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HP Printer Won’t Boot Up / Turn On / Off

HP printers have been a reliable, household favorite since 1984. The most common complaint that users have about their HP printing machine is that it sometimes doesn’t turn on, especially after a power outage.

If you’re dealing with HP printer that won’t turn on, first ensure the power source and cable are properly connected. Verify that you’re using the correct power button. Try a reset by unplugging for 1-2 minutes and then attempting to turn it on again.

Black printer with color charts paper printout

If your HP printer won’t turn on, there could be several reasons for this issue. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially fix the problem:

Check Power Source and Cable:

  • Make sure your printer is properly plugged into a working power outlet.
  • Check the power cable for any visible damage or loose connections. Try using a different power cable if possible.

Power Button and Control Panel:

  • Ensure that you’re pressing the correct power button on the printer. Sometimes, printers have multiple buttons or modes that might cause confusion.
  • If your printer has a control panel with a display, check if there are any error messages or indications that might provide insight into the issue.

Reset the Power:

  • Unplug the printer from the power source and wait for about 1-2 minutes.
  • Plug the printer back in and try turning it on again. This can sometimes reset the internal electronics and resolve minor issues.

Check for Power Surges or Overloads:

  • If there was a power surge or electrical overload, it could have tripped the internal safety mechanisms in the printer’s power supply. In this case, leaving the printer unplugged for a while before trying again might help.

Inspect for Physical Damage:

  • Check the printer for any signs of physical damage, like broken parts or loose components. If there is visible damage, it might be best to contact HP support or a professional technician for repair.

Test a Different Outlet:

  • Plug the printer into a different power outlet to rule out the possibility of a faulty outlet.

Remember that some printer models might have specific troubleshooting steps, so it’s a good idea to consult the printer’s manual or the HP support website for model-specific guidance. If you’re not comfortable performing troubleshooting yourself, it’s best to seek help from a qualified technician.

HP Printer Won’t Turn On/ Boot Up

White printer on a white work desk

Your HP printer will not boot up when there is a poor connection. Bad electric connections are caused by:

  • Faulty wall outlets
  • Old electrical cables
  • Defective surge protectors

If your printer is not booting up, test its power outlet first. You can do this with a multimeter.

Suppose you don’t have a multimeter at home. In that case, do this:

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on March 3, 2021.

  1. Unplug the printer.
  2. Plug another device into the same outlet. Ensure that the device is off before you plug it in.
  3. Power on the new device. If it does not turn on, then your power outlet has a malfunction.

If you discover that the wall outlet is the problem, relocate your printer to the nearest working power socket. Before connecting your printer to the wall, you must reset it by waiting 60 seconds before plugging in your printer.

If the printer still does not turn on, take these steps while the HP device is connected to the new outlet to perform a hard reset:

  1. Disconnect the printer from its power supply.
  2. Hold the power button for 30 seconds.
  3. Connect the printer to its power supply. Do this before connecting the printer to your computer.

Your printer should immediately boot up the next time you turn it on.

HP Printer Won’t Turn Off

Close up of black printer control panel

If you tried to shut off your printer and notice that it’s stuck on, your printer is in a “hung” state. The solution for this is simple and will take less than one minute:

  1. Disconnect the power cord from the printer.
  2. Unplug the power source from the wall socket.
  3. Wait 30 seconds.
  4. Reconnect the cable to the wall outlet.
  5. Connect the power cord to the printer.

This manual shut down should restore the printer’s functionalities to have it turn off on your orders.

If the problem persists, that means your printer has malfunctioned and needs professional care. Get in touch with the nearest HP service center to find a technician who can diagnose the issue.

HP Printer Won’t Turn On After Power Outage

Power outage in dark room with a lantern on

Power outages can cause HP printers to crash. If your HP printer is not turning on after a blackout, it may have electrical damages. Follow these instructions to perform a manual reset to restore your printer’s power:

  1. Disconnect the power supply from the HP printer.
  2. Remove the ink cartridges.
  3. Wait one minute.
  4. Connect the power cord to the printer.
  5. Turn on the printer. The printer may still not have power yet. If so, move on to the next step.
  6. Replace the ink cartridges. Close any open doors or lids. Try to turn on the printer again if it has not turned on yet.

If you notice that the printer still will not turn on, the blackout may permanently damage your printer. Your best option is to contact a technician to see if there’s anything they can do to help.

HP Printer Won’t Turn On After Paper Jam

Businessman pulling paper jam out of printer

A paper jam is considered an error to your HP printer, which will impair its normal functions. If you shut down the printer while the backup was still present, follow these steps to restore power to your printer:

  1. Remove all the paper. Clear the jam. Examine the rollers, the trays, and any other metal parts where pages can go. Also, take out the printing paper in the feed.
  2. Reload the printing paper. Firstly, fan the pages to prevent them from sticking together and jamming again.
  3. Unplug the printer from its wall outlet. Disconnect the cords attached to the printer too.
  4. Wait thirty seconds.
  5. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
  6. Plug the printer into a wall outlet. Power strips and extension cords are not suitable for powering your HP printers.
  7. Press the power button.

If these steps do not work, the printer’s power module needs replacing.

How To Replace the Power Module in Your HP Printer

When your HP printer does not turn on after a reset, you must first check its power module. Note that printers need a power source that has a specified voltage. To ensure that your HP printer is getting the correct voltage required:

  1. Locate the voltage information on the power module. This number is typically on the block.
  2. Check the volt specifications listed on the back of your printer.
  3. Compare the two numbers. If they do not match, get a new power module with the same specifics your printer needs.

Once the electric-potential of both your devices matches, it’s time to inspect the power module. To do this, you’ll need a multimeter.

After gathering your equipment, follow these steps to test and replace the power module:

  1. Test the power module with a multimeter. This device will tell you if the power module produces the amount of electricity recommended for your printer.
  2. Get the make and model. Dispose of the power module if it’s broken but note its model number.
  3. Search the HP parts store for a replacement. Enter the model number of your old module so you can find the right part. If there is no replacement, go to the next step.
  4. Service your printer. An HP service center can repair your power module and get your printer to turn on.

HP Printer Won’t Shut Down

Black printer power button

When your HP printer won’t shut down or is stuck on with the power button flashing, your printer needs to reset. The only solution is to force shutdown your printer and perform a manual reboot.

How To Force Shutdown of an HP Printer

To safely force shutdown and reset your printer:

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on March 3, 2021.

  1. Remove the power cord from the rear of your printer. This step will force your printer to turn off.
  2. Unplug the printer’s power cord from its socket.
  3. Wait for 15-30 seconds.
  4. Plug the power cord into an outlet.
  5. Reconnect the power module to your printer.

What To Do When Your HP Printer Is Stuck in a Shutdown Loop

If you power on your printer after manually shutting it down and notice that it is attempting to shut down again, there is a technical error. Luckily, HP has software that can potentially solve this problem.

Use the following steps to free your printer from a “hung” loop:

  1. Download the HP Print and Scan Doctor. This program is the official troubleshooter for HP printers.
  2. Connect your printer. Use a USB or an ethernet cable to link the printer.
  3. Run the troubleshoot application. Do this while your printer is on.
  4. Scan for available printers. If your printer is not listed, click “Retry.”
  5. Select the “Fix Printing” option.

The application should solve any problems that it detects. If the loop persists, reach out to an HP technician for advice.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, issues with powering on and shutting off can be solved by resetting your printer using HP’s guidelines. Your printer may have a unique resetting method, so you should always check your printer’s user manual to know how to do it.

If resetting fails, try to restore your printer to its factory default settings. With touch screen printers, navigate to the settings menu and find the restore option.

Otherwise, HP Support has a video explaining how to hard reset non-touch printers with power issues:

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on March 3, 2021.

HP Printer Not Working