HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights [How to Fix]

In this article, we will discuss the meaning of HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 printer warning lights and how to clear the warning lights.

Table of Contents

Blinking Power Light – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

This indicates that your printer is busy printing a job. Since this is a normal situation, you don’t have to do anything when you see this HP printer light pattern. The power light will stop blinking once the printing is complete.

Cycling Power, Resume, and Both Cartridge Lights – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

When you see the power, resume, and both cartridge (left and the right) lights begin to cycle it is a normal situation that happens when during startup; that is when your printer is turned on.

You don’t have to do anything because the light will stop cycling once the startup process is complete.

Turned-on Power Light, Turned-on or Blinking Resume Light, and Blinking Right Cartridge Light – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

This occurs due to issues with your printer’s ink service module. When this happens, below are the two possible light pattern scenarios you might encounter.

i. The power light is turned on, the resume light is also turned on, while the right cartridge light is blinking. When this happens, this message will be displayed on your computer: “Replace Ink service Module As Soon As Possible.”

ii. The power light is turned on, the resume light is blinking, and the right cartridge light is also blinking. When this happens, this message will be displayed on your computer: “Replace Ink Service Module Immediately.”

To resolve this problem, do the following solutions in the given order.

1. Replace your Printer’s Ink Service Module and then Reset your printer – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To replace your printer’s ink service module and then reset your printer, do the following tasks:

1. Replace your Printer’s Ink Service Module

To replace your printer’s ink service module, do the following steps:

Note: Don’t turn your printer upside down when you are removing the ink service module. If you turn the printer during this removal process, it might lead to wet ink flowing out of your printer’s ink service module. We recommend that you use plastic gloves to prevent ink stains on furniture and your hands during the removal process.

Step 1: Remove the power cable from your printer.

Step 2: If your printer uses a battery, remove it from your printer by sliding the releaser slider to the left.

You can skip this step if your printer does not use a battery as it is not the main accessory.

Step 3: Turn your printer slowly and carefully to the side to enable you to access the ink service module since it is placed on the underside of your printer.

Step 4: Locate and then press and move the notch that covers the module with the aid of a screwdriver.

Step 5: With the aid of a screwdriver, remove the module by rotating it to the left.

Step 6: Take out the service module from its packaging.

Step 7: Install a new ink service module.

Note: Ensure that the replacement ink service module is the right one for your printer.

Step 8: Position your printer correctly.

Step 9: Plug the power cable into your printer.

Do the next task.

2. Reinstall your Printer’s Battery

To reinstall your printer’s battery, do the following steps:

Note: This is optional and only for those printers that use a battery. If your printer doesn’t use a battery, skip to the next task.

Step 1: Slide your battery into its slot on your printer.

Step 2: Ensure that the contacts on the slot and the battery align correctly.

Step 3: Push your battery into its slot on your printer and ensure that is firmly installed.

Step 4: Plug the power cable into your printer.

Do the next task.

3. Reset HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series

To reset HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 mobile printer series, do the following steps:

Caution: If you didn’t install a new ink service module, do not reset your printer. Resetting your printer without replacing the module might lead to overflow.

Step 1: Ensure that the power cable is properly connected to your printer.

Step 2: Confirm that the printer is on; if it is not, turn it on.

Step 3: Press down the “Cancel” and “Resume” buttons on your printer for 8 seconds and then release both buttons.

This action will cause the right cartridge and the resume lights to turn off. Your printer will then enter the ready state.

If the problem is resolved after doing the above tasks, stop troubleshooting.

If the problem persists, do the solution below.

2. Print in Reserve Mode – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 mobile printer series have a special mode that allows you to print with the tri-color cartridge only when the black cartridge is taken out of the printer. This mode is known as reserve mode.

If you are unable to replace the ink service module, then you can use this option as a temporary solution. However, bear in mind that you cannot use this mode for an extended period.

Note: When printing in reserve mode, the print speed, and the color results might be affected.

How to Print in Reserve Mode on HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series

To print in reserve mode on HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 mobile printer series, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your printer if it is not turned on.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage within your printer to become idle and silent before you proceed.

Step 4: Lift your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 5: Gently take out the black ink cartridge from its slot.

Step 6: Press your printer’s “Resume” button.

Your printer will resume printing in reserve mode.

If the problem was not fixed after trying the solutions we shared above, then you need to service your HP printer.

To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support to fix a repair date for your HP printer. Folks in the Asia Pacific will be asked to contact the nearest service center to them.

If your printer is still under warranty, the repair will be free. Click here to confirm the warranty status of your HP printer.

Turned-on Power Light and Blinking Resume Light – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

When this happens, your printer will pause printing. This is caused by any of these:

i. Your printer is out of paper.

ii. Your printer is waiting for the inserted paper to dry.

iii. Your printer is busy printing a Digital Print Order Format (DPOF).

To fix this issue, do these solutions:

1. Allow the Paper to Dry – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

If your printer is in this state because it wants the paper to get dry, you also need to exercise patience and allow the paper to dry. Once the paper is dry, your printer will resume normal printing functions.

If you are certain that your printer is not waiting for the paper to dry, do the next solution.

2. Load Paper into your Printer – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

If your printer is in this state because it is out of paper, then you need to load paper into your printer so that it can resume normal printing functions.

How to Load Paper into HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series

To load paper into HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 mobile printer series, do the following steps:

Step 1: Load the paper into your printer with the print side facing up.

Step 2: Align the paper against your printer’s paper guide.

Step 3: Move the paper width guide to rest against the sides of the paper.

Ensure that that paper does not squeeze the paper.

Step 4: Press your printer’s “Resume” button.

Your printer will resume normal printing functions.

If the problem was not fixed after trying the solutions we shared above, then you need to service your HP printer.

We recommend that you read this article: HP Printer Warning [Detailed Guide] to learn about other HP printer warnings that you might encounter when using your HP printer.

Turned-on Power Light and Blinking Left Cartridge Light – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

When you see the power light turned on and the left cartridge light blinking, it is an indication that the tri-color ink cartridge in your printer requires attention.

To fix this problem, do the solutions below in their given order:

1. Remove, Examine, and Reseat the Tri-Color Cartridge – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To remove, examine, and then reseat the tri-color cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your printer if it is not turned on.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become idle and silent before you proceed.

Caution: Do not try to take out or insert cartridges into your printer while the carriage is moving. Doing so might lead to injuries.

Step 4: Lift your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 5: Remove the tri-color ink cartridge from its slot by pulling it up and then out.

Step 6: Check for the protective tape on the tri-color cartridge. If the tape is still on it, remove the tape.

Caution: Ensure that you don’t remove the copper strip on the cartridge. Doing so will permanently damage the cartridge.

Step 7: Reinstall the tri-color ink cartridge into the slot you took it out from by reinstalling it at the same angle you took it out.

Step 8: Close your printer’s cartridge cover.

This action will secure the cartridges in place.

Step 9: Close your printer’s cover.

If the problem is resolved after doing the above steps, stop troubleshooting.

If the problem persists, do the solution below.

2. Clean the Tri-color Cartridge – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To clean the tri-color cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Get these items:

i. Distilled water. You can use filtered or bottled water if you can’t get distilled water. Ensure that you don’t use tap water as the possibility of containing contaminants is high, and these contaminants can damage your cartridge.

ii. Clean cotton swabs or soft fluff-free fabric. You can also use coffee filters.

iii. Paper towel or paper sheets.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become silent and idle.

Step 4: Remove the power cable from your printer.

Step 5: Open your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 6: Take out the tri-color cartridge from your printer.

Step 7: Place the tri-color cartridge on the paper towel or paper sheets.

Ensure that the nozzle plate of the cartridge is facing up.

Caution: Do not leave the cartridge outside your printer longer than 30 minutes. Doing so can cause the ink in the cartridge to dry up and lead to clogging in the nozzles.

Step 8: Dampen a cotton swab or fluff-free fabric with clean distilled or bottled water.

Ensure that you remove excess moisture by squeezing the swab or fabric.

Step 9: Clean the contacts on the cartridge with the swab or fabric.

Caution: Don’t allow the swab or fabric to contact the ink nozzles when cleaning the cartridge.

Step 10: Dampen another cotton swab or fluff-free fabric with clean distilled or bottled water.

Ensure that you remove excess moisture by squeezing the swab or fabric.

Step 11: Wipe the contacts on the carriage within your printer with the cotton swab or fabric.

Step 12: You can let the cartridge get dry naturally by waiting for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can dry it with a new cotton swab or fluff-free fabric.

The second option will ensure that you don’t leave the cartridge outside your printer longer than necessary.

Step 13: Reinsert the tri-color cartridge into your printer.

Step 14: Close the cartridge slot’s cover.

Step 15: Close your printer’s cover.

Step 16: Plug the power cable into your printer.

Step 17: Turn on your printer by pressing its power button.

If the problem is resolved after doing the above steps, stop troubleshooting.

If the problem persists, do the solution below.

3. Reseat and Clean the Tri-Color Cartridge Again – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

If at this point the issue is not fixed, repeat the steps we shared under the “Remove, Examine, and Reseat the Tri-Color Cartridge” and the “Clean the Tri-color Cartridge” sections above.

If the problem is resolved after doing the above tasks, stop troubleshooting.

If the problem persists, do the solution below.

4. Replace the Tri-Color Cartridge in HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To replace the tri-color cartridge, do the following tasks:

1. How to Replace the Tri-Color Cartridge in HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series

To replace the tri-color cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your printer if it is not turned on.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become idle and silent before you proceed.

Caution: Do not try to take out or insert cartridges into your printer while the carriage is moving. Doing so might lead to injuries.

Step 4: Lift your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 5: Remove the tri-color ink cartridge from its slot by pulling it up and then out.

Step 6: Take out the new tri-color ink cartridge from the packaging.

Step 7: Remove the cartridge’s protective film by pulling the colored tab.

Step 8: Install the new tri-color ink cartridge into the left slot at the same angle you took out the old tri-color cartridge.

Note: Confirm that the cartridge’s number matches that on your printer’s cartridge cover. If it doesn’t, do not install the cartridge into your printer.

Step 9: Close your printer’s cartridge cover.

This action will secure the installed cartridges inside the printer.

Step 10: Close your printer’s cover.

Step 11: Allow the cartridge within your printer to complete the routine of initializing the newly installed cartridge.

Once the initialization is complete, your printer will go back to the left side of your printer.

Move to the next task.

2. Align the Installed Cartridges in HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Series

To align your installed cartridges, choose the method below depending on your computer’s operating system.

Via Windows

To align the installed cartridges via Windows, do the following steps:

Step 1: Click on the search icon on the taskbar.

Step 2: Type “HP.”

Step 3: Click on the name of your HP printer from the search results.

This action will open the HP Printer Assistant.

Step 4: Click on “Maintain Your Printer.”

Step 5: Click on the tab labeled “Device Services.”

Step 6: Click on “Align Cartridges.”

An alignment page will be printed and an alignment window will open.

Step 7: Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the printhead alignment.

Step 8: Click on “Done.”

Step 9: Discard or recycle the printed alignment page.

Via Mac

Step 1: Search for “Print.”

Step 2: From the search results, click on “Printers & Scanners.”

Step 3: Click on the name of your HP printer.

Step 4: Click on “Open Print Queue.”

Step 5: Click on “Settings” or “Printer Setup.”

Step 6: Click on “Utility.”

Step 7: Click on “Open Printer Utility.”

Step 8: Click on “Align.”

An alignment page will be printed and an alignment window will open.

Step 9: Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the printhead alignment.

Sep 10: Click on “Done.”

Step 11: Discard or recycle the printed alignment page.

Turned-on Power Light and Blinking Right Cartridge Light – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

When you see the power light turned on and the right cartridge light blinking, it is an indication that the black ink cartridge in your printer requires attention.

To fix this problem, do the solutions below in their given order:

1. Remove, Examine, and Reseat the Black Cartridge – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To remove, examine, and then reseat the black cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your printer if it is not turned on.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become idle and silent before you proceed.

Caution: Do not try to take out or insert cartridges into your printer while the carriage is moving. Doing so might lead to injuries.

Step 4: Lift your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 5: Remove the black ink cartridge from its slot by pulling it up and then out.

Step 6: Check for the protective tape on the black cartridge. If the tape is still on it, remove the tape.

Caution: Ensure that you don’t remove the copper strip on the cartridge. Doing so will permanently damage the cartridge.

Step 7: Reinstall the black ink cartridge into the slot you took it out from by reinstalling it at the same angle you took it out.

Step 8: Close your printer’s cartridge cover.

This action will secure the cartridges in place.

Step 9: Close your printer’s cover.

If the problem is resolved after doing the above steps, stop troubleshooting.

If the problem persists, do the solution below.

2. Clean the Black Cartridge – HP DeskJet 460 and OfficeJet H470 Printer Warning Lights

To clean the black cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Get these items:

ii. Clean cotton swabs or soft fluff-free fabric. You can also use coffee filters.

iii. Paper towel or paper sheets.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cover.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become silent and idle.

Step 4: Remove the power cable from your printer.

Step 5: Open your printer’s cartridge cover.

Step 6: Take out the black cartridge from your printer.

Step 7: Place the black cartridge on the paper towel or paper sheets.