HP Printer Mode [How To, Issues & Solutions]

This article will address and provide solutions to some HP printer mode issues.

MFG Mode on HP Printer – HP Printer Mode

In this section, we will answer the question “what is HP MFG mode?” Furthermore, we will guide you on how to get your printer out of MFG mode if your HP printer is stuck in MFG mode.

What Does MFG Mode Mean on an HP Printer? [Answered]

HP printer MFG mode is a malfunction that happens to the HP M404 printer line. Such printers involuntarily boot and go into the MFG (manufacturing) mode. When this happens, the menus and keys on the control panel will become unavailable or unresponsive. 

How to Fix HP Printer Stuck In MFG Mode

If your HP printer is stuck in MFG mode, do the steps below to fix the problem:

Step 1: Press your printer’s power button. This action should cause the “Ready” screen of your HP printer to be displayed.

Step 2: Enter the printer’s “Engineering Menu” by pressing the following buttons in this order: cancel, return, return, cancel, return, return.

Step 3: When the “Underware Menu” appears, press “OK”.

Step 4: When “boot code menu” is displayed, press “OK”.

Step 5: When “set to mfg_mode” is displayed, press the printer’s right arrow button.

This action will cause this information to be displayed: “set to user_mode”.

Step 6: Press “OK”.

Step 7: Turn off/on your HP printer. This should return your HP printer to user mode and normal operation.

The HP printer m404dn MFG mode issue can be fixed using the steps above.

Quiet Mode on HP Printer – HP Printer Mode

Quiet mode on HP printers enables printers to print with less noise. When this mode is activated, the printing speed will be reduced; however, the print quality will not be affected.

We recommend that you watch the video below.

How to turn On/Off HP Printer Quiet Mode [HP DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet, and All-in-One]

To turn on/off quiet mode on HP Deskjet, Envy, OfficeJet, and All-in-One printers, do the steps below:

Note: Ensure that you are printing on regular paper and that the print quality setting is set to “Normal” when you print in quiet mode. 

Step 1: Go to your printer’s control panel.

Step 2: Swipe left.

Step 3: Touch the “Setup” icon.

Step 4: Touch “Preferences”.

Step 5: Turn on the quiet mode by touching the box beside the “Quiet Mode” option.

Step 6:  Touch “OK”.

Repeat the above steps to turn off your HP printer quiet mode.

How to turn On/Off HP LaserJet Quiet Mode

To turn on/off quiet mode on HP LaserJet quiet mode, do the following:

1. Update your HP Printer Firmware

This step is necessary to ensure that the quiet mode setting is displayed on the control panel of your HP printer.

Note: You don’t need to update your printer firmware if your use any of these printers: HP LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425 and HP LaserJet Pro 400 Printer M401 since they already have the setting for quiet mode.

Go to http://www.hp.com/go/support to update your HP LaserJet printer firmware.

2. Enable Quiet Mode Setting

To enable the quiet mode setting on your HP LaserJet printer, follow the steps below that fit the display of your HP printer control panel.

Note: The default setting for quiet mode is “Off”.

How to Enable Quiet Mode Setting on HP LaserJet Printers with Touchscreen Control Panel Display  

To enable the quiet mode setting on HP LaserJet printers with touchscreen control panel display, do the following:

Note: Scroll with the scroll bar, and select an option by touching it.

Step 1: Go to the control panel of your HP printer.

Step 2: Scroll till you see the “Setup” icon.

Step 3: Select the “Setup” icon by touching it.

Step 4: From the “Setup Menu”, select “System Setup”.

Step 5: Scroll down and then select “Quiet Print Mode”.

Step 6: Touch any of these in the setting for “Print Quiet Mode” depending on what you want to do.

• “on” – this will enable the quiet mode on your HP LaserJet printer.
• “off” – this will disable the quiet mode on your HP LaserJet printer.

How to Enable Quiet Mode Setting on HP LaserJet Printers with 2-Line Control Panel Display  

To enable the quiet mode setting on HP LaserJet printers with a 2-line control panel display, do the following:

Note: Scroll with the arrow keys, and select an option by pressing the printer’s “OK” button.

 Step 1: Go to the control panel of your HP printer.

Step 2: Press your printer’s “OK” button.

Note: Press your printer’s “OK” button twice if your HP printer is in sleep mode.

Step 3: Navigate to “System Setup” with the printer’s arrow keys.

Step 4: Press “OK”.

Step 5: Navigate to “Quiet Print Mode”.

Step 6: Press “OK”.

Step 7: Navigate to any of the following in the menu for “Print Quiet Mode” depending on what you want to do, and then press the printer’s “OK” button.

• “on” – this will enable the quiet mode on your HP LaserJet printer.
• “off” – this will disable the quiet mode on your HP LaserJet printer.

HP Printer Pause Mode [Reasons & Solutions] – HP Printer Mode

Your HP printer is designed to go into pause mode when you don’t use it for a while. When this happens, the printer goes offline and in this mode, you can only scan if your printer has such a function.

Reasons why your HP Printer Goes into Pause Mode

Your HP printer goes into pause mode for the following reasons:

i. Pause mode has been set.

ii. Print spooler issues

iii. Printer software problem

iv. Issues with the paper

v. Faulty ink cartridge

vi. Damaged cables

vii. Paper jam

HP Printer Goes Into Pause Mode [How to Fix]

Choose any of the methods below to fix the problem when your HP printer goes into pause mode.

Method 1

Step 1: Click on the “Start/Windows” menu on your computer’s taskbar.

Step 2: Click on “Settings”.

Step 3: Go to “Printers”.

Step 4: Right-click your HP printer.

Step 5: Click on “Pause Printing” if you see a checkmark beside the option.

Step 6: Print a document to confirm that your printer is now working.

Step 7: Turn off your HP printer.

Step 8: Disconnect your printer from the wired or wireless network it is connected to.

Step 9: Reconnect your HP printer to your computer via a parallel cable.

Step 10: Turn your HP printer on.

Step 11: Print the document again.

Method 2

Step 1: On your HP printer, press and then let go of your printer’s “Pause” button.

Step 2: Do the on-screen instructions.

Step 3: Check your computer’s taskbar for the icon of your HP printer.

Step 4: Double-click on this printer icon.

Step 5: A list showing pending documents will be displayed.

Step 6: Right-click the “Paused” option.

Step 7: Click on “Resume”.

If the above methods fail to get your HP printer out of pause mode, do the following to fix the problem:

 Restart Print Spooler

To restart the print spooler, click this link: HP Printer Not Responding in Windows 10 – How to Restart your Windows 10 Print Spooler Service, and then follow the instructions we shared.

Run Windows Troubleshooter

To run Windows Troubleshooter, click this link: HP Printer Not Responding in Windows 10 – How to Run Windows 10 Printer Troubleshooter, and then follow the steps we shared.

Remove and Reinstall your HP Printer Driver

To remove and then reinstall your HP printer driver, click this link: HP Printer Jobs Stuck in Queue – How to Remove and then Reinstall HP Print Driver and then follow the steps we shared.

How to Fix HP Printer Stuck In Initializing Mode – HP Printer Mode

If your HP printer is stuck in initializing mode, try the following solutions:

1. Change your Cartridge

Sometimes, a damaged cartridge might cause your HP printer to get stuck in initializing mode. Therefore, you need to take out the cartridge and check for any form of damage. If the cartridge is damaged, replace it with a new genuine HP cartridge.

2. NVRAM Reset your HP Printer

In some cases, the solution to your HP printer being stuck in initializing mode issue is to perform NVRAM reset on your HP printer.

To perform NVRAM reset on your HP printer, click this link: How to Reset HP Printer – HP Printer NVRAM Reset and follow the instructions we shared.

3. Disable IPv6 on your HP Printer

If you are connected to a wireless router that doesn’t have IPv6 support, then you need to disable the IPv6 setting on your HP printer.

To disable IPv6 on your HP printer, click this link: HP Printer Not Responding to iPhone – Disable Version 6 Internet Protocol (IPv6) on your HP Printer and then follow the instructions depending on the control panel design of your printer.

4. Update your HP Printer Firmware

An outdated printer firmware might be the reason why your HP printer is stuck in initializing mode. Therefore, in such a situation, you need to update your HP printer firmware.

Click this link: HP Printer Not Responding to Ping – How to Update HP Printer Firmware via Printer’s Control Panel to learn how to update your HP printer via its control panel.

Click this link: HP Printer Not Responding to Ping – How to Update HP Printer Firmware via HP Update Utility to learn how to update your HP printer via HP Update Utility.

5. Manually Move the Scanner’s Light Bar to its Normal Position

For HP printers designed with flatbed scanners, sometimes the light bar can get stuck and will refuse to return to its normal position. When this happens, it can cause your HP printer to get stuck in initializing mode.

Therefore, to fix the current problem, you need to manually move the scanner’s light bar to its normal position.

How to Manually Move the Scanner’s Light to its Normal Position

To manually move the scanner’s light to its normal position, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn off your HP printer.

Step 2: Disconnect the power cable and other connected cables from your HP printer.

Step 3: Open the scanner’s flatbed cover.

When you do this, you will notice that the scanner’s light bar has refused to return to its original position.

Step 4: Get a star-shaped screwdriver.

Step 5: Use the screwdriver to take out the screws that are around the flatbed’s rim.

Step 6: Carefully lift the scanner glass cover. You just need to lift it a bit to access the light bar.

Step 7: Move the scanner’s light bar from its current position to the center.

Step 8: Close the scanner glass cover.

Step 9: Turn on your HP printer.

Step 10: Check if the printer is now out of the initializing mode.

If it is, turn off your HP printer and then put the screws back in place.

6. Contact HP

If none of the above gets your HP printer out of the initializing mode, then you need to contact HP Customer Support for further assistance.

Other HP Printer Mode Issues

We could not cover all the HP printer mode issues that users encounter in this article. Therefore, we have provided links to other articles on this site below that discuss these other HP printer mode issues in detail.

HP Printer Sleep Mode [How To, Issues & Solutions]

How to Restore HP Printer Setup Mode [Detailed Guide]