Heads do not fill automaticallyfrom tanks

[Sabrinabat1]

I have a Hp Smart Tank 5000 and the tanks do not fill the heads automatically. The yellow color did not even have ink on the ribbon. There seems to be a lot of air in the ink ribbons. This has never worked properly. How can we fix this?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Sabrinabat1,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

We're sorry to hear that your HP Smart Tank 5000 is not properly delivering ink to the printhead system. Based on your description — tanks not filling the printheads, air in ink tubes, and yellow color missing — it sounds like the ink priming process was incomplete or has failed.

Let’s walk through how to fix this issue.

Step 1: Check Ink Levels in the Tanks

Make sure:

• All ink tanks are filled up to at least the minimum fill line.
• The yellow tank, in particular, should have enough ink before proceeding.

If not, refill the tanks using original HP ink bottles.

Step 2: Check for Protective Seals

If the printer was never used properly, the orange protective plug (used during shipping) may still be on one or more ink ports.

• Open the printer's ink access area.
• Ensure all the ink lines and connectors are free of any shipping plugs or seals.

Step 3: Run the Ink Priming Process

If your Smart Tank printer was never properly primed, do this:

1. Turn the printer off.
2. Open the front access door to see the printhead area.
3. Check if the printheads are locked in place and installed correctly.
4. Use the control panel (or HP Smart App if supported) to start the printhead cleaning or priming process:
   • On the printer control panel, hold the Resume/Cancel button (triangle inside a circle) for 3 seconds to trigger a cleaning cycle.
   • Alternatively, access maintenance options through your computer:
     Go to HP Smart > Printer Settings > Tools > Printhead Cleaning or Priming.

This should draw ink into the printhead system and remove air from the tubes.

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