Smart Tank 5101 will not wake from sleep mode

[iowatar]

Smart Tank 5101 will not wake from sleep mode. The buttons on the control panel are dead, even the on/off button doesn't work. The only lights on the control panel are the blue wireless light and the on/off button. The only way to bring the printer back on is to disconnect the power cord.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @iowatar 

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

Thanks for explaining the issue so clearly—when your HP Smart Tank 5101 won’t wake from sleep mode and the control panel is unresponsive, even the power button, it points to a deep firmware sleep lock or power management fault. Since the wireless light remains on, the printer is partially powered but not fully responsive. 

Let’s walk through a focused recovery path to restore normal wake behavior.

 

Fix for HP Smart Tank 5101 Not Waking from Sleep Mode

1. Perform a Hard Power Reset

This clears residual power and resets the sleep controller:

• Disconnect the power cord from the printer and the wall outlet.
• Wait 2 full minutes.
• Press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds while unplugged.
• Reconnect the power cord directly to a wall outlet (not a surge protector).
• Power on the printer and wait for full initialization.

This helps flush any firmware-level sleep lock.

 

2. Update Firmware via HP Smart App

Sleep mode issues are often resolved in firmware updates:

• Open the HP Smart app on your Windows 11 PC.
• Select your printer → go to Advanced Settings > Printer Updates.
• If an update is available, install it and restart the printer.

HP has released Smart Tank firmware updates that improve sleep/wake behavior.

 

3. Disable Deep Sleep Mode (If Available)

• Open the Embedded Web Server (EWS):
  • Type your printer’s IP address into a browser (find it in HP Smart > Printer Info).
• Go to Settings > Power Management.
• Disable Deep Sleep Mode or set Sleep Timer to a longer duration (e.g., 60 minutes).
• Save changes and restart the printer.

 

4. Check USB or Network Wake Triggers

• If connected via USB:
  • Go to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
  • Right-click your printer’s USB entry → Properties > Power Management.
  • Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
• If connected via Wi-Fi:
  • Ensure your router supports Wake-on-LAN or Bonjour protocols.

 

Let me know if you’d like help accessing the Embedded Web Server or checking for firmware updates—I’ll guide you step by step. You're doing all the right things to get this resolved.

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