Smart Tank 7600 keeps changing port, can't update firmware either

[RandySea509]

I got my printer very recently. It's been a problem since a few days after I installed it. It seemed to work initially. But then it wouldn't print at all.

After a session with HP AI support, it's solution was to change my printer port from a very long name WSD port to a specific IP port. This does let me print. But after an hour or so or a reboot, the port just changes back to the WSD port and stops printing.  Also, it won't print double-sided at all. 

My wife has a Dell XPS 13 with the same OS and wifi connection. The printer is fine from her laptop. 

When I look at Printers in Windows, it shows two HP printers: HP Smart Print and the Smart Tank 7600 series. See first photo.

I did also try to update firmware. What shows on the website here is totally different in numbering from what shows as being on the printer. Very confusing. The second photo is what the Smart Print app says I have for firmware. (I had to use a photo because SmartPrint doesn't let me copy and paste text.) It gave me a version HP_ST790_ST7600_2450A to download but "install" is grayed out.

I couldn't figure out any want to completely uninstall the printer and start from scratch, if that's what I need to do.

One other thought. I previously had an HP 8600. I uninstalled it when I got this new printer. Maybe something's left over that is causing the problem. Then again, my wife also had the 8600 installed. 

. 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @RandySea509,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Thank you for the very detailed explanation and screenshots. That helps a lot. I understand how frustrating this is, especially when it works temporarily and then reverts back to a WSD port and stops printing. You are using an HP Smart Tank 7602 All-in-One on Windows 11, and the behavior you’re describing is a classic Windows WSD auto-reconfiguration issue, not a hardware failure.

Step 1: Completely Remove All Printer Instances

On your PC only:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners
2. Remove:
   • HP Smart Printing
   • HP Smart Tank 7600 series
   • Any HP 8600 leftovers
3. Restart computer

Step 2: Old Drivers (Important)

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type: printui.exe /s
3. Go to the Drivers tab
4. Remove ALL:
   • HP Smart Tank 7600 drivers
   • HP OfficeJet 8600 drivers
5. Restart again

This prevents Windows from auto-rebinding WSD.

Step 3: Disable WSD Auto-Discovery

This step is subtle but critical.

1. Press Windows + R and type: optionalfeatures.exe
2. Scroll to Print and Document Services
3. Uncheck: 
   • WSD Print Support
4. Click OK and restart your PC.

This stops Windows from auto‑reverting your port to WSD.

The rest of the steps will be shared in the next post below

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @RandySea509,

Continuing with the rest of the steps, please follow and let us know how it goes.

Step 4: Add Printer Using Manual TCP/IP Port

Now we add it properly:

1. Control Panel → Devices and Printers
2. Click Add a printer
3. Click. The printer I want isn’t listed
4. Choose:
   Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname
5. Device type: TCP/IP Device
6. Enter printer’s IP address (from Network Config Page)
7. UNCHECK “Query the printer and automatically select the driver”
8. Choose the HP Smart Tank 7600 series driver manually

Finish installation.

Now check: Printer Properties → Ports tab
Ensure it shows: Standard TCP/IP Port (not WSD)

Step 5: Fix Duplex (Two-Sided Printing)

If duplex doesn’t work:

1. Printer Properties → Device Settings
2. Make sure:
   Automatic Duplex Unit = Installed

If missing, the driver was incorrectly installed via WSD.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[RandySea509]

Thank you. I'll have time to try this tomorrow.

Assuming it works for printing, my printer also does scanning and faxing through the HP Smart app. How do I reinstall this?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @RandySea509,

You’re very welcome, that sounds like a good plan 👍
 

If printing works after your test tomorrow, you can absolutely reinstall HP Smart to restore scanning and faxing for your HP DeskJet 2720e.

Try and keep us posted

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[RandySea509]

Thank you, Vikram.  I tried your suggestions but couldn't get all of them to work. 

Screenshots appear in reverse order, I think

#1 worked. 

#2 didn't allow me to remove the SmartTank 7600 drivers. See screenshot. 

#3 WSD print support was not listed under OptionalFeatures. See  screen shot.

#4 The steps here assumed I have removed the printer, which  for reasons above, I had not.

#5  Duplex unit did not appear as a choice.

Now when I try to print, I get nothing. It shows "printer offline".  But just now, I was able to print a Test Page from the Settings/Printers. And I can print from Word. I get a popup saying the printer is ready.

I can open HP Smart (it did not uninstall) and it sees (or just remembers?) the 6900. But If I click on Scan, it doesn't see the printer. See screen shot.

I will send this reply now and then reboot my laptop to see what is holding and what isn't.

#3

[RandySea509]

After rebooting, I can print double sided now from Word and WordPerfect. In WP only, however, I get a giant dialog box with various selections for printing that cuts off the bottom buttons under the taskbar.   See screenshot. The only workaround is to hide the taskbar, which is not my preference. 

I still cannot scan. The previous message screenshot "printer not available" is what I still see.  I'm not sure if I have a way to uninstall and reinstall HP Smart without losing the progress I've made.

Again, thank you for your help.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @RandySea509,

Thank you for getting back to me and letting me know about the steps you tried, and you still have trouble after trying these steps.

In this case, I would best suggest that you reach our support team over the phone or chat so the team can take live lens and can help you better.

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name.  

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[RandySea509]

I am not sure why, but now I can printer both single and double sided as I should. I still get a "printer is offline" message, but then it prints!

Scanning is weird, too. It takes up to three tries starting up and closing HP Smart before I get to a screen where scan appears. When It does, I can scan. 

Bottom line: I can use the printer with some work. My wife could never use it from my laptop because of the complications described above, but never had a problem printing from her laptop.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @RandySea509,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

I am sorry to hear that your HP Smart Tank 7600 is working inconsistently  printing sometimes despite showing “offline,” ports keep changing, firmware won’t update, and scanning only works after multiple tries. 

Fix the Port Changing Issue

• Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
• Right‑click your printer → Printer Properties → Ports.
• Select the correct port (usually WSD or IP address based) and uncheck “Enable bidirectional support.”
• If the port keeps changing, create a manual TCP/IP port:
• Add printer → “The printer I want isn’t listed” → “Add a printer using TCP/IP address.”
• Enter the printer’s static IP (set this in the printer’s control panel under Network Settings → Advanced → IP Settings → Manual).

Resolve “Printer Offline” Errors

• Disable “SNMP Status Enabled” in the port settings (same menu as above).
• Ensure the printer and PC are on the same Wi‑Fi band (2.4 GHz is more stable than 5 GHz for HP Smart Tank).
• Restart the Print Spooler service:
• Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right‑click → Restart.

Firmware Update Workaround

• Download the latest firmware directly from HP’s support site for Smart Tank 7600.
• Connect the printer via USB cable instead of Wi‑Fi when updating — this avoids port conflicts.
• Run the firmware updater as Administrator.

Hope this helps, Please revert if the issue persists.

Take care and have an amazing day!

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards

Pallipurath.