E5
HP Printer
Severity: CriticalWhat Does This Error Mean?
The E5 error means your HP printer has an ink system failure. The printer cannot communicate with one or more ink cartridges. This usually means a cartridge is not installed properly or has a damaged chip.
Affected Models
- HP DeskJet 2700 Series
- HP DeskJet 4100 Series
- HP ENVY 6000 Series
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9000 Series
- HP ENVY Inspire 7900 Series
Common Causes
- One or more ink cartridges are not properly seated in their slots
- The electrical contacts on the cartridge or print head are dirty or smudged
- A cartridge is incompatible with your specific HP printer model
- The cartridge chip is damaged, preventing communication with the printer
- A recently installed cartridge is defective or counterfeit
How to Fix It
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Turn off the printer. Open the ink cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to stop moving.
Never force the carriage to move — let it slide to the center on its own.
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Remove each ink cartridge one at a time. Check the gold or copper contacts on the bottom for ink smudges or debris.
Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water to clean the contacts.
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Inspect the cartridge slots inside the printer. Wipe the electrical contacts in each slot gently.
Avoid touching the contacts with your bare fingers — skin oils can cause connection problems.
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Reinstall each cartridge firmly until you hear a click. Make sure every cartridge is in the correct color-coded slot.
A cartridge that is not fully clicked in will cause the E5 error.
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Close the access door, turn the printer back on, and check if the error clears.
If the error remains, try replacing the cartridge that was most recently installed. It may be defective.
When to Call a Professional
If you have tried reseating and cleaning all cartridges and the E5 error persists, the ink system hardware may be faulty. Contact HP support or a local repair shop. Repair costs typically range from $80 to $150 depending on the model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use third-party ink cartridges without getting the E5 error?
Some third-party cartridges work fine, but others have faulty chips that trigger the E5 error. If you recently installed a non-HP cartridge and got this error, try replacing it with a genuine HP cartridge to test.
Does the E5 error mean my printer is broken?
Not necessarily. In most cases, the E5 error is caused by a cartridge issue, not a printer hardware problem. Cleaning the contacts and reseating the cartridges fixes it the majority of the time.
Will the E5 error go away on its own?
No. The printer will not print until the ink system issue is resolved. You need to physically check and reseat or replace the cartridges to clear the error.