HP Printer "In an Error State" — What It Means and How to Fix It
The "in an error state" message on an HP printer can be caused by a USB issue, a driver problem, or the printer itself. This guide walks through every fix in order.
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When Windows shows your HP printer as "In an error state," it means Windows can see the printer but can't communicate with it properly. It's not usually a hardware failure — most of the time it's a software or connection issue.
Step 1: Restart Everything
This sounds simple, but a full power cycle fixes this error about a third of the time:
- Turn off the printer using its power button.
- Unplug the printer's power cord from the wall (not just the back of the printer).
- Restart your computer.
- After the computer has fully restarted, plug the printer's power cord back in and turn it on.
- Wait for the printer to finish its startup cycle, then try printing.
Step 2: Check the USB or Network Connection
For USB printers: Unplug the USB cable from both the printer and the PC. Try a different USB port on the PC — avoid USB hubs and plug directly into the computer. Try a different USB cable if you have one. Damaged cables are a surprisingly common cause of the error state.
For network printers: Make sure the printer's wireless indicator is lit (not blinking). Print a wireless network test from the printer's control panel to confirm it's connected. If the IP address has changed, Windows may be trying to reach the printer at an old address — remove and re-add the printer in Settings.
Step 3: Run the HP Print and Scan Doctor
HP provides a free diagnostic tool called HP Print and Scan Doctor. Download it from HP's support site, run it, and select your printer. It automatically detects and fixes the most common causes of the error state, including driver issues and spooler problems.
Step 4: Restart the Print Spooler
Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click it and choose Restart. Then go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click your HP printer, and check if the error state is gone.
Step 5: Reinstall the HP Driver
Remove the printer from Settings, then go to hp.com/support, search for your model, and download the full HP software and driver package. Reinstall it fresh. When the installer asks how the printer is connected, choose the correct option (USB or Wireless).
Still seeing the error state? Ask us — some models have known firmware bugs that HP has issued updates for.
Frequently asked questions
HP Print and Scan Doctor says 'Device not found.' What does that mean?
It means the diagnostic tool can't detect the printer at all. For USB, try a different cable and port. For wireless, check that the printer's Wi-Fi indicator is solid (not blinking) and confirm the printer is on the same network as your computer. If the printer appears connected but is still not found, try assigning it a static IP address from the printer's network settings menu.
The printer shows 'In an error state' but still prints occasionally. Is that normal?
No — this indicates an intermittent connection problem. The error state appears when Windows can't query the printer's status, which often happens with a loose USB cable, a dropping Wi-Fi signal, or a printer that's power-cycling unexpectedly. Address the underlying connection issue to prevent it from becoming a permanent problem.
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