Resetting your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw can help resolve a variety of issues and restore the printer to factory default settings. Resetting clears any stored jobs, resets page counts and settings, and reinstalls the firmware. There are two main methods for resetting this printer model – a control panel reset and a hard reset using the reset button.
When to Reset the Printer
Here are some common situations when resetting the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw may help:
- The printer is having issues connecting to your wireless network
- Print jobs are getting stuck and not printing properly
- You’re having trouble printing after changing network settings
- Strange errors are appearing that you can’t resolve through troubleshooting
- You want to clear all settings and restore the printer to factory defaults
Resetting the printer essentially allows you to start over with a clean slate. Any weird errors or glitches get cleared out. Just be aware that resetting will also remove any customized settings you may have configured.
Preparing to Reset the Printer
Before you reset the printer, follow these preparatory steps:
- Install the latest HP printer software and drivers. This gives your printer the most up-to-date firmware. Visit 123.hp.com to download the software.
- Print or export any reports you may need from the printer. The reset will wipe out all usage counts, event logs, etc.
- Note down any important customized settings like wireless setup, tray configurations, etc. You’ll need to re-enter these after resetting.
- Make sure there are no pending print jobs stuck in the queue.
Once you’ve taken care of these items, you’re ready to reset your HP M182nw!
Method 1: Control Panel Reset
You can reset your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw printer from the control panel using the following steps:
- Press the Home button on the control panel to bring up the Home menu.
- Use the arrow keys to select ‘Device Maintenance’, then press OK.
- Select ‘Reset Printer’ and press OK again.
- The screen will prompt you to confirm resetting the printer to factory defaults. Select ‘Yes’ and press OK.
- The printer components will cycle as the reset takes place. This takes a few minutes.
- Once complete, the Home menu will display again. Your HP M182nw has been reset.
This control panel reset method allows you to reset most settings, clear print jobs, and revert firmware. But for a more comprehensive reset, using the reset button is recommended.
Method 2: Hard Reset
Resetting the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw using the reset button completely restores factory settings:
- First, turn the printer off.
- Locate the recessed reset button on the back of the printer.
- While pressing the reset button, turn the printer on.
- Continue holding the reset button for 5-10 seconds after turning on, then release.
- When all control panel lights flash briefly, the hard reset is complete.
This reset button method resets the printer, restores all factory defaults, reinstalls firmware, and clears out all settings, jobs, and usage counts. It takes a bit longer than a control panel reset.
What Gets Reset
Here are some of the specific things that will be reset on the HP M182nw after a factory reset:
| Settings | Reverts all settings to factory defaults |
| Network Config | Removes any wired/wireless setup |
| Firmware | Reinstalls the firmware |
| Usage Counts | Resets page counts, jam counts, etc. to 0 |
| Print Jobs | Clears any stuck jobs from queue |
| Event Logs | Erases all event logs and histories |
What Does Not Get Reset
Some items will remain unchanged when resetting the HP M182nw printer:
- Nothing physically happens to the hardware components
- Ink levels and cartridges are not affected
- Media types like paper loaded in trays do not change
Resetting restores original factory settings, but does not impact the physical parts inside the printer.
Restoring Your Settings Post-Reset
After resetting the HP M182nw to factory defaults, you will need to reconfigure any custom settings that you had previously set up:
- Run the wireless setup wizard to reconnect WiFi or Ethernet.
- Adjust default print settings like paper tray, quality, etc.
- Reinstall third party software features and plug-ins.
- Set up HP ePrint, AirPrint and other cloud features again.
- Configure the settings for any accessory devices like duplexers.
Refer to your original notes and the HP M182nw user guide as needed while re-establishing your preferred settings.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you have issues after resetting your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Double check all physical connections if the reset printer is not powering on or connecting to computer.
- Try running the wireless setup again if WiFi is still not connecting properly. Move the printer closer to router temporarily if needed.
- For persistent errors, try powering the printer off and on again after the reset.
- Consult the user guide for any specific error codes appearing post-reset.
- Updating the firmware again may help if printer functions still seem to have issues.
In most cases, resetting the HP M182nw printer clears any weird errors and gets it functioning normally again. But contact HP support if problems continue after reset.
Conclusion
Resetting the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw to factory defaults can quickly resolve a lot of common printer issues. Just use the control panel reset option for a basic reset, or the reset button for a more comprehensive factory restore. Be sure to reconfigure any customized settings afterwards. With these simple reset steps, you can get your HP printer back to working order.