HP printers show problems differently depending on the line. LaserJet models display a numeric service code like 50.1 or 13.20 on the control panel, while DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Photosmart models more often show a plain message, such as "Ink System Failure," or a hex code like 0xc19a0003. Type what you're seeing into the search bar below and we'll match it to the exact cause and the fix for your printer model — no guessing, no generic advice.
No error codes match “E1”.
Where to look depends on which HP line you own. LaserJet printers show a short numeric code on the control panel, usually a number followed by a decimal and a sub-code, such as 50.1 or 59.40. DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Photosmart printers are more likely to show a plain-English message on their small screen or in a pop-up on your computer, sometimes paired with a longer code that starts with "0x."
If you have a numeric code, type it into the search bar exactly as shown, including the number after the decimal point where there is one, since 50.1 and 50.9 point to different causes. If you only have a message like "Cartridge Problem" or "Printer or Ink System Failure," type that phrase instead. Selecting your printer model first keeps the match accurate, since HP reuses some codes across very different product lines.
HP's error codes fall into a handful of recurring categories, whether you're on a LaserJet, DeskJet, OfficeJet, or Photosmart model.
Codes in the 13 range, such as 13.1 or 13.20, mean paper is jammed at a specific point in the machine, whether that's the input tray, the fuser, or the duplexer. The number after the decimal tells you roughly where to look.
Codes like 50.1 through 50.9 point to the fuser, the part that melts toner onto the page, either running too hot, too cold, or failing to warm up on a consistent schedule.
These codes mean the internal laser or scanning mechanism that draws the page image isn't behaving as expected, often a beam detection or startup rotation fault.
This range covers the printer's internal fans, drive motors, and the transfer belt or lifter mechanism that moves paper and toner through the machine.
Messages like "Ink System Failure," "Cartridge Problem," or hex codes such as 0xc19a0003 mean a cartridge isn't supplying ink to the printhead correctly, often due to a blocked air vent or a seating issue rather than a genuinely empty cartridge.
Codes like 79 or 68 mean the printer has hit a fault serious enough to halt printing entirely, ranging from a corrupted print job to a permanent storage fault. These are the ones most likely to need a firmware update or professional service.
Most HP errors trace back to one of four things: paper not moving through the machine the way it's expected to, a cartridge that isn't supplying ink correctly, an internal component like the fuser or a cooling fan reporting a fault, or a critical firmware or hardware issue serious enough to stop the printer outright. The code or message is HP's way of narrowing that down, which the search above turns into a plain-language fix.
Paper jams, cartridge messages, and connectivity errors are almost always fixable yourself in a few minutes. Critical hardware codes like 79 or repeated fuser and motor faults are different: if a power cycle and a firmware check don't clear them, or the same code returns right after you've followed the fix, it's worth contacting HP support or an authorized repair center rather than continuing to troubleshoot at home. We link to HP's official support and driver pages on every printer page so you're always working from the source, not a third-party download.
HP's LaserJet, DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Photosmart lines don't all use the same code format, so the most accurate fix comes from searching within your printer's own series page.
Check the control panel screen for a numeric code like 50.1 on LaserJet models, or a plain message like "Ink System Failure" on DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Photosmart models. Type exactly what you see into the search bar at the top of this page for the matching fix.
It usually means a cartridge isn't supplying ink to the printhead correctly, often because an air vent on the cartridge is blocked rather than the cartridge being empty. Search the message or any accompanying hex code, such as 0xc19a0003, for the specific fix.
The number before the decimal tells you the general category, fuser issues start with 50, paper jams start with 13, and the number after the decimal narrows down the exact cause or location. Search the full code, including the decimal, for an accurate match.
Paper jams, cartridge messages, and connectivity errors are safe to fix yourself in a few minutes. Critical hardware codes like 79, or fuser and motor faults that keep returning after a restart, usually need a firmware update or professional service.
We link directly to HP's official driver download page for your exact model on every printer page. We don't host driver files ourselves, so you always get the version HP currently supports.
No. LaserJet models typically show a numeric code, while DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Photosmart models are more likely to show a plain-English message, sometimes with a hex code attached. The search bar accepts either format.