Printer screen is blank or frozen

Many printers switch the screen off to save power while the power light stays on, dims or pulses. Tap the screen, press any button or the power button once, or send a print job. If the screen comes back, the printer was asleep rather than broken, and you can lengthen the sleep timer in its settings.

If the screen works but is very dim or goes dark quickly, look in the settings under Display, Screen, Preferences or Setup for brightness and screen timeout options. On some printers these are only on the built-in web page, which you open by typing the printer's IP address into a browser.

Smudges, moisture or a leftover protective film can stop touches registering. Peel off any shipping film, then turn the printer off and wipe the screen with a soft, dry or barely damp microfiber cloth. Don't spray cleaner directly onto the screen.

Turn the printer off with its power button. If it ignores the button, and no update is showing, unplug the cable from the wall. Disconnect it from the printer too, wait 60 seconds, then plug it straight into a wall outlet and turn it on. This clears most temporary freezes.

If the screen shows a progress bar or an updating message, or the lights flash in a slow sequence just after an update was offered, the printer is probably installing firmware. Leave it plugged in and connected, and wait at least 30 minutes before doing anything. Cutting power during an update can leave the printer unable to start.

If an update was interrupted by a power cut or unplugging and the printer now stays blank or stuck on its logo, turn it off and on once and give it time; many printers retry the update or start in a recovery mode by themselves. Some manufacturers provide a recovery method on their official support site, so look up your exact model there.

If the screen works but keeps freezing in the menus, restoring factory defaults can clear a corrupt setting. It erases your Wi-Fi details and any saved settings such as fax or contact lists, so you'll need to set the printer up again. Use the menu option if you can reach it; if your manual lists a button combination instead, follow it exactly rather than guessing.

If the printer still prints from your computer or shows up in the maker's app while the screen stays dark, the display or its cable has probably failed. You can usually keep printing and change settings from the built-in web page or the app. For a repair, contact the manufacturer through its official support website.