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Print head error on an ink tank printer

Print head problem, head not detected or warning lights after setup or a move? Reseat user-installed heads, check tape, latch and contacts, and know when to get service.

15–30 min
Moderate
Updated

Quick fix

Turn the printer off and back on with its power button first. If the error stays and your model has user-installed print heads, open the access door as the manual shows, check each head is seated with all protective tape removed, close the latch firmly and restart. On models with a built-in head, a lasting head error usually needs the manufacturer's service.

Didn’t work? Go to the full steps

You might see

  • A print head problem, missing, incompatible or not detected message
  • Print head or warning lights flashing in a pattern your manual explains
  • The carriage stops, or won't move, after a head was installed or reseated
  • The error appeared after setup, a move or a paper jam

Usually caused by

  • A head not fully seated, or its latch not closed firmly
  • Protective tape or caps left on a new head
  • Dried ink or dust on the electrical contacts
  • A latch knocked open during a move, letting the head shift
  • A failed head or a carriage fault, which needs a replacement part or service

Safety first. Follow your manual on whether the printer should be on so the carriage moves within reach, keep your hands clear until it stops completely, unplug the printer before cleaning anything inside, and keep heads and ink away from children and pets, since ink stains and must not be swallowed.

Step-by-step fix

Work through the steps in order and check each one off. Most people are printing again before the last step.

Any ink tank printer

0 of 8 steps tried

  1. Restart the printer

    Turn it off with its power button, wait a minute and turn it back on. A one-off detection glitch often clears this way.

  2. Find out whether your heads are user-installed

    Check your manual. Some ink tank models, including many HP Smart Tank and some Canon G series printers, have print heads you fit during setup and can reseat or replace. Others, including most Epson EcoTank models, have a built-in head that only the manufacturer's service replaces.

  3. Open the access door the way the manual shows

    On many models you open the front or ink access door with the printer on, and the carriage moves to where you can reach it. Wait until it has stopped completely before you touch anything.

  4. Reseat the heads and close the latch

    Open the head latch or cover only as the manual describes, lift each head out and push it back in until it seats. Close the latch firmly until it clicks, since a latch that isn't fully down is a common cause of this error. Don't leave a head out of the printer for more than a few minutes, or its nozzles can start to dry.

  5. Check for tape and caps

    If the heads are new, make sure every piece of protective tape and any plug or cap has been removed. Tape over the contacts stops the printer detecting the head; tape over the nozzles stops ink coming out.

  6. Clean the contacts gently

    With a head out, turn the printer off and unplug it, then look at the copper contacts on the head and in the carriage. If you see dried ink or dust, wipe them lightly with a dry, lint-free cloth, or one barely dampened with distilled water if your manual allows, and let them dry. Don't touch the nozzles or the contacts with your fingers.

  7. Check the head matches your printer

    Replacement heads are made for specific printer series. If the error appeared right after fitting a new head, compare its part number with the one in your manual.

  8. Get a replacement head or service

    If the error returns after reseating and cleaning, the head or carriage may have failed. On models with user-replaceable heads, buy the head listed for your model from the manufacturer or an authorized seller; for built-in heads, contact the manufacturer through its official support website.

Common questions

Should I take the print heads out to move the printer?

Usually not. Many manufacturers advise against opening the head latch after setup except to replace a head or when the moving instructions in your manual say to.

Is a print head error the same as clogged nozzles?

No. Clogged nozzles cause faint or streaky prints but the printer still works. A head error means the printer can't detect or communicate with the head, and it usually stops printing.

Why did the error start after I moved the printer?

A bump can shift a head slightly or open a latch that wasn't fully closed. Reseating the head and closing the latch firmly usually fixes it.

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