Printer Won't Turn On? How to Find the Power Fault Fast

If your printer will not turn on at all, work from the wall to the printer: test the outlet with another device, plug the printer straight into the wall instead of a power strip, unplug it for 60 seconds, reseat or swap the power cord, and check the light on the power brick if it has one. Those checks find most "dead" printers. If the printer powers on and then shuts off, or lights up but shows an error, the power is fine and you are dealing with a fault message instead.

First, which symptom do you have?

Step 1: Rule out the outlet and power strip

Plug a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet. If that does not work either, the problem is the outlet or circuit: check for a tripped breaker, a switched outlet controlled by a wall switch, or a GFCI or RCD outlet that needs resetting.

Then plug the printer directly into a working wall outlet. HP's own guidance for a printer that does not turn on is to connect it straight to a wall outlet rather than a power strip or surge protector, and that is sound advice for any brand while you are testing. Power strips fail, get switched off by a foot, or cannot supply the start-up surge of a laser printer.

Step 2: Reset the power

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall and from the back of the printer.
2. Wait at least 60 seconds. This lets the power supply discharge fully and clears a supply that has shut down to protect itself.
3. Plug the cord firmly into the printer first, then into the wall.
4. Press the power button once, firmly, and wait up to a minute. Some printers take several seconds before any light appears.

Check that the cord is fully seated at the printer end. A cord that has been pulled half out by moving the printer is a surprisingly common cause.

Step 3: Internal or external power supply?

Look at the cord. HP divides its printers into those with the power module inside the printer and those with a separate external module, sometimes called a power brick. The test is different for each.

• External power brick: many bricks have a small light. If it is off when plugged into a working outlet, the cord or the brick has failed. Unplug the cord from the brick and plug it back in, then try again.
• Internal power supply: the cord goes straight from the wall into the printer. If a known-good cord does not bring it to life, the fault is inside the printer.

Step 4: Try a different power cord

Many inkjets and lasers use a standard detachable cord, the same type used by some monitors and game consoles. Borrow a compatible one and try it. If the printer turns on with the other cord, replace the original.

HP warns to make sure the connector is the same shape and size as the one on the printer and never to force an incompatible cord into the socket. For a printer with an external brick, use only the manufacturer's replacement for your model. A universal adapter with the wrong voltage or polarity can damage the printer permanently.

Step 5: Check the power button

• Press the button firmly in the centre. On some models, especially touch-panel printers, you need to hold it for a second or two.
• Look for a button that is stuck down, cracked, or sitting at an angle. A button jammed by a dropped object or a misaligned panel can keep the printer from starting.
• Check for a separate rocker switch on the back or side. Many lasers have one, and it overrides the front button.

It turns on, then off again

A printer that starts and then switches itself off has power. The question is why it stops.

• Auto-off or sleep settings. Most printers have an energy-saving setting that turns them off after a period of inactivity. If the printer works normally when you use it, look for Auto Off, Power Off Timer or a similar setting on the panel or in the manufacturer's app.
• A start-up fault. If it shuts down during its start-up cycle, something has failed a self-check. Watch the panel for a message just before it goes off. Epson, for example, shows "Printer error. Turn the power off and on again"; see our page on that Epson error. Brother lasers may show a code; our guide to Brother Machine Error codes explains them.
• A failing power supply. A supply that can power the lights but not the motors or the laser fuser often lets the printer start, then cuts out as soon as it tries to move. This usually gets worse over days.

If the printer reaches a ready state but then will not print, our printer not responding guide and the printer troubleshooting checklist pick up from there.

After a power cut or storm

If the printer died during a power cut or a thunderstorm, check the breaker and the outlet first, then any surge protector it was plugged into, as many have their own reset button or a protection light that shows they have done their job. A surge can damage a printer's power supply or main board. If the printer is still dead on a known-good outlet and cord, it needs a repair assessment. Some home insurance policies cover surge damage, so keep the printer and note the date before replacing it.

Portable printers with a battery

Battery-powered printers, including many portable inkjets and pocket photo printers, will not turn on with a flat battery even when the charger is connected, until they have charged for a while. Charge with the original cable and adapter for at least 30 minutes, then hold the power button for a few seconds. If a charging light never appears, try a different USB power adapter of the type the manufacturer recommends.

When it is the printer itself

If the outlet works, a known-good cord changes nothing, and the brick light or the printer shows no sign of life, the power supply or main board has probably failed. On printers with an external brick, a replacement supply from the manufacturer is often an inexpensive fix. On printers with an internal supply, it is a repair-shop job.

• Check the warranty first. Our printer warranty guide shows how to look it up for HP, Canon, Epson and Brother.
• Out of warranty, compare the repair quote with a new printer. Our guide to whether a printer is worth repairing covers the maths.
• Do not open the printer's case to test the internal supply. Power supplies hold mains voltage even when unplugged.

Get parts and contact details only from the manufacturer's official support site. Ads promising instant fixes over the phone are a common route to paid support scams.

Sources

• HP: HP printer does not turn on
• HP Inkjet Printers: Printer does not turn on
• HP LaserJet Printers: Printer does not turn on