HP Printer Error Code 27 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 27 means the printer ran out of memory while processing a print job. The document you sent was too large or complex for the printer's current memory. You can usually fix this by simplifying the document or adding more memory to the printer.

Affected Models

HP LaserJet 4000 Series
HP LaserJet 5000 Series
HP LaserJet 8000 Series
HP LaserJet 4100 Series
HP LaserJet 4050 Series

Common Causes

The print job contains too many high-resolution images for the printer's memory to handle
The document uses many different embedded fonts that consume large amounts of memory
Multiple complex print jobs were sent to the printer simultaneously
The printer has the minimum base memory with no upgrade installed
The printer driver is not set to compress print data before sending it

How to Fix It

Press the Go or Continue button on the printer to print what it has already processed so far.

The page may print partially. This at least lets you see what came through before memory ran out.
On your computer, open the print dialog and look for a 'Print Quality' or 'Resolution' setting. Reduce it from 1200 dpi to 600 dpi.

Lower resolution uses significantly less printer memory and is usually indistinguishable on plain paper.
In the printer driver settings, look for 'Print Optimizations' or 'Resource Saving' and enable it.

This setting tells the driver to compress the print data before sending, reducing memory usage.
If printing a document with many images, try saving it as a PDF and printing the PDF directly.

PDF format can handle complex layouts more efficiently than printing from Word or other applications.
Consider adding a DIMM memory upgrade to your printer. Even a 16MB or 32MB upgrade dramatically reduces error 27 occurrences.

Check HP's support site or eBay for compatible DIMM upgrades for your specific LaserJet model.

When to Call a Professional

Error 27 is almost always solvable without a technician. If memory upgrades are no longer available for your older printer model, a local printer supplier may have aftermarket DIMMs. Only contact a professional if you suspect the memory slot itself is damaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does error 27 only happen with some documents?

Different documents use very different amounts of printer memory. A simple text page uses almost no memory. A full-page photograph or a page full of mixed fonts and graphics can use 10 to 20 times more memory. Error 27 only appears when a document exceeds what is available.

How much memory does my HP LaserJet have?

Check the printer's configuration page — you can usually print one by holding the Go button at startup. The page lists the current memory installed. Most base models have 8MB to 32MB — upgrading to 64MB or 128MB often eliminates error 27 entirely.

Will adding more memory void my HP printer warranty?

No. HP explicitly supports user-installable memory upgrades on LaserJet printers. Installing HP-approved memory does not void the warranty. Using non-HP memory is also generally fine, but HP does not guarantee compatibility.