HP Smart Tank 7301 ALWAYS offline

[garyallen]

This printer is the absolute WORST printer I have ever owned.  Almost every time I need to use this printer when it has been sitting idle for more than 5 minutes, I cannot get it to come back online unless I unplug it and plug it back in again.  The printer is assigned a static IP address via my router and was added by IP address to the HP software.  The printer is also connected by CAT6 cable to the router to eliminate the energy saving shutdown (and subsequent disconnect).  Auto-off is turned off.  My network operates flawlessly under multiple operating systems and devices.  This printer is a piece of garbage and I refuse to ever buy a HP product again!   My solution is to drive over this POS with my truck and buy a Cannon, Epson, or Brother.  Anything but HP!  BTW, I am a network engineer with a Masters in Computer Science - and I cant figure it out!

[zoey7886]

@garyallen, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your HP Smart Tank! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

It sounds like you’ve done all the right troubleshooting steps, and I understand your frustration, especially given your expertise. Since you’ve already assigned a static IP, disabled auto-off, and connected via Ethernet, let’s try a few advanced steps that might help:

Check Sleep Mode Settings

Even with auto-off disabled, some HP printers have an aggressive sleep mode. Try adjusting or disabling it in HP Smart App or Embedded Web Server (EWS) under Power Management.

Firmware Update

Make sure the printer has the latest firmware. HP often releases updates that fix network-related issues. You can check for updates via the HP Support website or the HP Smart app.

Change Keep-Alive Settings

Some routers drop idle connections. Try these:

• Set the printer’s lease time to “forever” in the DHCP settings.
• Enable a keep-alive ping from your router to the printer’s IP.
• Check if IGMP Snooping is enabled (sometimes disabling it helps with networked printers).

Test with a Different Connection

Since you’re on wired Ethernet, try temporarily switching to Wi-Fi with the same static IP to rule out a hardware issue with the printer’s Ethernet port.

Manually Set DNS

Some printers don’t handle automatic DNS settings well. Try setting 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS) in the printer’s network settings.  

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, 

[garyallen]

Thank you for the suggested fixes.  No they did not help.  I spend more time waiting for this SLOW printer and can never tell when it is connected.  HP software says it is connected, it performs a half a job of scanning/printing or it confounds the next job.  Unplugging and plugging it back usually works.  

I would much rather run this garbage over with my truck or take it to the shooting range.  I would get much more pleasure this way from an HP product!

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @garyallen,

Hi, @zoey7886 is currently unavailable, so I (@VikramTheGreat) am responding on their behalf. Apologies for the delay.

I appreciate your patience. Since you've already tried multiple troubleshooting steps without success, the next step is to check the printer's serial number. This will help determine warranty status and allow for more tailored support.

Please help us with your HP unit serial number or the product number on a private message for further assistance.
 

Here is the link to find the product Serial number: - Click here

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile and send a private message to me with the serial number, because we value your privacy.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support