HP error 0x61011bed (printer failure, carriage or printhead)
0x61011bed is shown with the message 'Printer Failure. There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off, then on.' It belongs to the 0x61 family of carriage and printhead failures on OfficeJet Pro models that use the 950/951 and 934/935 cartridges. The firmware raised the fault because the carriage or printhead did not respond correctly during initialisation.
What causes it
- Ink build-up on the printhead contacts after heavy use
- Printhead not locked down after a cartridge change
- Foreign object or torn paper stalling the carriage
- Dirty encoder strip behind the carriage
- Printhead or carriage flex cable failure
How to fix it, in order
Work down the list and stop when the printer recovers. The steps are ordered from most likely and least invasive to last resort.
Restart the printer the HP way
With the printer on, disconnect the power cord from the rear, wait 60 seconds, reconnect and turn on. Do not hold the power button while reconnecting. A large share of 0x61011bed reports clear on the first or second restart.
Look inside for obstructions
Open the cartridge access door and check the carriage path, including the far right where the service station sits. Remove any torn paper, labels or stray objects. Close the door and power cycle again.
Reseat the printhead
Open the cartridge door, lift the grey handle on the carriage to unlock the printhead, lift it out, then set it back in and lower the handle until it clicks. On the 8600 family a printhead that is not fully latched is the most common trigger for this code.
Clean the printhead contacts
With the printhead out, wipe the contact strip along the back with a dry lint-free cloth, and wipe the matching gold contacts inside the carriage. Do not touch the nozzles. Refit and latch.
Clean the encoder strip
The thin clear plastic strip running across the printer above the carriage rail tells the printer where the carriage is. Wipe it gently with a lint-free cloth barely moistened with water and let it dry. A smudge of ink on the strip will cause repeated printer failures.
Update the firmware
Once the printer is running, install the latest firmware from HP through HP Smart or the printer's embedded web server. Several 0x61 failure codes on the 8600 and 6970 were reduced by firmware updates.
Replace the printhead
If the code returns after cleaning, install a new printhead for your model (for the 8600 series it is the 950/951 printhead). If the code still appears with a new printhead, the carriage electronics have failed.
Stopping it happening again
When it is not worth fixing yourself
If you would rather not work through this alone, a printer specialist can take a look with you on a screen-share and tell you honestly whether the machine is worth saving.
Printers that show this code
Frequently asked questions
Is 0x61011bed the same as 0x6100004a?
They are both 0x61 carriage or printhead failures and are treated the same way. 0x6100004a is the more common one on the 8600 series; 0x61011bed appears more on later models such as the 6970.
My printer shows 0x61011bed only when I try to print, not at start-up. Why?
The carriage moves further and faster during a print than during initialisation. A dirty encoder strip or a small obstruction at one end of the travel only causes a fault under those conditions.
Can I fix 0x61011bed with HP Print and Scan Doctor?
No. The tool fixes driver and connection problems on the computer. 0x61011bed is a mechanical or electrical fault inside the printer that must be resolved on the printer itself.
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