Cannot Connect Mac to 5107 Printer

[olivertwigg]

Printer shows up and when I connect It asks for wifi password which works and then I press information button as prompted and that also works, but then it just says bluetooth connection failed even though im right next to the printer.

I've reset printer settings, restored it to default, restarted numerous times and nothing is working.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @olivertwigg,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

It sounds like your HP Smart Tank 5107 is stuck in a "Bluetooth Handshake" loop where the Mac sees the printer but cannot complete the security exchange. This often happens because macOS and the HP Smart app are competing for the Bluetooth signal, or the printer's internal Bluetooth "ready" state has timed out after you entered the Wi-Fi password.

1. Clear the Bluetooth "Ghost" cache on your Mac.
   • Click the Apple menu, select System Settings, and then click Bluetooth.
   • Locate any entry for the HP Smart Tank 5100 series or HP Setup, click the "i" icon, and select Forget This Device.
   • Toggle your Mac's Bluetooth off and then on again to reset the scanning radio.
2. Re-trigger the printer's setup mode and HP+ activation.
   • Ensure the printer is on, then press and hold the Wi-Fi and Cancel (X) buttons simultaneously for five seconds.
   • Wait for the status light to pulse purple, which indicates the Bluetooth "Beacon" is actively broadcasting for a new connection.
   • Keep your Mac within one meter (three feet) of the printer and ensure no other mobile devices nearby are trying to connect to the printer at the same time.
3. Complete the setup using the "Add Printer" wizard in HP Smart.
   • Open the HP Smart app on your Mac and click the plus sign (+) or Add Printer.
   • Select the printer when it appears with the "Setup" status; when prompted to press the Information (i) button, wait 2 seconds after the prompt appears before pressing it.
   • If the Bluetooth error reappears, select the Connect using Wi-Fi only or IP Address option within the app to bypass the Bluetooth handshake entirely.

For further troubleshooting of setup failures on macOS, see the HP printer setup (HP Smart app) guide.

Does the status light on your printer stay pulsing purple throughout the entire connection attempt, or does it change color before the "Bluetooth failed" message appears?

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

Kuroi_Kenshi

[olivertwigg]

Hi there, it still just says Bluetooth failed 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @olivertwigg,

Thank you for the response.

Let’s go through a few more checks.

Bypass Bluetooth Setup (Direct Wi-Fi Method)

1. On your Mac, open System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Look for a network named “HP-Setup-xxxx” and connect to it.
3. Once connected, open a browser and go to 123.hp.com.
4. Follow the setup instructions to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network.
5. After setup completes, reconnect your Mac to your regular Wi-Fi.

Add Printer Manually on Mac

1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Click the “+” icon to add a printer.
3. Select your HP Smart Tank 5107 from the list.
4. If not listed, go to the IP tab.
5. Enter the printer’s IP address (found on the printer display or network page).

Reset Printer Wireless Setup Mode

1. Turn the printer ON.
2. Press and hold the Wireless and Cancel (X) buttons together for 5 seconds.
3. Wait until the light starts blinking (setup mode active).
4. Keep the printer within 1 meter of your Mac.
5. Retry setup using Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth.

Check Mac Permissions for HP App

1. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Open Bluetooth and ensure the HP app is allowed.
3. Open Local Network and enable access for the HP app.
4. Restart the HP app after enabling permissions.

Note: Bluetooth is only used for initial setup. Once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, all printing will happen over the network.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

Kuroi_Kenshi