In this article, we will discuss the meaning of HP printer warning lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers and how to clear the warning lights.
Table of Contents
Blinking Wireless Light – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
When the wireless light on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers is blinking, it is an indication that the wireless network is either configuring, your printer is unable to find the wireless signal, or the printer is unable to connect to the wireless network.
How to Clear Blinking Wireless Light on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
To clear the blinking wireless light on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers, do the following:
1. Allow Your Printer to Connect to the Wireless Network
Sometimes, your HP printer might need some minutes for it to connect to your wireless network (access point or router). After waiting for some minutes, you can check the status of the wireless light.
If you discover that your printer’s wireless light is turned on and solid, then it means that the connection is established. Therefore, you don’t need to do any other troubleshooting.
If you check and the light continues to blink, do the next task.
2. Check if the Wireless Network has Issues
Check the following as they might be the reason why your HP printer is not connecting:
i. The wireless network is inactive, or the signal strength is low.
To confirm that the network is active, check if your access point or router is turned on. Also, check the signal strength and confirm that it is strong.
You can move your printer closer to your router or access point to increase the signal strength. It is recommended that your printer and your router should not be farther away than 3 feet to 5 feet (1.0 to 1.5 meters).
ii. Your printer is in standby or sleep mode.
You need to check your printer and wake it from sleep mode if it is not in ready mode. We recommend that you read this article: HP Printer Sleep Mode [How To, Issues & Solutions] to learn more about HP printer sleep mode.
iii. Your computer firewall is preventing your printer from connecting to your computer and network.
In this case, you need to temporarily disable your firewall, and then check if the connection is established and the wireless light has stopped blinking.
If the light becomes solid, then the firewall is responsible for the warning light. Therefore, you have to use the printer without enabling the firewall. However, make sure that you enable it when you are done with your printer.
If your printer’s wireless light continues to blink after disabling the firewall, then the firewall is not responsible for the blinking light. Therefore, you need to enable the firewall immediately.
iv. The signal of your wireless network is being interfered with by a device that is emitting radio signals (for example a cordless telephone or microwave).
If you have such devices close to your printer or router, you need to move them away.
v. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is preventing your printer from your wireless network and computer.
After correcting each item listed above, check if the wireless light has stopped blinking.
If the wireless light becomes steady, then you don’t need to do any other troubleshooting.
However, if the light continues to blink, do the next task.
3. Connect your HP Printer to the Wireless Network
At this point, you need to connect your HP printer to your wireless network. Consult your printer manual to learn the process of doing this.
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.
Blinking Attention Light – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
The attention light will continue to blink when HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers enter an error state.
We will discuss several blinking attention light scenarios on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers and how to resolve the error.
1. The printer’s attention light blinks and the computer screen displays this message: “A door is open”
When this happens, it means that your printer’s top cover isn’t completely closed or it is open. To solve this error, close the printer’s top cover completely.
2. The printer’s attention light blinks and the computer screen displays this message: “Out of Paper”
When this happens, it means that there is no paper loaded in the printer’s input tray. To solve this error, load the input tray with paper.
3. The printer’s attention light blinks and the computer screen displays a paper jam message
When this happens, it means that there is paper jammed in your printer. You might see any of these messages:
- Paper Jam in Tray
- Paper Jam in Fuser
- Paper Jam in Duplexer
- Paper Jam in Output Tray
To solve this error, you need to clear the paper jam. We recommend that you read the following articles to learn how to resolve paper jam issues in your HP printer:
HP Paper Jam Error Codes [How to Fix]
HP Printer ADF Jam [How to Fix]
HP Printer Jam in Tray 1 [How to Fix]
HP Printer Jam in Tray 2 [How to Fix]
HP Printer Jam in Tray 3 [How to Fix]
HP Printer Jam [Issues & Solutions]
4. The printer’s attention light blinks and the computer screen displays any of these: “Unauthorized Drum” or “Unauthorized Toner”
When this happens, it means that the installed imaging drum or toner cartridge, or both supplies are unauthorized. Therefore, you need to replace the supply that is affected.
How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
To replace the toner cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open your printer’s cartridge door.
Step 2: Hold the handle of the cartridge and then pull it out of your printer.
Step 3: Send the old cartridge for recycling.
Step 4: Take out the new cartridge from its package.
Step 5: Align the cartridge with the path within your HP printer.
Step 6: Push the cartridge into your printer and ensure that it is firmly seated.
Step 7: Close your printer’s cartridge door.
After replacing the cartridge, check if the problem is fixed.
If the problem persists, replace the drum.
How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
To replace the imaging drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open your printer’s cartridge door.
Step 2: Hold the handle of the cartridge and then pull it out of your printer.
Step 3: Take out the imaging drum from your HP printer.
Step 4: Send the old drum for recycling.
Step 5: Take out the new drum from its package as well as the protective bag.
Caution: Make sure that you don’t touch the surface roller of the drum. If your finger touches that part, it could affect the print quality.
Step 6: Align the new drum with the path within your HP printer.
Step 7: Push the drum into your printer and ensure that it is seated correctly.
Step 8: Align the cartridge with the path within your HP printer.
Step 9: Push the cartridge into your printer and ensure that it is seated correctly.
Step 10: Close your printer’s cartridge door.
After replacing the imaging drum, check if the problem is fixed.
If the problem persists, then you have to service your HP printer. To do this, contact HP Customer Support to schedule a repair date for your device.
5. The printer’s attention light blinks and the computer screen displays this: “Paper Size Mismatch”
When this happens, it means that the size of the paper that has been loaded into the printer’s input tray is not fit for the print job at hand or the size doesn’t correspond to the size selected in the paper settings.
To resolve the problem, you need to remove the paper from the input tray and load the correct paper size. You can also read this article: HP Printer Error Paper Mismatch [How to Fix] to learn more about this error and how to resolve it.
6. The printer’s attention light blinks after a duplex print job has been sent
When this happens, it means that a manual two-sided (duplexing) print job is being processed and the input tray is yet to be loaded with paper therefore the print job cannot be completed.
To fix this problem, load the input tray with the right paper size. Alternatively, you can change the paper size in the print settings.
To complete the job, take out the printed pages from your printer’s output tray. You can now load the pages into the input tray with the already printed side facing down. The printer will then print on the second side of the pages.
Solid Toner Supply Light – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
The toner supply light on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers becomes solid when the imaging drum, toner cartridge, or both supplies are at their estimated end of life.
Note: When your supply (cartridge) is at its estimated end-of-life, it also means that the cartridge’s HP Premium Protection Warranty has equaled ended.
The estimated end-of-life also indicates that the toner supply in the cartridge or drum is very low. You do not need to change the supply except if the print quality becomes very low.
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the cartridge fails to resolve the problem, then you need to replace the drum.
To replace the imaging drum, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the drum does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your HP printer.
To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support and fix a repair date for your printer. If you live in the Asia Pacific, you will be redirected to a service center close to you.
Printers that are still under warranty will be repaired for free. However, if your printer is no longer under warranty, you will pay the repair fees.
Blinking Attention & Toner Supply Lights – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
The attention and toner supply lights will continue to blink when HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers enter an error state.
1. The printer’s attention and toner supply light blinks and the computer screen displays any of these messages: “Drum Missing” or “Toner Missing”
When this happens, it is an indication that the imaging drum or toner cartridge is not correctly installed or is missing. To fix this problem, you need to install the cartridge or the imaging drum correctly.
To do this, open your printer’s top cover and confirm that both the cartridge and the drum are installed in your printer. If one or both of them aren’t installed, then you need to install them.
If both supplies are in your printer, then it is likely that they aren’t correctly installed. In such a case, you need to take out both supplies and then reinstall them correctly.
After reinstalling the cartridge and the drum, check if the error is resolved.
If the error is unresolved, then you need to service your HP printer.
2. The printer’s attention and toner supply light blinks and the computer screen displays any of these messages: “HP Protected Drum Installed” or “HP Protected Toner Installed”
When you get any of these messages along with the blinking attention and toner supply lights, then it means that the installed toner cartridge or imaging drum, and in some cases both supplies have been installed in another HP printer where they were protected. Therefore, you cannot use such supplies in another printer except the initial one.
To fix this issue, you need to replace the drum or cartridge or both depending on the supplies that are affected.
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the cartridge fails to resolve the problem, then you need to replace the drum.
To replace the imaging drum, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the drum does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your HP printer.
3. The printer’s attention and toner supply light blinks and the computer screen displays any of these messages: “Incompatible Drum” or “Incompatible Toner”
When you get any of these messages along with the blinking attention and toner supply lights, then it means that the installed toner cartridge or imaging drum, and in some cases both supplies aren’t compatible with your HP printer.
To fix this problem, replace the drum or cartridge or both depending on the supplies that are affected.
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the cartridge fails to resolve the problem, then you need to replace the drum.
To replace the imaging drum, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the drum does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your HP printer.
4. The printer’s attention and toner supply light blinks and the computer screen displays any of these messages: “Unauthorized Drum” or “Unauthorized Toner”
When you get any of these messages along with the blinking attention and toner supply lights, then it means that the installed toner cartridge or imaging drum, and in some cases both supplies are unauthorized.
To fix this problem, replace the drum or cartridge or both depending on the supplies that are affected.
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the cartridge fails to resolve the problem, then you need to replace the drum.
To replace the imaging drum, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the drum does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your HP printer.
5. The printer’s attention and toner supply light blinks and the computer screen displays this message: “Cartridge error”
When this happens, it means that the sensor of your toner cartridge must have encountered an error. Therefore, to resolve this problem, you need to change the toner cartridge.
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
Solid Attention & Ready Lights – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
When the attention and ready lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers become solid, it indicates that the printer has entered a fatal error state.
To resolve the problem, do the following tasks:
1. Reset your HP Printer
To reset your HP printer, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Turn on your HP printer.
Step 2: Remove the printer’s power cable from your HP printer.
Step 3: Remove the printer’s power cable from the power source.
Step 4: Wait for about 60 seconds.
Step 5: Plug the power cable into an outlet.
Note: HP recommends that you plug your HP printer into an outlet rather than other power sources.
Step 6: Plug the power cable into your HP printer.
After resetting your printer, check if the problem is resolved.
If the problem is unresolved, do the next task.
You can read this article: How to Reset HP Printer [Detailed Guide] to learn other types of resets that you can perform on your HP printer.
2. Service your HP Printer
If resetting and connecting your HP printer directly to an electrical outlet does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your printer.
Blinking Attention Light & Solid Toner Light – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
When the attention light is blinking and the toner light is solid on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw printers, it is an indication that the installed cartridge or drum, and in some cases both supplies are low.
To resolve the problem, do the following tasks:
1. Replace the toner Cartridge
To replace the toner cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Toner Cartridge on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the cartridge fails to resolve the problem, do the next task.
2. Replace the Imaging Drum
To replace the imaging drum, follow the steps we shared above under the “How to Replace Imaging Drum on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers” subsection.
If replacing the drum does not resolve the problem, then you need to service your HP printer.
All the Printer Lights are turned off – HP Printer Warning Lights on HP LaserJet Pro M118dw Printers
If this happens, it means that the power supply has encountered a problem. To resolve this problem, do the tasks below:
1. Turn your HP Printer on
Locate your printer’s power button and then press it to turn on your printer.
If your printer fails to turn on, do the next task.
2. Confirm that your HP Printer is properly plugged in
Check the power cord and confirm that it is properly plugged into your printer. If it is, then you need to check and ensure that the power cord is connected to the wall outlet.
Once you are certain that the power cord is properly connected to your printer and the outlet, press the power button to turn on your printer.
If the printer fails to respond, do the next task.
3. Connect the Printer to an Electrical Wall Outlet
If your HP printer is plugged into a power strip, extension cable, or surge protector, you need to unplug it and plug it directly into an electrical wall outlet.
After doing that, turn on your HP printer.
If your printer fails to respond, do the next task.
4. Confirm that the Outlet Works
To confirm that the outlet works, do the following steps:
Step 1: Unplug your HP printer’s power cable from the outlet.
Step 2: Plug any other device into the wall outlet.
If the device turns on, then it means that the outlet is working.
If the device doesn’t turn on, then it means that the outlet isn’t working.
If the outlet isn’t working, plug your HP printer into another working outlet.
On the other hand, if the outlet is working, but your HP printer fails to turn on, do the next task.
5. Use another Power Cord from Another printer
Get another power cord that is compatible with your HP printer and plug it into your printer and the electrical outlet and then check if the power issue is resolved.
If your HP printer turns on, it means that the initial power cord might be faulty. In that case, you need to replace the cord.
However, if your HP printer fails to turn on, then you need to service your HP printer.
