My HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 is blocked for a lot of settings by an administrator

[Ed2024-1]

Lots of settings are blocked by the administrator. As it is a privat printer I would be the administrator.

Please unlock all settings as I cannot get it working anymore.

[Rachel571 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ed2024-1,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If you're experiencing issues with administrator locks on your HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 printer, it can be quite frustrating, especially if it prevents you from using or changing certain settings. Since it's a private printer and you are supposed to have full administrative access, here are a few steps you can follow to try and resolve this issue:

1. Check User Account Control

First, ensure that the printer software on your computer isn't being limited by User Account Control settings in Windows (assuming you're using a Windows PC). You might need to run the printer software as an administrator by right-clicking the application icon and selecting 'Run as administrator'.

2. Reset the Printer Settings

Resetting your printer to factory settings can help clear any administrator settings that were mistakenly applied. Here's how you can generally reset most HP printers:

• On the printer: Navigate to the printer's control panel. Look for a 'Setup' or 'Settings' menu.
• Reset Options: Within the settings menu, look for an option that says 'Printer Maintenance', 'Tools', or similar, then look for 'Restore Factory Defaults', 'Reset', or a similar option.

Note: The exact steps can vary slightly depending on the printer model. If you can't find these options, refer to your printer’s user manual for detailed instructions specific to your model.

3. Accessing the Embedded Web Server (EWS)

If the standard interface is blocked, you might still be able to access settings through the HP Embedded Web Server (EWS):

• Connect the printer to your network (using Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
• Print a network configuration page: Usually, there's an option on the printer's display under network settings that allows you to print this page. This page will display the printer's IP address.
• Access EWS: Type the printer's IP address into a web browser's address bar on a computer that's connected to the same network. This should bring up the EWS interface.

In EWS, you can check for any administrative settings or locks and modify them as needed.

4. HP Software and Drivers

Ensure you have the latest drivers and software installed for your printer. Visit the HP website, find your printer model, and download the latest drivers. Sometimes, updating or reinstalling the software can resolve issues related to permissions and administrative locks.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support