HP 5101 can only select Main paper tray

[VinAms]

Installed my HP 5101 Smart Tank printer over a year ago. Had never printed any thing but letter size. Always flawless operation.

Went to print a few photos today found nothing in HP Smart to show photo paper 4x6 or 5x7 paper. Even when either photo paper is in the tray, it's not recognized. And if I initiate a print it will print on the small photo paper a portion of an 8x10 document. Didn't see within the printer or Smart Tank app a way allow other than Main Tray 8x10 image to output. 

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@VinAms, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

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

It sounds like your HP 5101 Smart Tank printer isn't detecting or printing on smaller photo paper sizes like 4x6 or 5x7, and it's defaulting to the main paper tray. Here's what you can do to resolve the issue:

Check Paper Size Settings in HP Smart App:

• Open the HP Smart app on your device.
• Go to Printer Settings or Print Settings.
• Check that the paper size is set to 4x6 or 5x7 for your photo prints.
• Ensure that the correct paper type is selected (e.g., photo paper).

Tray Settings:

• Check the paper tray in your printer. Ensure you’re placing the photo paper in the correct tray and it is aligned properly.
• Some printers require the photo paper to be loaded into the Photo Tray (if available) or a dedicated input slot.

Check Printer's Control Panel:

• If your printer has a control panel or screen, check the settings to ensure it is configured for photo paper. Sometimes, the printer requires you to manually adjust paper settings before printing smaller sizes.

Adjust Page Layout in Print Dialog:

• When printing a photo, go to the Print Settings on your computer.
• Ensure that you have selected Photo Paper and the correct size in the print dialog.
• You may also want to ensure that the print layout is set to Actual Size or Fit to Paper, as sometimes automatic scaling can cause portions of the image to be printed.

Check for Firmware/Driver Updates:

• Ensure that your printer’s firmware and drivers are up to date. Sometimes, a driver update can fix issues with paper size detection.
• You can check for updates through the HP Smart app or visit the HP Support website.

Printer Reset:

• If none of the above works, try resetting the printer to its default settings and reconfigure it for your preferred paper size.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[VinAms]

Max3Ai,

Thank you so much for the step by step solution. 

I had been going around in circles. Though I eventually found I had to go into printer IP address and set up the print paper. 

Your step by step process is great. And easy to follow. Much appreciated.

TY.

[Max3Aj]

@VinAms, A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Regards, 

Max3Aj