obstructions: Ensure there is no paper jam or debris inside the printer that could obstruct the printhead’s movement.

Update Firmware:

• If possible, check for any firmware updates for your printer model on the HP website and install them.

Reset Printer:

• Perform a factory reset on the printer if the above steps do not resolve the issue. Refer to the printer’s manual or HP support site for instructions on how to do this.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[ISwan]

Thank you so much! I cleaned the print heads and downloaded updated firmware. I’m forever grateful. Have a wonderful day.

[MarinaMassaro]

Hi, I've done all the steps and none of them work. The computer is brand new, only used once. I replaced all of the cartridges. I can't clean or align the printhead because it says the printhead is missing. I restored the settings, updated, still not working 😞

[MarcoPolo2024]

My printer is also giving me this error, printhead is missing or installed incorrectly.  Tried all steps, nothing is fixing it, removed, cleaned, there's no damage to the printhead.

[MarinaMassaro]

I will NEVER purchase an HP printer again. No help whatsoever. Waste of time and money.