How to Fix Missing or Failed Printhead Error on HP Printers

Plus, what to do if it still doesn’t work

The printhead assembly is the compartment that houses your printer’s ink cartridges. Your printer displays the “Missing or Failed Printhead” error to signal a malfunctioning printhead. The issue could be due to clogged ink nozzles, dirty ink cartridges, internal paper jams, and more.

HP printers may also display this error if the printhead pulls air from ink cartridges. This tutorial covers troubleshooting fixes for the “Missing or Failed Printhead” error onHP printers.

Restart or Factory Reset Your Printer

Rebooting your printer will fixcommon printer problems, so will restoring its settings to factory default.

Note:Factory resetting your HP printer won’t reset its page count, language, or tray size.

Reseat your printer’s printhead if the missing printhead error message persists.

Reseat Your HP Printer Printhead

HP printers might malfunctionif the printhead isn’t seated correctly in the carriage. Reseat your printer’s printhead and check if that stops the “Missing or Failed Printhead” error. Turn off your printer and unplug its power cable before reseating or realigning the printhead.

Open your printer’s cartridge access door, lift the latch on the carriage, and gently pull the printhead halfway out. Return the carriage latch to lock the printhead firmly.

Try the troubleshooting steps below if reseating the printhead doesn’t resolve the “Missing or Failed Printhead” error.

Check for Paper Jam

Paper jams inside your printer can prevent the detection of the printhead. Turn off your printer, disconnect its power cable, and check the ink or toner cartridge access area for jammed paper.

Examine the carriage path and other areas and remove torn pieces of paper inside your printer. Close the cartridge access door, and reconnect your printer’s power cable.

Clean or Replace the Ink Cartridges

Dirt, debris, or ink residue on your printer’s ink cartridges can also trigger printing errors. Remove your ink cartridges from the printhead and wipe off accumulated dirt or debris. HP recommends cleaning ink cartridges using a clean, dry, and lint-free cloth damped in distilled water.

You should also gently wipe accumulated ink off the copper-colored electrical contacts on the printhead and carriage. Snap the ink cartridges into their color-coded slots, close the cartridge access area, and turn on your printer.

Touching the ink nozzles or cleaning past the electrical contacts can causeprint quality issuesand electrical failures. Likewise, leaving your ink cartridges or printhead outside the printer for an extended period (over 30 minutes) can damage the cartridges and printer.

Clean the ink cartridges and printhead quickly (but carefully) and replace them immediately. Refer tothis HP Support tutorialfor more information on cleaning your printer’s ink cartridges and printhead.

Some HP Inkjet printers have a “Clean Printhead” function in their control panels. Depending on your printer model, you’ll find the cleaning option in the “Tools,” “Maintenance,” or “Printer Services” section of the control panel. Refer to your printer’s manual for instructions on accessing or using its cleaning tool.

Check for connectivity issues between the printer and cartridges if the printhead problem persists. Ensure the ink cartridges are connected correctly, and their plastic tabs align with the printhead.

Additionally, inspect the cartridge’s chip and ensure it’s properly fixed and in good condition. You might have to replace the entire cartridge pack, especially if using non-HP cartridges.

Update the Printer’s Firmware

Updating your printer’s firmware to the latest version sometimes resolvesprinthead errors and other printing malfunctions. You can update your printer’s firmware through HP’s website or the HP Smart app.

Restart your computer and printer after installing the firmware update. Keep your printer powered on during the firmware update process. Power failure or turning your printer while updating its firmware can irreversibly damage the printer.

The steps for updating your printer’s firmware may vary depending on the HP Smart app version and your printer model.

Select your printer on the HP Smart app home screen and selectAdvanced SettingsorPrinter Home Page(EWS). Next, head toTools/Web Services>Printer Update(s) and selectCheck Now.

The HP Smart app will automatically download and install any available firmware update onto your printer.

You can also install firmware updates from your printer’s control panel. ThisHP Customer Support documenthighlights different ways to install firmware or driver updates on your HP printer.

Fix HP Failed Printhead Error

Contact HP Support or a local service center if the printhead missing error persists. You’ll get a new printhead or replacement printer if your printer is defective and under warranty. UseHP’s Product Warrant Check toolto verify your printer’s warranty or service status.

Otherwise, HP will service or repair your printer for a fee if you have an out-of-warranty product.

Sodiq has written thousands of tutorials, guides, and explainers over the past 4 years to help people solve problems with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices. He also enjoys reviewing consumer tech products (smartphones, smart home devices, accessories, etc.) and binge-watching comedy series in his spare time.Read Sodiq’s Full Bio

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked*

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Website

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

How to Fix Missing or Failed Printhead Error on HP Printers#

Restart or Factory Reset Your Printer#

Reseat Your HP Printer Printhead#

Check for Paper Jam#

Clean or Replace the Ink Cartridges#

Update the Printer’s Firmware#

Fix HP Failed Printhead Error#

Leave a Reply#