HP error 49.38.07 (LaserJet Pro firmware error)
49.38.07 is a firmware error on recent HP LaserJet Pro and Enterprise models, shown with 'Error 49.38.07, Turn off then on'. It is a crash in one of the printer's background services rather than in the print engine, and it is strongly associated with network activity, cloud services such as HP+ and Web Services, and specific firmware versions. The printer restarts cleanly but the error tends to return until the trigger is removed.
What causes it
- A firmware version with a known bug in the network or cloud services stack
- Malformed network traffic such as repeated discovery broadcasts or SNMP queries
- Web Services or HP+ cloud connection errors
- A specific print job or driver that sends data the firmware does not expect
- Stored configuration corruption in the printer
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
Turn the printer off with the power switch, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on. Clear the print queue on your computer before it reconnects so the same job does not trigger the error again.
Update the firmware first
Open the printer's IP address in a browser, go to the Firmware Update section and check for updates, or download the latest firmware for your model from HP. HP has released several firmware versions specifically addressing 49.38.07 on the M404 and M428 families.
Disable unused network protocols
In the embedded web server under Networking, turn off IPv6, SNMP v1/v2 if not used, AirPrint if you do not use Apple devices, and LLMNR. Reducing the services that can receive traffic removes common triggers.
Turn off Web Services temporarily
In Web Services settings, remove or disable Web Services (ePrint). If the error stops, re-enable it later after a firmware update. On HP+ printers it cannot be disabled, so ensure the printer has a stable internet connection instead.
Isolate the cause with USB
Unplug the Ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi and print a batch of jobs over USB. If 49.38.07 no longer appears, the trigger is on the network. Check for print servers, monitoring software or mobile devices repeatedly polling the printer.
Reinstall the driver
Remove the printer from Windows or macOS, delete the old driver package, and install the current HP driver for the model. Use the PCL 6 driver rather than a generic or universal one for testing.
Restore factory defaults
If the error keeps returning, restore the printer to factory defaults from Setup, Service or the web interface. This clears corrupted settings but you will need to set up Wi-Fi and any static IP again.
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
Why does 49.38.07 happen when the printer is idle?
Because it is triggered by background services, such as the network stack or a cloud connection, rather than by printing. Network traffic from other devices can cause it even when nobody is printing.
Does HP+ cause 49.38.07?
Some HP+ printers showed the error when the cloud connection was unstable on older firmware. Updating firmware and giving the printer a reliable internet connection resolves most of those cases.
Will a factory reset remove the error for good?
Only if corrupted settings were the cause. Update firmware before resetting, because the reset does not change the firmware version.
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