White Screen Requires Power Reset on OfficeJet Pro 6978

[TheMav38]

Post moved from: 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-Errors-or-Lights-Stuck-Print-Jobs/White-Screen-Requires-Power...

Ive been having the same issue for a few weeks. Hopefully there is an easy fix!

[kamarobalan]

This, I believe, is a normal power management feature that has been included in the latest update(s). It's very annoying that the user cannot override it and turn it off.

[TheMav38]

I can not believe this is a "normal" function, because when there is a white screen displayed the printer is "offline", the screen doesnt respond to touch & the printer doesnt respond to opening the paper tray. Only pressing the power button seems to cycle it back "awake" which sort of defeats the purpose of a stand alone wireless printer if I cant print from anywhere with out cycling the power button.

[CyberBob859]

Totally agree.  This is not a “normal” function.  Something changed and now the printer is useless because you have to hit the power button to reset it before printing.  

[Ala-BackWoods]

My HP 6970 is having same problem and it came after UPDATES. if I quickly touch the power switch it will clear the white screen in about 10 secs. Hoping they fix the bug causing this as my printer is on the second floor.

[kamarobalan]

We may not have the same problem, as a simple touch of the power button wakes up my machine, and it is fully functional and normally seen across my network.

HP obviously thinks this is a useful feature for their "HP Connected" devices. I would wholeheartedly disagree with HP, as it is a royal pain. It surely shows how much control Big Tech is trying to have over our lives.

[Stress28]

I have the same issue with my HP 6978 and hope that HP will release another update soon to fix this bug caused by the previous update.  This negates the point of having a wireless printer if I have to go to the other room to cycle the power every time I want to print.

[sandytechy20]

@Stress28

Welcome to the HP support community.

Follow these steps to fix the issue.

Perform a power reset

1. Turn on the printer, if it is not already on.
2. Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you continue.
3. With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
4. Wait at least 30 seconds.
5. Plug back the power cable straight to a wall outlet and printer without any surge protector.
6. Turn on the printer.

Update the printer firmware

Here are the steps:- Click here

Let me know how it goes.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[Stress28]

Thank you for replying, Sandytechy20. However, I tried both of your suggestions to no avail. The power reset didn't change anything, and I already have the latest HP firmware for my printer (2109A, April 5, 2021). I believe that firmware version is what caused this "white screen" issue in the first place. Is there a way to go back a version?

[sandytechy20]

@Stress28

This might require one on one interaction to fix the issue.

I request you to talk to HP support.

They might have multiple options to help you with this.

1. Click on this link - https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true
2. Select the country.
3. Enter the serial of your device.
4. Select the country from the drop-down.
5. Click on "Show Options".
6. Fill the web-form. A case number and phone number will now populate for you.

Cheers.