How to Safely Restart an Office Printer

Help Desk Admin

Aug 02, 2026

Article ID: KB26080017

Quick answer

A normal restart can clear a temporary printer error without changing the printer's network, security, or queue configuration. Use the printer's normal power control, allow startup to finish, and never interrupt a firmware update or active maintenance procedure.

Before you begin

✓ Confirm the printer is not installing firmware, updating, calibrating, or displaying Do not power off.

✓ Tell nearby users before restarting a shared printer.

✓ Save open documents and collect any confidential pages waiting at the printer.

✓ Record the exact error message or fault code before the display changes.

Steps

Allow any page currently moving through the printer to finish when safe.
Cancel only your own failed print job. Use the approved printer-queue guide before canceling another user's job.
Press the printer's normal power button once. Do not use a factory-reset, network-reset, or restore-defaults option.
Wait until the display turns off and the printer's operating sounds stop.
Wait at least 30 seconds unless the manufacturer's instructions for the exact model specify a different interval.
Press the normal power button once to turn the printer on.
Allow startup, calibration, and network connection to finish without interruption.
Confirm the printer reaches its normal Ready state.
Print one approved test page. Do not send the same document repeatedly.

Do not perform these changes without PCMIT

Unplug the printer during a firmware update, calibration, or maintenance cycle.
Factory-reset the printer or change its IP address, Wi-Fi, administrator, security, or cloud-print settings.
Move network cables or connect the printer to an unapproved power source.
Remove toner, drums, fusers, or maintenance kits unless the exact model instructions and your role permit it.
Repeatedly press the power button or send multiple test jobs.

Expected result

The printer returns to Ready, preserves its normal network and queue identity, and prints one test page. A normal restart should not require the printer to be re-added to each computer.

⚠️ Stop and contact PCMIT when

⚠️ The display shows a firmware update, service code, network-address warning, security warning, or administrator prompt.
⚠️ The printer leaks toner, smells hot, smokes, sparks, becomes unusually hot, or makes unfamiliar mechanical sounds.
⚠️ Paper is trapped outside a manufacturer-identified user-removable path.
⚠️ Several users still cannot print, or the printer returns with a different name, address, or configuration.
⚠️ The printer repeatedly restarts, loses power, does not reach Ready, or the same error immediately returns.

Include the printer make, model, location, display message, and result of the one test page.

Contact the PCMIT Help Desk

☎️ Phone: 888-910-1114
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Portal: help.pcmitcorp.com

Never include a password, administrator code, Wi-Fi key, recovery key, or other secret in a support request.