- Printers
- Inkjet printer
printhead-problem
HP Printhead Problem on Smart Tank inkjet printer: reseat heads
Risk level
Medium
Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
On HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 and 790 models, Printhead Problem or Printheads missing shows when the printer will not prime after the printheads go in. Find which head is flagged, check plugs and tape are off, reinsert it and align; if it persists, reset and contact HP.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Hold the printhead by its sides and upright at all times so ink does not leak, and avoid touching the copper contacts or the nozzles.
- Never put the protective tape back over the printhead contacts; HP warns this leads to clogs and bad electrical connections.
Safe checks you can perform
- Find out which printhead triggers the message
- Check ink, paper and the printhead cover
- Inspect plugs and tape, then reinsert the printhead
- Align the printheads and reset the printer
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Printhead diagnosis through HP support
- Do not attempt this professional task: Repair or replacement of the printer by HP
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Printhead diagnosis through HP support
What they doIf the message continues after reseating, alignment and a reset, open a case with HP Customer Support using the serial number to check warranty and repair options.
They must show youwhich printhead the error names and an alignment or test page after the work.
In writingthe case number, whether the printhead or another part was replaced, and the warranty status.
Repair or replacement of the printer by HP
What they doWhen a new printhead is not recognized either, ask HP authorised service to assess the carriage and decide between repairing or replacing the unit.
They must show youthe outcome of their diagnosis and a clean print after the repair.
In writingthe cause found, the parts replaced and whether the repair is under warranty.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Find out which printhead triggers the message
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- on touchscreen models read whether the message mentions the tri-color head, the black head or both; on models without a touchscreen see which printhead icon blinks along with the Attention light.
- Result that matters:
- knowing whether to work on the tri-color head, the black head or both.
- If only one is flagged:
- handle just that printhead.
- If both are flagged:
- repeat the checks on both heads.
- Evidence to keep:
- photo of the screen or of the blinking icons.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Check ink, paper and the printhead cover
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- make sure the ink tanks are at least half full and paper is loaded; lift the ink access door, wait for the carriage to stop and confirm the printhead cover is pushed down.
- Result that matters:
- ruling out the basic conditions before removing any printhead.
- If the cover was open:
- push it closed, close the door and try to print.
- If everything was in place:
- take out the flagged printhead to inspect it.
- Evidence to keep:
- photo of the tank levels and the closed cover.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Inspect plugs and tape, then reinsert the printhead
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- press the blue button on the carriage to open the cover, press down on the affected printhead and lift it out holding it by the sides and upright; confirm no plugs or contact tape remain, insert it until it snaps and close cover and door.
- Result that matters:
- a printhead free of packing material and firmly seated in its slot.
- If the printer accepts the printhead:
- go on to alignment.
- If the message comes back:
- reset the printer.
- Evidence to keep:
- photo of the printhead without plugs or tape before inserting it.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Align the printheads and reset the printer
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- print the alignment page (on models without a touchscreen it prints on its own while an A blinks) and follow its instructions; if the error stays, power off, unplug the cord, wait 60 seconds and plug into the wall.
- Result that matters:
- aligned printheads and a printer recovered from the error state.
- If it prints normally:
- keep the alignment page.
- If the message persists:
- open a case with HP for your Smart Tank.
- Evidence to keep:
- the printed alignment page and the time of the reset.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Printers
- Brand
- HP
- Product type
- Inkjet printer
Known code variants
- HP Cabezales de impresión ausentes
- HP Faltan cabezales de impresión
- HP printer does not prime after printhead install
- HP Printhead Problem
- HP Printheads missing
- HP Problema de cabezal de impresión
- HP Smart Tank 670 cabezal
- HP Smart Tank 670 printhead error
- HP Smart Tank 720 error cabezal
- HP Smart Tank 720 printhead
- HP Smart Tank 750 cabezal
- HP Smart Tank 750 printhead problem
- HP Smart Tank 790 printheads missing
- HP Smart Tank 790 problema cabezal
- HP Smart Tank luz atención icono cabezal parpadea
- HP Smart Tank printhead icon blinking
What it means
HP's document for the Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 and 790 explains that after printhead installation the printer may fail to prime and report Printheads missing or Printhead Problem; on models without a touchscreen the Attention light and the affected printhead icon blink. The usual reason is an incorrect installation. This message alone does not confirm a dead printhead, and other Smart Tank families follow their own procedure.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Mediumsource verified
Hold the printhead by its sides and upright at all times so ink does not leak, and avoid touching the copper contacts or the nozzles.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
- Mediumsource verified
Never put the protective tape back over the printhead contacts; HP warns this leads to clogs and bad electrical connections.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Plugs or tape left on the printheadCommon
HP asks you to confirm that the plugs on top of the new printhead and the tape over its contacts were removed, because the printer cannot talk to a head that still has them.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
- Printhead not seated or cover left openCommon
The printer flags the error if the printhead has not snapped into its slot or if the printhead cover was left open when the ink door was closed.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
- Ink tanks too low or no paper loadedPossible
Before touching the printheads, HP says the ink tanks should be at least half full and paper loaded in the input tray, both needed for priming to finish.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
- Communication fault beyond home fixesLess common
If the message survives reseating, alignment and a reset, HP sends you to its support, which leaves a printhead or carriage fault for service to assess.
Evidence: Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers · Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Virtual technician
Does printhead-problem still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
Printhead errors on HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, or 790 printers
HP Support · 2026 · official_doc
- 2
Errores del cabezal de impresión en las impresoras HP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750 o 790
Soporte HP · 2026 · official_doc
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