getting an 'out of memory' error on the screen when trying to print a big pdf or a photo-heavy document.

Diagnosis

The "Out of Memory" error on the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e occurs when the printer's internal RAM buffer is overwhelmed by the size and complexity of the print spooler data. Unlike a computer, this printer does not have an expandable memory slot; it relies on a fixed amount of volatile memory to rasterize images and process PDF layers before they are sent to the print head. When you send a high-resolution PDF (especially those created in Adobe Illustrator or AutoCAD) or a photo-heavy document, the printer attempts to hold the entire page's bitmap in its memory. If the file size exceeds the available buffer, the printer crashes the job and triggers the error. This is often exacerbated by "Print as Image" settings or extremely high DPI (dots per inch) settings that create massive data packets. To confirm this is a memory issue rather than a hardware failure, try printing a simple one-page text document. If the text document prints without issue but a 20MB+ PDF fails, the root cause is definitely the printer's inability to process the complex data stream of the larger file.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must reduce the data load being sent from the computer to the printer, forcing the computer to do the heavy lifting of rendering rather than the printer.

1. Open the document in Adobe Acrobat or your preferred PDF viewer.
2. Click File > Print to open the print dialog box.
3. Click the Advanced button located near the printer selection dropdown.
4. Check the box labeled Print As Image. This flattens the PDF layers and converts the document into a simpler bitmap format that the 9015e can process more easily.
5. Click OK to return to the main print screen.
6. Click on Properties or Printer Properties.
7. Navigate to the Paper/Quality tab.
8. Change the Print Quality setting from "Best" to "Normal." While "Best" increases the DPI, it exponentially increases the memory required for each page.
9. Ensure the Paper Type is set correctly (e.g., "Plain Paper" instead of "HP Matte" if you are not using specialty paper), as specialty settings trigger higher memory usage for ink saturation.
10. Click OK and send the document to the printer.

If That Didn't Work

• Clear the Print Spooler: Sometimes a "ghost" of the failed job remains in the Windows Spooler, blocking new memory allocations. Open the 'Services' app in Windows, right-click 'Print Spooler', select 'Stop', then navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files in that folder. Restart the Print Spooler service.
• Perform a Hard Power Reset: While the printer is ON, unplug the power cord from the back of the machine. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Wait exactly 60 seconds to allow the volatile RAM to discharge completely. Plug it back in and restart.
• Update Firmware: HP frequently releases firmware patches for the 9015e series to optimize memory management. On the printer's control panel, go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Update to ensure you are on the latest version.
• Divide the Document: If the PDF is 50+ pages with heavy graphics, do not print the entire range at once. Print in smaller batches (e.g., pages 1-10, then 11-20). This clears the printer's buffer between batches.

Heads Up

• Avoid using "Maximum DPI" settings for documents that contain a mix of text and images; "Normal" is usually indistinguishable for standard office documents.
• If you frequently print high-resolution photography, consider using the "HP Smart" app instead of the system print driver, as it handles image compression more efficiently.
• Keep the printer's firmware updated to avoid known memory leak issues associated with the 9000-series All-in-Ones.
• Avoid sending files over a weak Wi-Fi connection; packet loss can sometimes cause the printer to hang and report a memory error when it's actually a data timeout.