HP Error 0x000003e3: Operation could not be completed
In Windows, clicking Print test page in Printers & scanners shows 'Operation could not be completed (error 0x000003e3)' with some HP DeskJet, ENVY and OfficeJet Pro printers.
What to try
- Turn the printer off and on, plugged directly into a wall outlet.
- Restart the computer.
- For a network printer, make sure the printer and computer are on the same network.
- In Windows Printers & scanners, select the printer and click Remove device.
- In the HP Smart app, right-click the printer, choose Hide Printer, then add the printer again and try to print.
When it needs a technician
This is a software and driver issue. If re-adding the printer does not fix it, contact HP Customer Support.
Which models show 0x000003e3
HP documents this code for models including HP DeskJet printers, HP ENVY printers, HP OfficeJet Pro printers.
First steps for any printer error
- Write down the exact code before you do anything else — similar-looking codes often mean completely different things.
- Power the printer off, unplug it for a couple of minutes, then power it back on. A surprising number of transient errors clear here.
- Open the covers and check for paper scraps, packaging material, or anything blocking the carriage.
- Check the cartridges or tanks are genuine, correctly seated, and not empty.
- Confirm the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or extension lead.
- Check your model’s own manual — codes are model-specific, and the manual is the authority for your machine.
Source: HP Customer Support - HP DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet Pro Printers, error 0x000003e3. Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.
Still showing 0x000003e3?
Tell our printer technician your model and what you've tried. You'll find out whether it's fixable at home or worth repairing at all.
Ask about my printer — $1Eric Paul Amora · Printer & Hardware Repair Technician