HP Error E9: Firmware update interrupted
On HP DeskJet 2900, 4300, 5100 and 5800 printers E9 means a printer firmware update was interrupted.
What to try
- Connect the printer to a Windows PC or Mac with the printer USB cable and close any message that opens.
- On the computer, open HP Software and Driver Downloads, choose Printer, and enter your model.
- Download and open the latest update under Printer Firmware, select your printer, and click Update.
- When the printer restarts, close the update utility and disconnect the USB cable.
- With no computer or cable, turn the printer off and on and wait about 15 minutes.
When it needs a technician
If E9 stays after a firmware update, HP says to contact HP Customer Support.
Which models show E9
HP documents this code for models including HP DeskJet 2900, HP DeskJet 4300, HP DeskJet 5100, HP DeskJet 5800, HP Smart Tank 5000, HP Smart Tank 720, HP ENVY 6000e, HP Smart Tank 450.
Varies by model: Meaning differs by model. Smart Tank 210 to 5100 and 670 to 750: firmware update error, turn off and on then update firmware. ENVY 6000e and 6400e: error after setup or reset; HP says hold Power and Wireless for 5 seconds, then re-add the printer in HP Smart. Smart Tank 450, Ink Tank 310, 410 and DeskJet GT 5810, 5820: ink system maintenance is due; a maintenance page prints and HP says to open and close the printhead access door.
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 2900, 4300, 5100, 5800 Printers, Blinking lights and error codes. Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.
Still showing E9?
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