How to Reset a Lexmark Printer

1. Power cycle (fixes most stuck errors)

Turn the printer off using its power button, unplug it from the wall, and wait a full 60 seconds — this matters, because it lets internal capacitors fully discharge and clears temporary error states that a quick off-and-on doesn't. Plug it back in and power it on. This resolves the majority of "stuck" error codes, paper-sensor false positives, and a printer that's simply stopped responding without any obvious cause.

2. Network settings reset (fixes connection problems)

If the printer keeps dropping off Wi-Fi, can't find your network, or shows the wrong IP address, a full power cycle sometimes isn't enough — the printer needs to forget its saved network entirely. On the control panel, go to Settings → Network/Ports → Network → Network Setup → Restore Factory Defaults (menu wording varies slightly by model). This clears only the network configuration, leaving your other settings, address book, and any stored jobs intact. Run the wireless setup wizard again afterward to reconnect.

3. Full factory reset (wipes everything)

Use this only if you're preparing to sell, donate, or recycle the printer, or if the device is behaving erratically in a way that neither a power cycle nor a network reset fixes. From the control panel, go to Settings → Device → Restore Factory Defaults, confirm when prompted, and the printer will erase all custom settings, saved networks, and any stored faxes or scan destinations, then restart as if unboxed for the first time. You'll need to run through wireless setup again from scratch afterward.

Models without a screen

On simpler Lexmark models without a touch display, factory reset is usually done with a button combination on power-up — commonly holding down a specific combination of buttons (such as Cancel and Resume, or the network button) while powering the printer on, and holding until the lights cycle in a particular pattern. The exact combination differs by model, so check the manual for your specific printer or look up your model number on Lexmark's official support site before attempting this, since an incorrect button sequence typically does nothing but a specific one is required to actually trigger it.

What a reset won't fix

A reset clears software-level state — stuck queues, corrupted settings, forgotten networks — but it won't fix a genuine hardware fault: a jammed roller, a failed print head, or a cartridge sensor that's physically dirty. If the same error returns immediately after a reset and reconnection, the cause is almost always physical rather than a settings problem.