Hi @minty96,
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.
Thank you for reaching out to HP Support. We understand how frustrating it is to encounter printing issues, especially when simpler documents work fine, but more complex ones, such as PDFs with barcodes, watermarks, or images, fail to print correctly. We appreciate the troubleshooting steps you've already tried.
1. Update the Printer Firmware
- Go to the HP M140w firmware page and download the latest firmware (20240813)
- Install it using a USB connection or via the HP Smart app.
2. Avoid Printing Directly from PDF
- Instead of printing the PDF directly:
- Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Go to Print > Advanced.
- Check “Print as Image” — this simplifies the rendering and reduces memory load.
- Then print.
3. Convert PDF to Image or Simpler Format
- Convert the PDF to a PNG or JPEG using a tool like Adobe or an online converter.
- Then print the image file instead.
4. Use a PCL Driver Instead of HP Smart
- If you're printing from a PC, try using the HP Universal Print Driver (UPD) in PCL6 mode.
- This driver is more efficient for complex documents and can bypass some of the limitations of the HP Smart app.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, as it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
VikramTheGreat
HP Support