Can't make simple copy

[degoogle]

Hello there,

HP Smart Tank 7300 series here

When I try to hit the copy button on my printer, it gets instantly mad !

All items began flickering. And when I hit on/off button, I can't reignite the printer.

I have to unplug/plug it in order to make it working again.

Devil inside or what ?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @degoogle,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

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

I understand your HP Smart Tank 7300 series freezes and the control-panel lights start flickering when you press the Copy button, and you must unplug the printer to recover. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Reset the printer power system
Turn the printer on, then unplug the power cord from the rear of the printer while it is still on.
Wait about 60 seconds, reconnect the power cord directly to a wall outlet, and turn the printer back on.

Check the scanner mechanism
Lift the scanner lid and make sure nothing is blocking the glass or scanner bar.
When you press Copy, watch to see if the scanner lamp tries to move or turn on.

Update the printer firmware
Open HP Smart → Printer Settings → Advanced Settings → Printer Update.
Firmware updates often fix copy/scan initialization issues.

Test scanning from HP Smart
Open HP Smart → Scan and try scanning from the computer.
If scanning also fails, the issue is likely with the scanner subsystem.

Reset printer network/settings
With the printer on, press and hold the Cancel (X) button and Wireless button together for about 5 seconds until the printer restarts.
This clears configuration errors that can affect the control panel.

Print a test page
Print a Printer Status Report from HP Smart or the printer menu.
This confirms the print engine itself is working normally.

Important note:
Because the printer locks up immediately when Copy is pressed, this usually points to a scanner initialization failure or firmware fault, not an ink or paper issue. The flickering lights indicate the printer is entering a protection state during the copy process.

If you’d like, tell me:

Whether the printer can print normally from a computer

If the scanner light turns on when Copy is pressed

Whether the issue started after moving the printer or after a firmware update

I’ll help you narrow down whether this is firmware-related or a scanner hardware issue.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

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Best regards,