A factory reset returns the printer's settings to the way they were when it left the factory. It can clear stubborn software glitches, remove a forgotten admin password and prepare a printer for a new owner. It also erases things you may want to keep, such as the Wi-Fi connection, scan-to-folder and email destinations, address books and passwords. This guide explains what a reset does and doesn't fix, how to save your settings first, how to use the official method for your model, and how to get running again afterward.
What you might be seeing
- Settings problems survive restarts and firmware updates
- The printer's admin password has been forgotten
- The printer is being sold, given away or recycled
- Network settings are tangled after several router changes
Common causes
- Corrupted settings
- A setting saved incorrectly, often after an interrupted update, can cause errors that survive restarts.
- Conflicting network configuration
- Old addresses, protocols and Wi-Fi profiles can pile up and interfere with each other.
- Lost admin access
- Without the admin password, protected settings can't be changed.
- Change of ownership
- Stored contacts, network details and job history should be removed before the printer leaves your hands.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
Don't switch off or unplug the printer while a reset is running, and use only the reset method in your model's official user guide.
Decide whether a reset is the right tool
A factory reset fixes settings and software confusion, not hardware. Jams, worn rollers, clogged printheads and failing parts will still be there afterward. Try a full restart first, and check whether a smaller option would do, since many printers offer separate choices to reset network settings only, restore default settings, or erase all data.
Print the configuration pages
From the printer's settings or reports menu, print a configuration report, a network configuration page and any address book or contacts list. Together these record the IP address, network name, enabled protocols, tray settings and other values you'll want to restore. If the printer can't print, photograph the key settings screens with your phone. Also note your Wi-Fi name and password, which you'll need afterward.
Export settings and the address book
Enter the printer's IP address in a web browser on a computer connected to the same network to open its built-in web page. Look for a backup, export or save settings option, often under administration or maintenance, and save the file to your computer. Export the address book or scan destinations separately if offered. Write down scan-to-folder paths and SMTP server details too, as passwords usually aren't included in exports.
Use the official reset method
Look up the reset procedure for your model in the user guide on the manufacturer's official website. Most printers place it in the settings menu under a name like restore, reset or restore factory defaults, and some offer it in the built-in web page too. Avoid button combinations from forums or videos; on some models, unofficial combinations open service menus that can alter calibration.
Run the reset and let it finish
Keep the printer on a reliable outlet or surge protector, close all doors and remove any USB drives. Choose the reset, confirm it, and let the printer restart by itself. Don't switch it off or press buttons until it reaches the first-time setup screen or the home screen. Some models take several minutes and restart more than once.
Set up and restore your settings
Choose language, region, date, time and paper sizes. Reconnect to Wi-Fi with the wireless setup option or the manufacturer's app, then set a new admin password. Import your settings backup, or re-enter scan and email destinations from your notes. Then see whether newer firmware is offered by the printer's built-in update feature, and if the IP address changed, remove and re-add the printer on each computer.
Erase data before passing it on
If the printer is leaving your home or office, also run any clear data, erase all data or secure erase option, which removes stored jobs, faxes, contacts and, on larger models, hard drive contents. Remove the printer from your account in the manufacturer's app, switch off any email print address, and take out USB drives and memory cards.
How to keep it from happening again
- Keep a current settings export and a printed configuration page
- Store the admin password somewhere safe
- Reserve the printer's IP address in your router
- Try a restart or network-only reset before a full reset
Common questions
Does a factory reset delete stored faxes and scans?
It clears stored settings, and on many models also wipes memory holding received faxes, saved jobs and address books. Files already saved to a computer, folder or email aren't affected. Print or forward any faxes held in memory before resetting, and use the erase all data option if stored content must be removed.
Will a factory reset undo a firmware update?
No. A reset returns settings to their defaults, but the printer keeps its current firmware version. If an update changed some settings you didn't like, a reset may clear those changes, but you'll still be running the newer firmware afterward.
Is a factory reset the same as a power reset?
No. A power reset means switching the printer off, unplugging it briefly and starting it again; it clears temporary memory and changes no settings. A factory reset permanently erases your saved settings. Always try a power reset first, since it's quicker and has no downside.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.