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HP Smart Tank 450 Printers - Replacing Printheads

This document is for HP Smart Tank Wireless 450, 455, and 457 printers.
Replace printheads that are damaged or no longer functioning properly. Replacement printheads are available from HP Authorized Repair Centers or Service Partners.
Replacing a Printhead in HP Smart Tank 350, Wireless 450, Plus 550, 650, 570 Printers
Replacing a Printhead in HP Smart Tank 350, Wireless 450, Plus 550, 650, 570 Printers
Learn how to replace a printhead in your HP Smart Tank 350, Wireless 450, Plus 550, 650, 570 Printers.

Step 1: Replace the printhead

Replace the black or tri-color printhead.
  1. Turn on the printer.
  2. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
  3. Make sure that all ink levels are above the minimum fill line.
    Figure : Example of ink at minimum fill line
    Minimum fill line
  4. Close the output tray extender, and then rotate the output tray left to stow it in the printer.
  5. Open the exterior door, and then open the printhead access door.
    Figure : Opening the exterior door, and then the printhead access door
    Opening the exterior door, and then the printhead access door
  6. Press and hold the Black Color Copy button for 3 seconds.
    The carriage moves to the center of the printer.
    Figure : Accessing the carriage
    Access the print carriage
  7. Gently push down on the blue carriage latch.
    The blue carriage latch opens.
    Figure : Pushing down on the blue printhead carriage latch
    Open the carriage latch
  8. Lightly press down on the printhead to release it, and then pull the printhead out of its slot. If a printhead is difficult to remove, push up on the blue latch to aid in removal.
    Repeat these steps for the black printhead.
      caution:
    Keep the printhead upright during removal to prevent ink from leaking. Do not touch the printhead towers (the nozzles on top of the printhead), as they might contain residual ink.
    Figure : Removing the printhead
    Removing the printheads
  9. Open the packages, and then remove the new printhead.
    Figure : Removing the printhead from the package
     Remove printheads from package
  10. Pull the orange plugs straight up from the tops of the printhead.
    Figure : Pulling out the orange plugs
    Pull the orange plugs
  11. Remove the tape from the printhead contacts using the pull tabs.
      caution:
    Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Do not replace the protective tape on the contacts. Handling these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.
    Figure : Removing the tape from the printhead contacts
    Remove the tape
  12. Slide the printhead at a slight upward angle into the empty slot, and then gently push up on the printhead until it snaps into place.
    • Insert the black printhead into the right slot.
    • Insert the tri-color printhead into the left slot.
    Figure : Inserting the printhead
    Insert the printheads
  13. Close the blue carriage latch by pushing down firmly until the latch snaps into place.
    Figure : Closing the blue carriage latch
    Close the latch
      caution:
    Do not open the blue carriage latch after printhead installation unless you are installing new printheads or moving the printer long distances.
    Do not open carriage latch
  14. Close the printhead access door.
    A blinking P displays on the control panel.
    Figure : A blinking 'P' displays
    A blinking 'P' displays
  15. Close the exterior door.
  16. Pull out the output tray, and then raise the tray extender.
    Figure : Pulling out the output tray, and then raising the tray extender
    Pull out the output tray and tray extender

Step 2: Prime the ink system and align the printheads

Aligning the printheads is necessary to achieve the best print quality.
  1. On the printer control panel, press and hold the Resume button for 3 seconds to start the priming process.
    The alignment starts when the blinking P becomes a blinking A.
    The printer prints an alignment page.
    Figure : Pressing and holding the Resume button
    Press and hold the resume button
  2. Lift the scanner lid.
  3. Place the alignment page with the print side down on the right-front corner of the scanner glass, and then close the scanner lid. Position it according to the guides around the scanner glass.
    Figure : Placing the alignment page on the scanner glass
    Printer alignment
  4. Close the scanner lid.
  5. On the control panel, press the Start Copy Color button .
  6. Alignment is complete when the A becomes a 0 on the control panel.
    Figure : Alignment complete
    Alignment complete

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Review the list of frequently asked questions about replacing the printheads.