HP error 0xc18a0201 (ink system failure on Photosmart)
0xc18a0201 and its sibling 0xc18a0206 are ink system failure codes on the HP Photosmart models that use the HP 02 cartridge set with a removable printhead. The printer has detected that the printhead cannot be primed or that the cartridges are not delivering ink through the tubes to the head. On these older printers the error is very often a dried printhead.
What causes it
- Dried printhead nozzles after weeks or months of no printing
- A cartridge that has run dry, letting air into the supply line
- Refilled HP 02 cartridges with non-responsive chips
- Ink residue bridging the printhead contacts
- Worn printhead that has reached the end of its life
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.
Power reset without touching the cartridges
Turn the printer off, unplug it from the wall, and wait two minutes. Plug it back in and turn it on. Let it complete its start-up servicing before checking the screen.
Replace empty HP 02 cartridges
Check the ink gauge. These printers prime the head from the cartridges, so an empty tank prevents priming. Install a fresh cartridge for any colour that is empty or shows a warning.
Remove and clean the printhead
Open the top cover, lift the grey latch and pull out the printhead. Soak the nozzle plate in a shallow dish of warm distilled water for ten minutes, then dab it dry on a paper towel. Clean the contact strips with a dry lint-free cloth and reinstall.
Clean the carriage contacts
While the printhead is out, look at the electrical contacts inside the carriage. Wipe off any ink mist or residue with a dry cotton swab. Do not use alcohol on the flex cable.
Run a semi-full reset
Press and hold the left arrow, then press Setup, release both, then press the left arrow and Setup again to open the support menu on most Photosmart C-series units. Navigate to Resets and choose Semi Full Reset. Network settings will need to be re-entered afterwards on some models.
Replace the printhead
If cleaning and resetting do not help, the printhead (HP part Q7348A for the C5180/C6180/C7180 family) has failed. Install the new head with a full set of cartridges.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the printhead on the Photosmart C7280?
Under the main lid, inside the carriage. Lift the grey latch above the cartridges, and the printhead slides up and out. The HP 02 cartridges sit in the printhead itself.
Can I use the printer as a scanner while 0xc18a0201 is showing?
No. The error locks the control panel and the printer reports an error state to the computer, so scanning is blocked until the ink system fault clears.
What is the difference between 0xc18a0201 and 0xc18a0206?
Both are ink system failures on the same hardware. 0206 is more commonly tied to a cartridge identification problem while 0201 is the general priming failure, but the repair steps are the same.
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