How to Reset HP Wireless Printer Password and Factory Settings

How to Reset HP Wireless Printer Password & Factory Settings?

Oct 22, 2026 3 min read 142 views

Reset HP Wireless Printer Password and Factory Settings

If you are facing issues with your HP wireless printer or want to start fresh with new settings, resetting the printer to its factory defaults is the simplest solution. A factory reset clears all custom settings including WiFi passwords, network configurations, and print preferences, bringing the printer back to its original out-of-the-box state.

This works for fixing software errors, hardware glitches, ink cartridge problems, and connection issues that other troubleshooting steps cannot resolve.

How to Reset HP Printer Password and Factory Defaults

Step 1: Turn off your HP printer and remove the power cable from the back of the printer. Also unplug the cable from the wall outlet
Step 2: Remove any connected USB cables
Step 3: Wait for 2-3 minutes, then press and hold the Power button on your HP printer for approximately 30 seconds. This performs a hard reset of the printer settings to factory defaults
Step 4: Plug the power cable back into the wall outlet and reconnect the power cord to the printer
Step 5: Turn on your HP wireless printer and wait for the warm-up period to finish

Your HP printer is now reset to its original factory settings. The next step is to reinstall the printer software and connect it to your WiFi network.

How to Reinstall HP Printer Software After Reset

Visit 123.hp.com in your browser and click the Download button for your printer model
Open the downloaded HP Easy Start file from your Downloads folder
Click Setup My Printer and accept the Terms and Conditions
Click Continue on the Prepare screen
Make sure the power button light on your printer is turned ON
The Connect screen will display your printer series as Ready to connect
Select your HP printer and click Continue
The Connect screen shows your wireless network name (SSID) - if it is correct, click Join
If the network name is wrong, click the network name tab and select the correct one from the dropdown
Allow HP Easy Start to access your wireless network when prompted - this retrieves your WiFi password to connect the printer
HP Easy Start will connect the printer to your wireless network automatically
Choose the software you want to install and click Continue
Follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the Enable Printing screen
Click Add Printer to create a print queue
Select your printer name and click Add
Print a Test Page to verify everything is working correctly

Alternative Reset Methods for HP Printers

Reset from Printer Control Panel

On HP printers with a touchscreen display, you can also reset from the menu:

Go to Settings or Setup on the printer display
Select Printer Maintenance or Tools
Choose Restore or Restore Factory Defaults
Confirm the reset when prompted

Reset Network Settings Only

If you only need to reset the WiFi settings without losing other configurations:

Press and hold the Wireless button and Cancel button together for 5 seconds
The wireless light will start blinking, indicating the network settings have been cleared
Set up the WiFi connection again using WPS or the HP Smart app

HP Printer Reset FAQ

Q1. Will a factory reset delete my ink cartridge levels and page count? Ans: No, a factory reset does not affect the ink cartridge levels or the total page count on your HP printer. Those values are stored in the printer hardware, not in the software settings. The reset only clears network settings, WiFi passwords, print preferences, and any custom configurations you have made through the printer menu.

Q2. Do I need to download the HP printer driver again after a factory reset? Ans: Yes, after a factory reset you will need to reinstall the HP printer software and driver on your computer. The easiest way is to visit 123.hp.com, enter your printer model, and download the latest HP Smart app or Full Feature driver. The HP Smart app is recommended as it handles both the driver installation and WiFi setup in one process.

Q3. How do I find the default password for my HP printer after reset? Ans: After a factory reset, the default admin password for most HP printers is either blank (no password) or the word "admin". Some newer HP printers use the printer serial number as the default password. You can find the serial number on the sticker at the back or bottom of the printer. If neither works, check your printer model documentation on the HP support website.

Q4. Will a factory reset on my HP printer delete stored WiFi passwords? Ans: Yes, a factory reset erases all saved settings including WiFi network names and passwords, custom print preferences, and any saved fax numbers or contacts. After the reset you will need to reconnect the printer to your WiFi network from scratch using the Wireless Setup Wizard on the printer control panel. Have your WiFi password ready before doing the reset so you can reconnect immediately.