HP Manuals Pro

HP DeskJet 2755e Error Codes E0–E6: What Each One Means & How to Fix It

You’re staring at a tiny blinking “E” followed by a number on your DeskJet 2755e’s display, and the printer has stopped dead. Search the web and you’ll find plenty of sites listing what E0, E1, E2, E3, E4 and E6 mean — but most of them are wrong. One widely-copied page maps E2 to “paper jam” and E0 to “out of paper”; follow those and you’ll spend an hour clearing jams that never existed. Below are the correct meanings, verified against HP’s own documentation and community reports, with the exact fix for each code.

E0–E6 Meanings Verified Step-by-Step Fixes Ink Error Solutions
error Jump to the Fixes

boltQuick Answer

On the HP DeskJet 2755e, the error codes mean: E0 = ink cartridge problem, E1 = paper size mismatch, E2 = paper length mismatch, E3 = cartridge carriage stalled, E4 = paper jam, and E6 = general printer fault. Find your code below, apply the matching fix, then press Resume.

How to Read the Code (10 Seconds)

The DeskJet 2755e doesn’t have a full text display, so it shows errors with a blinking “E” followed by a single digit on the copy-count display. Write down the number before you touch anything — fixing the wrong code is how a 5-minute job becomes an hour.

One visual clue: for E0, the Ink Level icons also flash alongside the code, because it’s a cartridge problem. If every light on the panel is flashing at once, you’re looking at the E6 general-fault state even before you read the digit.

The Error Codes & Their Fixes

1

E0 — Ink Cartridge Problem

E0 means the printer has a problem with one or both ink cartridges — a cartridge is missing, not seated properly, has dirty electrical contacts, still has its protective tape on, or has simply failed. This is the most common code people see, and it often appears right after changing a cartridge.

  1. Open the cartridge access door and remove both cartridges.
  2. Check each cartridge for leftover pink/orange protective tape — a surprisingly common cause right after installation.
  3. Clean the gold electrical contacts on each cartridge with a dry, lint-free cloth (no water, no alcohol).
  4. Slide both cartridges back in firmly until they click, close the door, and wait for the printer to initialize.

If E0 comes back, the cartridge itself is the culprit — see the replacement section below. One important note: the 2755e is an HP+ printer, which means it requires original HP cartridges. Refilled or third-party cartridges are the #1 cause of an E0 that never clears.

2

E1 — Paper Size Mismatch

E1 means the paper size loaded in the tray doesn’t match the size your print job asked for — for example, the tray holds A4 but the document is set to US Letter.

  1. Check what paper is actually in the input tray and slide the paper-width guide snug against it.
  2. Open the print dialog on your computer and set the paper size to match what’s loaded.
  3. Press the Resume button to continue the job.
3

E2 — Paper Length Mismatch

E2 is E1’s sibling: the paper length in the tray doesn’t match the job settings (for example, legal-size settings with letter paper loaded). HP’s own fix video confirms E1/E2 are size/length mismatches — not paper jams. Despite what many copy-paste sites claim, clearing the paper path won’t help here.

  1. Remove the paper from the input tray and reload the correct length for your job.
  2. Match the length in your print settings (or your application’s page setup).
  3. Press Resume. If E2 persists with the right paper, restart the printer — the setting sometimes sticks in memory.
4

E3 — Carriage Stall

E3 means the cartridge carriage can’t move — something is physically blocking it, or it got stuck at one end of its travel. You’ll often hear grinding or clicking before this code appears.

  1. Open the cartridge access door and look inside with a flashlight.
  2. Power off the printer and unplug it.
  3. Remove any paper scraps, packing material, or debris from the carriage path. Try gently sliding the carriage to the right — it should move freely.
  4. Plug the printer back in, power on, and press Resume.

If the carriage still won’t move freely by hand, the mechanism itself may be damaged — that’s a service issue, not a settings issue.

5

E4 — Paper Jam

E4 is the straightforward one: paper is jammed somewhere in the paper path. Work through the path from easiest to hardest:

  1. Remove all paper from the input tray and look for torn pieces.
  2. Press Cancel — the printer will attempt to clear the jam itself.
  3. Open the cartridge access door (power off and unplug first) and check for jammed paper around the carriage.
  4. Flip the printer over and open the cleanout door on the bottom — pull both tabs, remove any jammed paper, and snap it shut.

Reload paper properly (don’t overfill), power on, and press Resume. If E4 keeps returning with no visible jam, a tiny torn scrap is likely still inside — check the cleanout door again carefully.

6

E6 — General Printer Error

E6 is the catch-all: a general printer fault, usually shown with all panel lights flashing. It most often appears right after a badly cleared jam — a torn scrap left behind confuses the sensors — but it can also follow a power surge.

  1. Unplug the power cord from the printer (not just power off) and wait a full 60 seconds.
  2. Plug it back in directly to a wall outlet — not a power strip — and power on.
  3. If E6 returns, recheck the entire paper path (steps from the E4 fix above) for leftover scraps.

A single power cycle clears most E6 errors. If E6 survives that and a full jam check, you’re looking at a hardware fault — contact HP Support rather than repeating the cycle. And if your printer shows no error code at all but just won’t print, that’s a different problem: see our DeskJet 2755/2755e offline fix guide.

A note on E5: some panels in this printer family also show E5 for a scanner failure. It’s rare on the 2755e — the same unplug-for-60-seconds power cycle is the first thing to try, and a persistent E5 means the scanner unit needs service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does E0 mean on my HP DeskJet 2755e?expand_more
E0 means an ink cartridge problem — a cartridge is missing, improperly installed, has dirty contacts, or has failed. Remove both cartridges, check for leftover protective tape, clean the gold contacts with a lint-free cloth, and reseat them until they click. If E0 returns, replace the cartridge (Fix 1 above).
What does E3 mean on my HP DeskJet 2755e?expand_more
E3 means the cartridge carriage has stalled and can't move. Open the cartridge access door, power off and unplug the printer, remove any paper scraps or debris from the carriage path, gently slide the carriage to the right, plug back in, and press Resume (Fix 4 above).
How do I clear the E6 error on my HP DeskJet 2755e?expand_more
Unplug the power cord, wait a full 60 seconds, plug it back in (ideally directly to a wall outlet), and power on — this clears most E6 errors. If it returns, recheck the paper path for a leftover scrap from a badly cleared jam. A persistent E6 is a hardware fault — contact HP Support.
What is the difference between the E1 and E2 error codes?expand_more
E1 means the loaded paper SIZE doesn't match your print-job settings; E2 means the paper LENGTH doesn't match. Check what's in the tray, match the size/length in your print settings, then press Resume. Per HP's own fix video, E1/E2 are size/length mismatches — not paper jams.
My printer shows E4 — is that a paper jam?expand_more
Yes — E4 means a paper jam. Clear the input tray, press Cancel so the printer attempts to clear it, then check the cartridge area and the cleanout door underneath the printer for jammed paper. Reload the tray properly, power on, and press Resume (Fix 5 above).
Will replacing the ink cartridges clear the E0 error?expand_more
Usually, yes — if reseating and cleaning the contacts doesn't clear E0, the cartridge itself has failed and needs replacing. The 2755e takes genuine HP 67 or HP 67XL cartridges; as an HP+ printer it requires original HP cartridges, and refilled or third-party cartridges commonly trigger a permanent E0.

articleRelated Guide

Printer showing as offline instead of a paper jam or error code? Follow our 7-step HP DeskJet 2755/2755e offline fix guide for the permanent solution.

When E0 Keeps Coming Back: Replace the Cartridges

If you’ve cleaned the contacts, removed the tape, and reseated the cartridges — and E0 still returns within a print or two — the cartridge itself has failed. Cartridges also fail with age: if a cartridge has been installed for more than 6 months, or sat half-empty through a hot summer, replace it before chasing anything else.

Use genuine HP 67 (standard) or HP 67XL (high yield) cartridges. And remember the HP+ rule on the 2755e: original HP cartridges are mandatory — refilled, remanufactured, or third-party cartridges will trigger E0 and keep triggering it, no matter how many times you clean the contacts. If you recently switched to cheaper cartridges and E0 appeared, that’s almost certainly your answer.

Genuine replacement options are in the Replacement Ink section below.

Replacement Ink Cartridges

The HP DeskJet 2755e printer uses genuine HP 67 / HP 67XL ink cartridges. Select your cartridge below to purchase replacement cartridges on Amazon:

shopping_cart Buy HP 67 on Amazon shopping_cart Buy HP 67XL on Amazon