HP printers and fax machines - Resolve fax problems

To increase the chance of a successful fax transmission, send the fax again after adjusting settings.

• Manually redial the fax number: Make sure you include any outside access code, such as '9', the long-distance country code, and the area code. If you are using speed dial, make sure the saved number has the required dashes between numbers.

• Lower the fax speed: Using the slow or standard setting can improve sending success.

• Turn on Error Correction Mode: If Error Correction Mode is off, turn it on to increase the chance of a successful transmission. The fax might take longer to complete.

• Send the fax in black and white: The receiving fax machine might not support color faxes.

• Confirm the dialing type (tone or pulse): Most phone lines use tone dialing.

• Enable error reporting: The Fax Error Reports feature prints a report if an error occurs. If the error includes a numeric error code, go to HP Customer Support, and then search for the error code.

Check the phone line for issues.

• Call the fax number from a phone: If you do not hear fax tones, the receiving fax machine might be turned off or disconnected.

• Confirm the fax cords are in the correct ports: The phone line should be connected to the 1-LINE port and an answering machine or phone should be connected to the 2-EXT port on the back of the printer.

• Connect a phone to the wall jack and try to make a call: If the call fails or there is no dial tone, check if another phone or device is keeping the line open. If you hear static, there might be interference from nearby electrical appliances, such as motors, fans, or televisions, or from coax cables. There might also be an issue with the line quality that requires attention from your phone service provider.

• Use the fax cord that shipped with your printer: HP fax-capable printers ship with a two-wire phone cord. If you are using a different cord, confirm the connector does not have four wires. Shorter, higher quality cords work better than longer cords of lesser quality.

  

• Remove other devices from the phone line: Devices such as answering machines, modems, or other telephones might cause faxing issues.

Check fax settings to help identify issues when faxes are not received.

• Turn Auto Answer on: If this feature is not enabled, you must manually answer incoming fax calls.

• Set the number of rings to answer incoming faxes: If you have an answering machine, allow it to answer all calls first so the printer can detect the fax tones after the machine answers the call. Change the Rings to Answer setting to a higher number of rings than the answering machine is set for.

• Adjust the answering machine message length and clarity: To ensure the printer can detect fax tones, shorten the answering machine greeting message to 10 seconds or less, make sure there is no background noise, and leave 5 seconds of silence at the end.

• Set the ring type: Use the All Rings setting for a dedicated fax line or select Distinctive Ring if you set up a special ring pattern for the fax line.

• Enable error reporting: The Fax Error Reports feature prints a report if an error occurs. If the error includes a numeric error code, go to HP Customer Support, and then search for the error code.

Check for phone line connection issues that might cause fax receiving to fail.

• Confirm the fax cords are in the correct ports: The phone line should be connected to the 1-LINE port and the answering machine, if used, should be connected to the 2-EXT port on the back of the printer.

• Connect the a phone to the wall jack and try to make a call: If the call fails or there is no dial tone, check if another phone or device is keeping the line open. If you hear static, there might be interference from nearby electrical appliances, such as motors, fans, or televisions, or from coax cables. There might also be an issue with the line quality that requires attention from your phone service provider.

• Use the fax cord that shipped with your printer: HP fax-capable printers ship with a two-wire phone cord. If you are using a different cord, confirm the connector does not have four wires. Shorter, higher quality cords work better than longer cords of lesser quality.

  

• Remove other devices from the phone line: Devices such as answering machines, modems, or other telephones might cause faxing issues.

• Remove conflicting phone line services: Services such as voice mail and call waiting, or services designed to prevent undesired calls such as anonymous call rejection and privacy manager can interfere with incoming faxes. Contact your telephone company if these services are interrupting fax communication.