by Hey there! If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve run into a frustrating issue with your HP printer – that pesky blinking orange light.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This is a common problem that many HP printer users face at some point.
But what does that blinking orange light actually mean? And more importantly, how can you fix it so you can get back to printing without any hassles?
Why Does My HP Printer Blinking Orange Light?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the HP printer blinking orange light issue and walk you through some simple steps to resolve it.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive in!
What is the Orange Light on an HP printer?
Before we get into troubleshooting, let’s quickly cover what that orange light on your HP printer actually indicates.
In most HP printers, the orange light is known as the “Resume” light. Its purpose is to alert you about issues or errors with the printer that need your attention.
Now, if the orange light is steadily lit, it usually means one of two things:
- The ink or toner cartridge needs to be replaced
- The printer is out of paper
Pretty straightforward, right? Just replace the cartridge or refill the paper tray, and you should be good to go.
However, if the orange light is blinking, that’s when you know there’s a bit more troubleshooting involved.
A blinking orange light can indicate several different issues, which we’ll cover in the next section.
Top 8 Fixes for HP Printer Blinking Orange Light
Alright, now that we know what the orange light means, let’s get down to business and look at how to fix a blinking orange light on your HP printer.
Here are the top 8 troubleshooting steps to try, in order:
Fix #1: Check ink levels and paper tray
I know, I know, this seems so obvious. But you’d be amazed how often the simplest solution ends up being the right one!
Open up your printer and take a peek at the ink cartridges. If any are empty, pop in some new ones. Make sure there’s paper in the tray and that it’s loaded correctly.
If the orange light is still blinking after this, no worries, you’re not out of luck yet. It just means we need to dig a little deeper.
Fix #2: Ensure the printer cover is closed
You probably didn’t know this, but your printer actually has little sensors inside that can tell if the cover is open. An open cover means the printer won’t print, and can trigger that blinking orange light.
Take a close look at your printer cover. Is it shut tight? If not, firmly close it until you hear a satisfying click. That’s the sound of progress, my friend!
Fix #3: Look for paper jams and loose paper
One of the most common culprits behind printer issues is a paper jam. It’s like your printer is saying “Ouch, I’m all clogged up, help!”
Carefully look inside your printer anywhere paper travels Is there a crumpled up piece of paper stuck in there? Gently pull it out Are there little scraps or torn bits of paper floating around? Clean those out too Make sure any paper in the tray is sitting neat and tight
Fix #4: Unstick any stuck cartridges
Ink cartridges can get a bit rattled and jam up sometimes. If you suspect this is the issue, try this:
Turn off the printer Open the cartridge access door Remove any paper bits around the cartridges Gently but firmly slide the cartridges all the way to the left until they click into place Close it up and power the printer back on
If your cartridges seem to be stuck often, it might be time to replace them.
Fix #5: Do a power reset
This is one of my favorite troubleshooting tricks, because it feels so satisfyingly simple. We’re going to reboot your printer to wipe out any temporary glitches or error states. Here’s how:
Shut down the printer Unplug the power cord from the printer and wall Take out ink cartridges Unplug any connected cables Let it sit powered off for about 60 seconds Plug the power cord back in Put cartridges back in Plug cables back in Power it up!
It seems too simple to work, but this little reboot sequence is like a magic cure-all sometimes. Give it a shot.
Fix #6: Run the printer troubleshooter
If you’re using a Windows computer, there’s a handy built-in tool that can scan your printer for any configuration issues and automatically fix a lot of them! To use it:
Open the Settings app Go to Devices Click on Printers & Scanners Select your HP printer Click Manage Click Run the troubleshooter Let the tool do its thing
If this doesn’t clear up the problem, it’s still good that we tried it. On to the next idea!
Fix #7: Update or reinstall printer drivers
I know this one sounds a bit technical, but stick with me here. Drivers are basically the little software programs that let your computer talk to your printer. If they’re out of date or glitchy, they can cause problems like a blinking orange light.
To update your drivers:
Open Settings Go to Devices Click Printers & Scanners Select your HP printer Click Manage Click Printer Properties Go to the Advanced tab Click New Driver and follow the prompts
If updating doesn’t work, you can also try uninstalling the drivers completely and then reinstalling fresh ones. It’s the same steps as above, but choose Remove Device instead of Manage. Then click Add a Printer or Scanner to set the printer up again from scratch.
Fix #8: Remove and re-add the printer
If absolutely all else has failed, our final troubleshooting step is to remove the printer from your computer entirely and then add it back. This will flush out any error states, stuck print jobs, or other software-side issues.
To remove your printer:
Open Settings Go to Devices Click Printers & Scanners Select your HP printer Click Remove Device Click Yes to confirm
Then to add it back:
In Settings, go to Printers & Scanners Click Add a Printer or Scanner Select your printer from the list Click Add Device.
Quick Summary Table of the Troubleshooting Steps:
| Step | Fix |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check ink and paper |
| 2 | Ensure the printer cover is closed |
| 3 | Check for paper jams |
| 4 | Unstick cartridges |
| 5 | Power reset |
| 6 | Run printer troubleshooter |
| 7 | Update/reinstall drivers |
| 8 | Remove and re-add printer |
Also Check:
- Why Does My Dyson V8 Flashing Blue Light When Charging
- Why Is My Netgear Orbi Router Blinking White Light
- Why Does Kidde Smoke Alarm Blinking Red
- Why is My Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red
- Why is My Smoke Detector Blinking Red
Conclusion:
And there you have it! Those are the top 8 ways to fix a blinking orange light on your HP printer. Hopefully one of these solutions did the trick and you’re back to printing without any issues.
Remember, start with the simplest solutions first – checking ink, paper, and the printer cover.
If those don’t work, move on to check for paper jams, and stuck cartridges, perform a power reset, run the troubleshooter, update drivers, and remove/re-add the printer.
If you’ve tried all these steps and the orange light is still blinking, it may be time to contact HP support or consider bringing your printer in for servicing.
The most important thing is don’t panic when you see that blinking orange light.
While it can be frustrating, in most cases it’s a problem that you can fix yourself with a little patience and troubleshooting.
I hope this article has been helpful and you’re now armed with the knowledge to tackle any future orange light situations! As always, happy printing!
