HP Printer Ink Pump Locked [Solved]

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The following solutions provided in this article will help you to resolve the HP printer ink pump locked problem.

1. Check the Ink Delivery System – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

The first thing you need to do is to check the ink delivery system. Ensure that the transportation ink valve is not locked. Also, confirm that the printhead latch is not open and that the ink delivery tubes are filled with ink.

To check the ink delivery system, do the following steps:

Caution: While doing the steps below, ensure that you don’t touch the blue printhead latch. Doing so might open your printer carriage and in turn damage your printer’s ink system.

Step 1: Ensure that the transportation ink valve is not locked.

Caution: You can damage your printer’s printheads if the transportation ink valve is locked.

Step 2: Ensure that your HP printer is on.

Step 3: Examine the blue printhead latch’s position by doing the following:

i. Open your printer’s exterior door.

ii. Open your printer’s printhead access door.

iii. Wait for the carriage to become silent and idle before you proceed.

iv. Note the position of the blue printhead latch.

  • If it is closed, do the solution below.
  • If it is open, then you need to replace the printheads.

Caution: Ensure that you don’t touch the blue printhead latch. Doing so might open your printer carriage and in turn damage your printer’s ink system.

Step 4: Put your hand through your printer’s printhead access door.

Step 5: Move the carriage within the printer to the right.

Step 6: Examine the printer’s ink delivery tubes.

  • If the ink delivery tubes are stained with ink or white, then it means your printer is out of ink or not correctly primed. Therefore, you need to replace the printheads.
  • If the ink delivery tubes are completely dark and filled with ink, then it means the ink in your printer is full and is correctly primed. In this case, do the solution below.

After doing the above checks, check if the ink pump is still locked.

If your HP printer ink pump remains locked up after doing the above checks, do the next solution.

2. Clean the Printhead via HP Cleaning Utility Software – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To clean the printhead via the HP Cleaning Utility software, follow the steps below that apply to your computer’s operating system:

Caution: The cleaning process should only be done when necessary. Frequent cleaning can waste ink and easily reduce the printhead’s life. Always turn off your printer when not in use by pressing the power button to prevent the printhead from drying out.

How to Clean Printhead via HP Cleaning Utility Software in Windows – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

Try any of the methods below to clean your printer’s printhead via the HP cleaning Utility software in Windows.

Method 1 – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

Step 1: On your Windows computer, navigate to “Control Panel.”

Step 2: Click “View devices and printers” under “Hardware and Sound.”

Step 3: Click on your HP printer icon.

Step 4: Click “Properties.”

Step 5: Click “Printing Preferences.”

Step 6: Click on the tab labeled “Service.”

Step 7: Click “Printer Services.”

Step 8: Click “Clean Printheads.”

Method 2 – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

Step 1: Check the program list and open the HP folder.

Step 2: Click your HP printer folder.

Step 3: Click your HP printer name.

This action will open the HP Printer Assistant.

Step 4: Click the “Maintain Your Printer” option in the HP Printer Assistant window.

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

Step 6: Click on “Clean Ink Cartridges.”

This action will cause your printer to print a Print Quality Diagnostic page.

Step 7: Inspect the printed page.

  • If you are satisfied with the print quality, click “Done.” Don’t troubleshoot further.
  • If you are not satisfied with the print quality, wait for a prompt instructing you to perform the next level of cleaning, and then click on “Second-level Clean.”

Note: If the clog in the printheads is severe, you might have to clean the printheads more than once. In such a case, after the first cleaning, wait for 30 minutes before cleaning the printheads again; first and second-level cleaning.

How to Clean Printhead via HP Cleaning Utility Software in OS X – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To clean the printheads via HP Cleaning Utility software in OS X, do the following steps:

Step 1: Run a search on your Mac OS X computer for “print.”

Step 2: Click on “Printers & Scanners” or “Print & Scan” from the search results.

Step 3: Click on your HP printer name.

Step 4: Click on “Open Print Queue.”

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

Step 6: Click on “Utility.”

Step 7: Click on “Open Printer Utility.”

Step 8: Click on “Clean Printheads.”

Step 9: Click “Print” once the printhead cleaning is complete.

This action will cause your printer to print a Print Quality Diagnostic page.

Step 7: Inspect the printed page.

  • If you are satisfied with the print quality, click “Done.” Don’t troubleshoot further.
  • If you are not satisfied with the print quality, wait for a prompt instructing you to perform the next level of cleaning, and then click on “Second-level Clean.”

Note: If the clog in the printheads is severe, you might have to clean the printheads more than once. In such a case, after the first cleaning, wait for 30 minutes before cleaning the printheads again; first and second-level cleaning.

Check if the issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, do the next solution.

3. Hard Reset your HP Printer – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To hard reset your HP printer, click this link: How to Do Hard Reset On HP Printer – How to Reset HP Printer, and then follow the instructions that apply to your HP printer model.

Check if the issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, do the next solution.

4. Replace the Printheads – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

The problem might be with your printheads if the solutions we’ve shared so far did not fix the problem.

To replace the printhead, ensure that you get genuine HP printheads that are compatible with your HP printer.

After getting the replacement printheads, check your printer’s user manual for instructions on how to replace the printheads. If you don’t have the manual, you can check the internet for an online manual.

If you use any of the HP DeskJet GT 5810, or 5820 printers, you can follow the instructions below to replace the printheads.

 How to Replace Printheads on HP DeskJet GT 5810, 5820 Printers – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To replace the printheads on HP DeskJet GT 5810, or 5820 printers, follow the instructions below.

Note: The instructions below apply to the following printers: HP DeskJet 5822, 5821, 5820, 581, and 5810 All-in-One printers.

1. Replace the Printheads – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To replace the printheads, do the following steps:

Note: Your printer won’t begin the priming process until both printheads (black and tri-color) are installed into the printer. If one of the printheads is missing, you will get an E-8 error on your printer.

Step 1: Press the power button to turn on your HP printer.

Step 2: Ensure that there is paper in your printer’s input paper tray.

Step 3: Ensure that the ink levels in the ink tanks are not below the minimum fill line.

Step 4: Close your printer’s output tray extender.

Step 5: Rotate your printer’s output tray to the left to enable you to keep it within the printer.

Step 6: Ensure that the ink valve is not locked.

If the ink valve is locked during the replacement process, ink might begin to drip.

Step 7: Open your printer’s exterior door.

Step 8: Open your printer’s printhead access door.

If your printer’s carriage fails to move to the middle of your printer, put your hand inside the printer and move the carriage to the middle.

Step 9: Lightly push down on the carriage latch (it is blue-colored).

This action will cause the carriage latch to open.

Step 10: Release the tri-color printhead from the carriage by gently pressing down on the printhead.

Step 11: Carefully pull out the tri-color printhead from the carriage slot.

If removing the printhead proves difficult, lightly push up on the latch to enable the smooth removal of the printhead.

Step 12: Release the black printhead from the carriage by gently pressing down on the printhead.

Step 13: Carefully pull out the black printhead from the carriage slot.

If removing the printhead proves difficult, lightly push up on the latch to enable the smooth removal of the printhead.

Caution: Ensure that the printhead is upright at all times to prevent ink leakage. Ensure that you don’t touch the printhead towers (these are the nozzles found on the printhead), to avoid stains from residual ink.

Step 14: Open the replacement printheads’ packages.

Step 15: Take out the new replacement printheads from their packages.

Step 16: Pull up the orange plugs from the top of both printheads.

Step 17: Pull the tabs on the printheads to remove the protective tapes from the contacts.

Caution: Ensure that you don’t touch the ink nozzles or contacts. Don’t replace the tapes you removed on the contacts. Doing any of these can lead to poor electrical connections, ink failure, and clogs.

Step 18: Slide the black printhead at a somewhat upward angle into the right slot.

Step 19: Lightly push up on the black printhead so that it is well-seated in its slot.

Step 20: Slide the black printhead at a somewhat upward angle into the right slot.

Step 21: Lightly push up on the black printhead so that it is well-seated in its slot.

Step 22: Firmly push down on the carriage latch to close it. Ensure that it is well-locked in place.

Caution: Ensure that you don’t open the carriage latch after you have installed the printhead. Doing so might cause serious errors in the ink system.

Step 23: Close your printer’s printhead access door.

This action will cause the control panel to display a blinking P.

Step 24: Close your printer’s exterior door.

Step 25: Pull out your printer’s output tray.

Step 26: Raise the output tray extender.

You can read this article: HP Printer Locked [Issues & Proven Solutions] to learn about other HP printer locked issues and how to resolve them.

2. Align the Installed Printheads – HP Printer Ink Pump Locked

To align the installed printheads, do the following steps:

Note: After the alignment process, your printer will begin priming the ink system. During this process, don’t disconnect power from your printer or move it.

Step 1: Press down the Resume button on your printer’s control panel for 3 seconds.

When the blinking P is a blinking A, then the alignment has started.

The above action will cause your printer to print an alignment page.

Step 2: Lift your printer’s scanner lid.

Step 3: Place the printed alignment page on the scanner glass with the print side facing down.

Ensure that you position the alignment page by following the engraved guides that are around the scanner glass.

Step 4: Close your printer’s scanner lid.

Step 5: Press the Start Copy Color button on your printer’s control panel.

Your printer will now align the installed printheads.

The ink system priming will also begin. During the priming process, you can carry out normal printer functions such as printing, scanning, and making copies.

Note: The priming can take up to 45 minutes.

When the rotating lines on the control panel displayed become 0, then the priming of the ink system is complete.  

After replacing the printheads, check if the issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, contact HP Customer Support for further assistance.