How to Reset Printer HP: Power, Network and Factory Resets

Quick answer: How to reset printer HP models depends on what’s wrong, because HP offers several resets. A power reset is the gentle one: unplug the power cord, wait at least 15 seconds, plug it back in. A network reset wipes only network settings. Restore Factory Defaults and Cold Reset are the heavy options, and Cold Reset erases saved passwords, address books and stored jobs.

It’s tempting to reach for the factory reset first. I wouldn’t. It’s the one that forces you to redo every preference you ever changed, and for a frozen screen or a stuck error light it’s overkill when a plain power reset takes under a minute.

When I sort HP’s resets from gentlest to harshest, there are five. Here’s how I’d choose.

Which HP Reset Do You Need?

Problem	Reset to try	What it erases
Frozen screen, error lights, won’t respond	Power reset	Nothing
Wi-Fi lost, new router, wrong network	Restore network settings	Wireless and Ethernet settings
One feature misbehaves (copy, scan, fax)	Restore selected settings	Only that feature’s settings
Settings tangled beyond repair	Restore factory defaults	Your settings
Selling or giving it away	Cold Reset	Passwords, network, stored jobs, address book, Web Services info

Why It Happens

1. A temporary error state. The firmware hangs. Buttons do nothing.
2. Network details changed. A new router name or password strands the printer on the old network.
3. Settings drifted. Someone changed a copy, scan or fax default months ago, nobody remembers what it was, and now every job comes out slightly wrong.
4. You need a clean slate. Handing the printer on calls for wiping personal data.

How to Reset Printer HP Models, Step by Step

Start at the top. Move down only when the step above fails. Simple.

1. Do a Power Reset

HP’s OfficeJet Pro 9010 manual gives this sequence:

1. Make sure the power cord is firmly connected and the printer is on.
2. With the printer on, disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer.
3. Unplug the cord from the wall outlet.
4. Wait at least 15 seconds.
5. Plug the cord back into the wall, then into the printer.
6. If it doesn’t turn on by itself, press the Power button.

Smaller models differ a little. For a DeskJet 2700 showing a blinking E and 6 (an error state), HP says to turn the printer off, unplug the cord, wait a minute, then plug it back in and turn it on.

One distinction matters here. For everyday shutdowns, HP says to press the Power button and wait until the light goes out before unplugging. Otherwise the print carriage may not park correctly, which can cause print quality problems. The power reset above is a deliberate fix. Not a habit.

2. Restore Network Settings

Use this when Wi-Fi is the problem and everything else works. It’s quick.

Touchscreen models (OfficeJet Pro 9010 example):

1. Swipe down the tab at the top of the screen to open the Dashboard, then touch Setup.
2. Touch Network Setup, then Restore Network Settings.
3. Touch Yes to confirm.
4. Print the network configuration page to check the reset worked.

HP notes this removes previous wireless and Ethernet settings, like the link speed or IP address, and sets the IP back to Automatic.

Button models (DeskJet 2700 example): Press and hold the Wireless button and the Cancel button together for three seconds. HP’s guide uses the same combination to put the printer back into setup mode, with the light next to the Wireless button blinking blue. Then reconnect it in the HP Smart app.

3. Restore Only Some Settings

On the OfficeJet Pro 9010, go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore > Restore Settings. You can pick Copy, Scan, Fax or Network, then touch Restore. In practice, this is the smart middle ground when one feature acts up.

4. Restore Factory Defaults

On the same model: Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore > Restore Factory Defaults, then Continue. Expect to redo your preferences afterward, so I’d snap a photo of any settings screens you care about before you touch Continue.

5. Use Cold Reset Before Selling

HP’s Cold Reset is the full wipe. HP says it removes all user-configured settings, including saved administrator passwords, network configurations, stored jobs, country/region and language, Address Book entries and Web Services account information. It sits under Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore > Cold Reset.

HP describes it as the option for selling the printer or giving it away. My take: don’t use it to fix a paper jam. Ever.

Menu names vary by model. If yours doesn’t match, don’t guess at button combinations; check your model’s user guide on HP’s support site.

Reset the Computer Side Too

Sometimes the printer is fine. Windows is the problem. Microsoft’s printer troubleshooting page suggests turning the printer off, unplugging it for 30 seconds, then clearing the print spooler and removing and re-adding the printer in Settings.

Our guide on how to reset printer spooler in Windows 11 walks through the spooler part. If the printer shows “offline” rather than frozen, start with how to fix printer offline HP instead.

When to Contact HP

Won’t power on at all? Check the cord and try another outlet first. HP’s manual says a printer not receiving power should be connected to a different outlet.

I’d call HP if an error code returns right after a power reset, or if the control panel stays blank on a working outlet. Those point to hardware, and opening the printer can create bigger problems. More printer help lives in printers and office machines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Reset My HP Printer Without the Screen?

On button-only models like the DeskJet 2700, hold the Wireless and Cancel buttons together for three seconds to restore network settings. For a frozen printer, a power reset needs no screen at all.

Does Resetting an HP Printer Delete Wi-Fi?

A power reset doesn’t. Restoring network settings does, and HP says it removes wireless and Ethernet settings and sets the IP address back to Automatic. Cold Reset also erases network configurations.

What Is HP Cold Reset?

It’s HP’s full wipe. HP says it removes saved administrator passwords, network configurations, stored jobs, language and country settings, Address Book entries and Web Services account information.

How Long Should I Unplug My HP Printer to Reset It?

HP’s OfficeJet Pro 9010 manual says at least 15 seconds. For a DeskJet 2700 in an error state, HP says to wait a minute.

Last updated: November 10, 2026. Sources: HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 series user guide (PDF), HP DeskJet 2700 All-in-One series user guide (PDF) and Microsoft: fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows.