My HP printer has an error code of 50.x. How do I clear the error?

Author:
Gabi (Precision Roller Tech)
Date:
Jun 06, 2012

A 50.x error on your HP printer can shut your printer down. The resolution can be a quick fix, or may take replacement parts.

An error code of 50.x on an HP printer typically means that the fuser unit has a malfunction. There are several steps that should be taken to troubleshoot the issue.

Turn the printer off and unplug the power cord from the wall for at least 10 minutes, reconnect the power and turn the printer back on. If the error still shows, continue to the next troubleshooting step.
If the printer is plugged into an outlet strip or surge protector, turn the printer off and reconnect the power cable directly to a wall outlet. Turn the printer on and test again. If the printer is working when connected directly to the wall, verify or replace your surge protector.
If the issue is still not resolved, the next item to verify is the outlet. If possible, turn the printer off and reconnect the power cable to an outlet on another circuit. If this resolves the issue, contact an electrician for further troubleshooting of power.

If the previous steps did not resolve the issue, the fuser itself is the most likely cause. On some HP models, the fuser is designed to be replaceable by the operator. On others, HP recommends having a technician perform the work. Please consult your owner's manual. The following steps require access to parts of the machine that contain high voltage and can cause injury or death, and if not performed correctly, can damage your printer. Proceed at your own risk.

Unplug the printer, wait 10 minutes for the fuser to cool down, then reseat the fuser and/or fuser connections.
If reseating does not correct the issue, since individual fuser parts are usually not available, the next step is to replace the fuser unit. See the list below for the appropriate fuser for machines covered by this topic.
If the issue is not resolved by replacing the fuser, the final remaining common cause is the AC Power Board.

If a fuser replacement is needed, please consult the following list for your model, or browse for your model.