The HP missing or failed printhead is one of the most common errors that users face while operating their HP printers. It generally occurs when the printhead is not properly positioned. The printhead is an important component of a printer that sprays the ink onto the paper. So the printhead takes the instructions from the computer, as it evaluates the intensity, the location, the amount of ink needed to be dropped onto the paper and moves horizontally, point to point, to those locations to write or print the content. When the printhead fails or is identified as missing, your device may not be able to function like it always does. The problem is generally observed on HP Photosmart Plus, HP 8610, HP 8620, and HP 6700 Printers. Thankfully, there are simple fixes that can work around the problem. Some of these fixes are inclusive of resetting your HP printer, realigning its printhead, cleaning its ink cartridges, etc.
Moving forward, you can explore all the fixes that can be implemented for making your printer error-free. Also, for this HP printer problem, we will understand its causes to get hold of the issue.
Here, we have explained everything that we will be looking at in this post for dealing with the issue of the missing printhead in HP.
The issue of a failed or missing printhead can occur on certain models of HP. A message accompanied by this error is seen on the Control Panel of the printer. The message can suggest that your printer’s printhead is either undetected, missing or improperly installed. The error may come in the way of printing operations.
Below, we have explained the causes of the error relating to missing or failed printhead in HP printers. When you try to identify the fixes for this problem, the knowledge of these causes will assist you in quickly finding them.
HP missing or failed printhead error bars printing devices from functioning. Sometimes, resolving this error can demand you to implement fixes like resetting your device. At other times, you can opt for cleaning the ink cartridges of your HP printer or replacing the part with a new one in case doing so seems apt. To help you get rid of this problem, we have compiled the directions for these fixes below.
HP printhead missing issue generally occurs while replacing the old ink cartridge with a new one. As the printer gets old, an alignment problem can occur with the printhead component every time you change the ink cartridge. Moreover, your printer does not take any print command and displays an error – HP missing or failed printhead – on its control panel screen. Therefore, the purpose of rebooting an HP printer is to reconfigure the printhead back to its correct position. Here is how you can reboot your HP printer:
Realigning the printhead of your device is the next measure we will be suggesting. When your printer is on, you can lift up the lid, and locate the printhead, detach its power cord, and ensure that the carriage is not moving. This is followed by removing the part to align it again.
To know the details of this procedure, you can read the 8 instructions given here.
If you have tried all the above-mentioned solutions and your printer still continues to face the HP missing or failed printhead error, then it is time to replace this part. Before you replace it, you should examine the printhead’s warranty. If you have a faulty cartridge or printhead, check if it is under any warranty. To validate your warranty, check for the instruction on the HP Printer’s user manual guide. You can also visit the HP support website and navigate under the section Printer and Page Yield Overview to validate the warranties for all the components and units.
After examining it, you can order a new printhead if necessary. If your faulty printhead is under the warranty, you would be entitled to get a new printhead assembly kit. HP support also provides door-to-door technical assistance to provide different services with respect to HP printers.
As you receive the error message mentioning that the printhead is missing, failed or incompatible, try to ensure that your HP printer’s cartridge is clean. On inspecting the same, if the cartridge isn’t clean, you can remove it and wipe off the unwanted elements. You can use a cloth that is lint-free and make it damp using distilled water. With this cloth, cleaning the printhead will be easier. After cleaning this part, allow it to become completely dry. Then it can be inserted again into your HP printer.
For doing away with the problematic message “Printhead Missing Failed or Incompatible 0xc19a0003 Error”, you can check whether or not your printer’s firmware is updated. In case it is lacking the latest updates, you can visit the page of Software and Driver Downloads with respect to HP printers. Based on your device’s model number, you can download the latest updates available.
The users of HP printers can prefer replacing their existing cartridges in case they are not supported by the devices. So to say, if your printer comprises non-HP ink cartridges, getting them replaced with the original and genuine ones will be suggested. Doing so will take care of HP printhead errors too.
HP printer error message “Problem with the Printhead” can sometimes occur due to unidentified causes. So, when you are not able to identify the cause all by yourself, you may wish to opt for professional assistance. For this purpose, you can get your HP printer serviced. After the device has been serviced, you will be suggested to check the functioning of your printer. In case it is functioning absolutely fine and is no longer displaying the printhead missing or failed issue, you will not have to execute any other measure for the same.
The problem of the printhead missing or being incompatible is usually seen on HP 8610 Printer. For skipping the HP Officejet Pro 8610 missing or failed printhead error, you can reseat the printhead as the best measure. For resetting this part, a particular set of directions will be needed. This printer part being vulnerable to damages, performing these directions in the correct manner will be suggested.
The users of HP Officejet Pro 8610 Printer can get bothered by the issue of a missing or failed printhead when the seating of this part has not been correctly done. Therefore, you can unseat it at first. After that, you can opt for reseating it. To share an overview of this measure with you, begin with draining the power charge from the device. Grasping the printhead, you can move it upwards and begin the procedure. At the end of the procedure, the HP 8610 printhead error will have been eliminated.
The remaining steps of this procedure can be found as follows:
Important: While executing the step mentioned above, ensure that the printer’s carriage is not producing any sound. Also, check that it is idle.
Important: The seventh step will help in checking that the printhead has correctly fitted into its place.
After reseating the printhead three times, you can be sure that this part has been seated in the correct way. The error should stop making its presence on your HP printer’s display.
As we already discussed above that the missing or failed printhead problem arises in HP Inkjet, HP Officejet, and dot matrix models only, we have enlisted some HP printer models prone to this HP printhead missing error.
In case the printhead is missing or appears to be failed on the following models of HP OfficeJet Pro Printers, you can resolve the problem using our fixes:
HP OfficeJet Pro 6830 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 6835 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Printer |
HP OfficeJet Pro 8615 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 8625 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 Printer |
HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro L7500 Printer | HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Printer | HP OfficeJet 6100 Printer |
HP OfficeJet 6230 Printer | HP OfficeJet 6500 Printer | HP OfficeJet 6600 Printer | HP OfficeJet 6700 Premium Printer |
HP OfficeJet 7110 Printer | HP OfficeJet 7610 Printer | HP OfficeJet 7612 Printer |
In case you want to use the fixes provided here for fixing the issue on HP PhotoSmart Printers, the following models will be compatible for the same:
HP PhotoSmart 7510 Printer | HP PhotoSmart 7520 Printer | HP PhotoSmart 7525 Printer | HP PhotoSmart B210 Printer |
The models of HP DesignJet and HP DeskJet Printers given here are compatible with our fixes:
HP DesignJet 500 Printer | HP DesignJet 5500 Printer | HP DesignJet T520 Printer | HP DesignJet T790 Printer | HP DeskJet GT 5820 Printer |
In case you have any additional queries, the frequently asked questions given in this section may be worth reading to find answers to them.
Your HP OfficeJet 8620 Printer may be showing you an error message indicating that there is a printhead failure or that this part is missing. This will indicate that the printhead hasn’t been detected perhaps due to faulty installation.
Resetting your HP 8600 Printer will be the best way to fix the printhead error. While resetting it, ensure that you turn it off for 1 to 2 minutes.
The HP printhead error on the 8620 printer model may be caused by low ink levels in the cartridge. Or you may be seeing the problem due to outdated firmware and printer failure.
Other HP Printer Models Printhead Issues Covered By us.
Fix HP Officejet Pro 6830 Printhead Problem, Replacement, Clean Printhead
If you still continue to face missing or failed printhead error in any HP printing models, you can reach our 24*7 support desk line or you can also chat with our technical team. Feel free to drop a query or any concern, and we will strive to provide the best possible solution for your HP printer. Besides that, approach us for any other printer’s concern too such as how to set up a fax from HP printer, HP ink system failure among others.
In Summary
Sometimes problems with the printhead of your HP device can occur. Considering it among usual issues, your printer’s printhead may go unrecognized or may encounter failures. This type of HP printhead error may get into the way of your tasks. Therefore, we invested our efforts to gather result-oriented fixes for troubleshooting this error. Resetting your device, realigning its printhead, cleaning its ink cartridges, etc., are some of the best ways to deal with such a problem. While using them, should you require additional assistance, please connect with us via comments. We’ll be pleased to assist you.
You may wish to engage in more such readings. Our fixes for the HP printer printing blank pages issue and HP 79 service error will be recommended.
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Hey Robert,
I'm having the same issues, I installed a new head only to get a printer head fault. When I install the old head the fault goes away and it prints. Did anyone reach out to you and help you with your problem as I'm looking for answers to.
I purchased and installed a reconditioned & tested printhead for an HP 7610. I tried to clean the old one, which was working somewhat but poor color, b&w ok; and I damage the plastic cover over the inkwells (?). When I install the new one I get these error messages "ink system failure & missing or failed print head". I've tried the reboot, etc and nothing changes. I just reinstalled the old one and I don't get the error messages! What gives?