HP pings my Instant Ink printer around 2:00 AM. How do I change this behavior?

[archivist68]

HP Instant Ink requires me to keep my printer on 24/7. The printer is in my bedroom. The problem is that HP will send a "Are you there?"command to my printer in the middle of the night and the sound of the printer responding to the command wakes me up. How do I reschedule when HP pings my printer?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @archivist68,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I completely understand how disruptive it is to have your printer wake up in the middle of the night, especially when it’s in your bedroom. HP Instant Ink does periodically ping your printer to check ink levels and connectivity, but unfortunately, there’s currently no way to reschedule or control the exact timing of these pings.
 

However, here are a few practical steps you can take to reduce or eliminate the noise without disabling Instant Ink:
 

1. Adjust Sleep Mode Settings

You can configure your printer to enter deeper sleep modes or sleep sooner:

• Access the Embedded Web Server (EWS) by typing your printer’s IP address into a browser.
• Go to Settings > Power Management > Energy Save Settings.
• Set Sleep After to the shortest time (e.g., 5 or 15 minutes).
• Enable Schedule Off during nighttime hours (e.g., 10 PM to 7 AM) to reduce wake-ups

👉HP OfficeJet Pro X series - Schedule On and Off Behavior | HP® Support

2. Place the Printer in a Different Room (if possible)

If you can move the printer to a hallway or office, it will still stay connected to Wi-Fi and Instant Ink but won’t disturb your sleep.

3. Use a Smart Plug

Connect your printer to a smart plug and schedule it to turn off during sleep hours:

• Example: Off from 10 PM to 7 AM.
• When powered back on, the printer will reconnect to HP Instant Ink automatically.

⚠️ Note: HP recommends keeping the printer on for Instant Ink, but short overnight shutdowns typically don’t affect service unless prolonged.

4. Mute Printer Sounds (if supported)

Some HP printers allow you to mute system sounds:

• Check the printer’s control panel or EWS for Sound Settings.
• Disable Alert tones or Startup sounds.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat