Lexmark Error 38 — What It Means & How to Fix It
By Ryan Green · Updated August 2026 · Independent guide · PrinterCare USA LLC (not affiliated with any printer manufacturer)
Error 38 on your Lexmark printer is frustrating because it stops everything until the memory issue clears, but it's almost always fixable without a service call. This error typically happens when a print job gets stuck in the printer's buffer, when the printer receives corrupted data, or when too many jobs queue up faster than the printer can process them.
The good news is that most Lexmark users can resolve this in under five minutes using the steps below. These fixes work across Lexmark's consumer and small business model ranges, including the MX and CX series. If you've tried the basic steps and the error persists, professional remote support is available for $49 to diagnose deeper memory or firmware issues.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power cycle the printer completely. Turn off the printer using the power button, then unplug the power cable from the wall outlet. Wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on. This clears the printer's volatile memory and stops any stalled print job from continuing to block the buffer.
- Clear the print queue on Windows. On Windows 11, open Settings, go to Devices, then Printers & Scanners. Find your Lexmark printer and click it, then select Open queue. Right-click each job in the queue and select Cancel. Alternatively, you can open the Command Prompt as Administrator, type net stop spooler, wait 10 seconds, then type net start spooler to restart the print spooler service.
- Clear the print queue on macOS. Open System Settings on your Mac, navigate to Printers & Scanners, select your Lexmark printer, and click Options & Supplies. Then click the Jobs tab and delete any pending or stuck jobs. If that option is not available, you can also go to Applications, Utilities, and open Activity Monitor, then search for and force-quit any print-related processes.
- Remove the printer from your computer and re-add it. On Windows, go to Settings, Printers & Scanners, select your Lexmark printer, and click Remove device. On macOS, go to System Settings, Printers & Scanners, click the printer, and select the minus button. Then add the printer again by selecting Add Printer or Scanner and following the setup wizard to reinstall the latest drivers.
- Check and download the latest Lexmark drivers. Visit the official Lexmark support website, enter your exact printer model number, and download the most recent driver and firmware package for your operating system. Install the drivers, restart your computer, and try printing a test page. Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of memory errors on Lexmark printers.
- Access the printer's web interface to clear memory. Find your printer's IP address by printing a network configuration page from the printer's control panel menu. Open a web browser on your computer and type the IP address into the address bar. Log in with the default credentials (usually admin/admin), navigate to Device, then Device Status or Memory Management, and look for an option to clear the page buffer or reset memory.
- Perform a factory reset on the printer. If error 38 persists after the above steps, access the printer's menu using the control panel. Go to Settings or Administration, find Restore Factory Defaults or Reset All Settings, and confirm. This will erase all custom settings and clear all memory, so note any important configuration details beforehand. After the reset completes, reconfigure your network and printer settings.
- Contact professional remote support. If none of the above steps resolve the error, the issue may be a hardware memory failure or firmware corruption that requires professional diagnosis. Remote support technicians can access your printer's logs and perform advanced troubleshooting for $49, and they can often resolve the problem without requiring you to ship the device.
Still stuck? A technician can fix it remotely today.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes Lexmark error 38?
Error 38 occurs when the printer's memory buffer fills up faster than it can process data, usually due to stalled print jobs, corrupted files, outdated drivers, or network connectivity issues. Large PDF files or complex graphics can also trigger this error if the printer runs out of RAM before completing the job.
Will error 38 go away on its own?
Sometimes error 38 clears after a power cycle, but it often returns if the underlying cause is not addressed. If a print job is genuinely stuck in the queue or drivers are corrupted, the error will persist every time you try to print until you clear the queue or update the software.
Is error 38 a sign my Lexmark printer is failing?
Not necessarily. Error 38 is usually a software or memory buffer issue that is completely reversible with the steps above. However, if the error returns immediately after a factory reset and you have tried multiple fixes, it could indicate a failing memory module, in which case professional service or replacement would be recommended.
Can I print while error 38 is showing?
No, the printer will reject all new print jobs while error 38 is displayed because the memory is considered full or unstable. You must clear the error using one of the steps above before the printer will accept and process new documents.