Connect printer to laptop

[Geoff0031]

I have a HP laptop and a HP printer SmartTank 7005. I have a problem that the connection between the two keeps dropping. Please can someone give me some advice on resolving this

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Geoff0031 

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

Thank you for already identifying that the connection drops intermittently—that’s a valuable observation. 

If your HP SmartTank 7005 printer keeps disconnecting from your HP laptop, the issue is likely related to Wi-Fi stability, power settings, or IP address conflicts. Let’s walk through a few precise steps to help you restore a steady connection.

Restart All Devices

• Power off your printer, laptop, and Wi-Fi router.
• Wait 30 seconds, then power them back on in this order: router → printer → laptop.
• This clears temporary network conflicts and refreshes the connection.

Assign a Manual IP Address to the Printer

• Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer:
  • On the control panel, press the Information button (or Wi-Fi + Information) to print the report.
• Note the printer’s current IP address.
• Open a browser on your laptop and enter that IP to access the Embedded Web Server (EWS).
• Go to Network > IPv4 Configuration > select Manual IP.
• Enter the current IP, subnet mask, and default gateway from the report.
• Click Apply to save.

Prevent Printer from Entering Sleep Mode Too Quickly

• On the printer’s control panel or via the EWS:
  • Navigate to Settings > Preferences > Sleep Mode.
  • Set the timer to a longer duration (e.g., 60 minutes) or disable it temporarily for testing.

Update Printer Firmware

• Open the HP App on your laptop.
• Select your printer > Printer Settings > Advanced Settings.
• Under Tools, check for Firmware Updates and install if available.

Disable Wi-Fi Auto-Off (if available)

• In the EWS, go to Network Settings > Wi-Fi.
• Look for Wi-Fi Auto-Off and disable it to keep the printer connected even when idle.

Use a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Band

• Ensure your printer and laptop are connected to the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
• Dual-band routers often separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks—connect both devices to the same one.

Reinstall the Printer Using the HP App

• Remove the printer from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• Open the HP App, tap Add Printer, and follow the guided setup to reconnect.

Helpful HP Resources:

• HP Smart Tank 7005 Troubleshooting Page
• Troubleshoot a Wi-Fi Connection to an HP Printer

These steps should help anchor the connection between your laptop and printer. If the issue persists, we can also explore USB or Wi-Fi Direct as stable alternatives. Let me know how it goes or if you'd like help with any of the steps.

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