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Just installed HP 5103. It won't print an alignment page. It says one of my ink tanks is empty when it is not. Googled videos to fix but nothing is working so far. Suggestions?

Thank you

1 REPLY 1
HP Recommended

Hi @Ruza2 

 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

 

Thanks for already trying to troubleshoot this—let’s get your HP Smart Tank 5103 aligned and printing properly. If the printer says an ink tank is empty when it’s not, it’s likely a sensor or initialization issue that we can work through step by step.

 

Here’s a detailed guide to help you resolve the alignment and ink detection issue:

 

Step 1: Confirm Ink Levels Visually

  • Open the ink access door and visually inspect all four ink tanks.
  • Make sure each tank has ink above the minimum fill line.
  • If any tank is low, top it up using the correct HP ink bottle until it reaches the maximum fill line.
  • Close the ink access door securely.

 

Step 2: Reseat the Printheads

  • With the printer powered on, open the printhead access area.
  • Wait for the carriage to stop moving.
  • Gently press down and lift the black and tri-color printheads, then reseat them firmly until they click into place.
  • Close the access door and wait for the printer to initialize again.

 

Step 3: Restart the Printer

  • Turn off the printer using the power button.
  • Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
  • Wait for 60 seconds.
  • Plug it back in and power it on.

 

Step 4: Try Printing the Alignment Page Again

  • On the printer control panel, navigate to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Align Printhead.
  • Follow the on-screen prompts to print the alignment page.
  • If prompted, place the printed page face-down on the scanner glass and press the Start Copy Black button to complete the alignment.

 

Step 5: Use the HP App to Check Ink Status

  • Open the HP App on your Windows PC.
  • Select your printer from the home screen.
  • Tap Supplies to view ink levels.
  • If any tank still shows as empty despite being full, proceed to the next step.

 

Step 6: Reset the Ink System

  • On the printer control panel, go to Settings > Restore Settings > Restore Factory Defaults.
  • Confirm the reset.
  • After the reset, the printer will restart and prompt for initial setup again.
  • Reconnect it to Wi-Fi using the HP App and retry the alignment process.

 

You can also refer to this official HP guide for alignment help:
Printing an alignment page on an HP printer

This guide includes steps for aligning via the printer control panel and the HP App.

 

Let’s bring this setup to a satisfying finish. If the issue persists after these steps, I’ll help you dig deeper into the next layer of troubleshooting.

 

 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

 

Take care, and have an amazing day!

 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

I am an HP Employee.
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