Printer views
Printer front view
| 1 | Document feeder | |
| 2 | Control panel with color touchscreen display | |
| 3 | Walk-up USB port for printing and scanning without a computer | |
| 4 | Output bin | |
| 5 | Output bin extension | |
| 6 | Front door (access to the toner cartridges) | |
| 7 | Model name | |
| 8 | Single-sheet priority feed slot (Tray 1) | |
| 9 | Main input tray (Tray 2) | |
| 10 | Power button | |
| 11 | Scanner |
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Printer back view
- Rear door (access for clearing jams)
- Serial number and product number label
- Power connection
- USB interface port
- Ethernet port
- Fax “line in” port for attaching the fax phone line to the printer (fax models only)
- Telephone “line out” port for attaching an extension phone, answering machine, or other device (fax models only)
- Duplexer (duplex models only)
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Control-panel view
1
2
3
4 5
NOTE: While the control panel does not have a standard Cancel button, during many printer processes a Cancel button appears on the touchscreen. This permits users to cancel a process before the printer completes it.
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Home screen layout
The Home screen provides access to the printer features and indicates the current status of the printer.
Return to the Home screen at any time by touching the Home button on the printer control panel.
NOTE: The features that appear on the Home screen can vary, depending on the printer configuration.
1 2
- Scan to USB Drive
- Scan to Network Folder
- Scan to E-mail
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How to use the touchscreen control panel
Use the following actions to use the printer touchscreen control panel.
| Action | Description | Example | |
| Touch | Touch an item on the screen to select that item | Touch the Setup | button to open the Setup |
| or open that menu. Also, when scrolling through | menu. | ||
| menus, briefly touch the screen to stop the | |||
| scrolling. |
| Swipe | Touch the screen and then move the finger | Swipe the Home screen to access the Setup |
| horizontally to move the screen sideways. | button. | |
| Scroll | Touch the screen, and then, without lifting the | Scroll through the Setup menu. |
| finger, move the finger vertically to move the | ||
| screen. |
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Printer specifications
IMPORTANT: The following specifications are correct at the time of publication, but they are subject to change.
For current information, see www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP.
Technical specifications
See www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP for current information.
Supported operating systems
The following information applies to the printer-specific Windows PCL 6 and HP print drivers for OS X and to the software installer.
Windows: The HP Software Installer installs the “HP PCL.6” version 3 print driver, the “HP PCL 6” version 3 print driver, or the “HP PCL-6” version 4 print driver, depending on the Windows operating system, along with optional software when using the software installer. Download the “HP PCL.6” version 3 print driver, the
“HP PCL 6” version 3 print driver, and the “HP PCL-6” version 4 print driver from the printer-support website for this printer: www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP.
OS X: Mac computers are supported with this printer. Download HP Easy Start either from 123.hp.com/LaserJet or from the Printer Support page, and then use HP Easy Start to install the HP print driver. HP Easy Start is not included in the HP Software Installer.
- Go to 123.hp.com/LaserJet.
- Follow the steps provided to download the printer software.
Linux: For information and print drivers for Linux, go to www.hp.com/go/linuxprinting.
UNIX: For information and print drivers for UNIX®, go to www.hp.com/go/unixmodelscripts.
Table 1-1 Supported operating systems and print drivers
Operating system Print driver installed (from the software on Notes
the web)
Windows® XP SP3, 32-bit The “HP PCL.6” printer-specific print driver is
installed for this operating system as part of
the software installation.
Microsoft retired mainstream support for Windows XP in April 2009. HP will continue to provide best effort support for the discontinued XP operating system. Some features of the print driver are not supported.
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Table 1-1 Supported operating systems and print drivers (continued)
Operating system Print driver installed (from the software on Notes
the web)
Windows Vista®, 32-bit The “HP PCL.6” printer-specific print driver is
installed for this operating system as part of
the software installation.
Microsoft retired mainstream support for Windows Vista in April 2012. HP will continue to provide best effort support for the discontinued Vista operating system. Some features of the print driver are not supported.
Windows 7, 32-bit and 64-bit The “HP PCL 6” printer-specific print driver is
installed for this operating system as part of
the software installation.
Windows 8, 32-bit and 64-bit The “HP PCL 6” printer-specific print driver is
installed for this operating system as part of
the software installation.
Windows 8 RT support is provided through Microsoft IN OS Version 4, 32- bit driver.
Windows 8.1, 32-bit and 64-bit The “HP PCL-6” V4 printer-specific print
driver is installed for this operating system
as part of the software installation.
Windows 8.1 RT support is provided through Microsoft IN OS Version 4, 32- bit driver.
Windows 10, 32-bit and 64-bit The “HP PCL-6” V4 printer-specific print
driver is installed for this operating system
as part of the software installation.
Windows Server 2008 SP2, 32-bit The “HP PCL.6” printer-specific print driver is
available for download from the printer-
support website. Download the driver, and
then use the Microsoft Add Printer tool to
install it.
Microsoft retired mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 in January 2015. HP will continue to provide best effort support for the discontinued Server 2008 operating system. Some features of the print driver are not supported.
Windows Server 2008 SP2, 64-bit The “HP PCL 6” printer-specific print driver is
available for download from the printer-
support website. Download the driver, and
then use the Microsoft Add Printer tool to
install it.
Microsoft retired mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 in January 2015. HP will continue to provide best effort support for the discontinued Server 2008 operating system.
NOTE: For a current list of supported operating systems, go to www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP for HP’s all-inclusive help for the printer.
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NOTE: For HP UPD driver support for this printer, go to www.hp.com/go/upd. Under Additional information, click the links.
Table 1-2 Minimum system requirements
| Windows | OS X | ||
| ● | CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, or an Internet connection | ● | Internet connection |
| ● | Dedicated USB 1.1 or 2.0 connection or a network connection | ● | 1 GB of available hard-disk space |
- 400 MB of available hard-disk space
- 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
Mobile printing solutions
HP offers multiple mobile and ePrint solutions to enable easy printing to an HP printer from a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other mobile device. To see the full list and to determine the best choice, go to www.hp.com/go/ LaserJetMobilePrinting.
NOTE: Update the printer firmware to ensure all mobile printing and ePrint capabilities are supported.
- Wi-Fi Direct (wireless models only)
- HP ePrint via email (Requires HP Web Services to be enabled and the printer to be registered with HP Connected)
- HP ePrint app (Available for Android, iOS, and Blackberry)
- HP All-in-One Remote app for iOS and Android devices
- HP ePrint software
- Google Cloud Print
- AirPrint
- Android Printing
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Printer dimensions
Figure 1-1 Dimensions for the nw models
| Printer fully closed | Printer fully open | |
| 1. Height | 334.1 mm (13.2 in) | 590 mm (23.2 in) |
| 2. Depth | 388.6 mm (15.3 in) | 855 mm (33.7 in) |
| 3. Width | 420 mm (16.5 in) | 453 mm (17.8 in) |
| Weight (with cartridges) | 18 kg (39.7 lb) |
Figure 1-2 Dimensions for the cdw, fdn and fdw models
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 | Printer fully closed | Printer fully open |
| 1. Height | 334.1 mm (13.2 in) | 590 mm (23.2 in) |
| 2. Depth | 421.7 mm (16.6 in) | 1008 mm (39.7 in) |
| 3. Width | 420 mm (16.5 in) | 453 mm (17.8 in) |
| Weight (with cartridges) | 18.7 kg (41.2 lb) |
Power consumption, electrical specifications, and acoustic emissions
See www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP for current information.
CAUTION: Power requirements are based on the country/region where the printer is sold. Do not convert operating voltages. This will damage the printer and void the printer warranty.
Operating environmental range
Table 1-3 Operating environmental range
| Environment | Recommended | Allowed |
| Temperature | 17° to 25°C (62.6° to 77°F) | 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) |
| Relative humidity | 30% to 70% relative humidity (RH) | 10% to 80% (RH) |
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Printer hardware setup and software installation
For basic setup instructions, see the Setup Poster and Getting Started Guide that came with the printer. For additional instructions, go to HP support on the Web.
Go to www.hp.com/support/ljM278MFP for HP’s all-inclusive help for the printer. Find the following support:
- Install and configure
- Learn and use
- Solve problems
- Download software and firmware updates
- Join support forums
- Find warranty and regulatory information
Download the complete manual from below.
Download Hp Color Laserjet Pro Mfp M281fdw User Manual PDFs
hp laserjet pro m281fdw manual
hp color laserjet pro mfp m281cdw manual
hp m281fdw manual
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