HP Smart Tank 7302, WiFi issues, printer busy/won’t print more than it does - if it does.

[Getyourownguita]

My HP Smart tank 7302 has to connect to its own WiFi (under DIRECT-17-HP Smart Tank 7300) which means when you’re connected to the printer, I can’t browse other Wi-Fi needed apps, such as Amazon. But even when it’s connected, it never seems to actually connect and print.

My main issue is that I can barely ever print anything. There is always a “printer busy” notice that pops up even if there is no trapped paper, no other print jobs waiting and I have spent days and days browsing YouTube videos, googling questions and answers and emailing HP. I just want a printer to connect and print. For an over $300 printer, I have never had more problems, especially because I need to use apps or my phone to print from. I have done rebel reset there is and followed the printed out instructions to no avail. 

Someone Please help me! I have urgent documents to get to my attorney that are desperately time sensitive. 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Getyourownguita,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

I can feel how stressful this is, especially when you have urgent documents for your attorney and the printer just won’t cooperate. Let’s fix this together step by step so you can print without losing more time.

Why This Happens

Your HP Smart Tank 7302 is currently in Wi-Fi Direct mode, which creates its own network (DIRECT-17-HP Smart Tank 7300). This is useful when there’s no router, but it disconnects your device from the internet. That’s why you can’t browse apps like Amazon while connected.

The “Printer Busy” message usually means:

• The printer is waiting for a job to finish or is stuck in a loop.
• The HP Smart app or driver isn’t communicating properly.
• The printer isn’t fully connected to your home Wi-Fi (only Wi-Fi Direct).

Step 1: Switch from Wi-Fi Direct to Home Network

1. On the printer control panel, go to: Setup → Network Settings → Wireless Setup Wizard.
2. Select your home Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
3. Confirm the printer shows Connected on the display. (Imagine the relief when you see that green checkmark; it means your printer is finally part of your home network!)

👉 HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network) | HP® Support

Step 2: Reconnect HP App

• Open the HP app on your phone or PC.
• Tap Add Printer → Select your printer from the home network.
• Remove any old Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Step 3: Clear “Printer Busy”

• Restart the printer and your device.
• In HP Smart, go to Printer Settings → Advanced Settings → Cancel All Jobs.
• If still stuck, perform a Power Reset: 
  • Turn off the printer.
  • Unplug for 60 seconds.
  • Plug back in and restart.

Step 4: Update Firmware

• Go to HP Smart Tank 7302 All-in-One | HP® Support and install the latest firmware. (Firmware updates often feel like giving your printer a fresh brain; it clears hidden bugs.)

💡 Extra Tip: Once the printer is on your home Wi-Fi, you can print from apps without losing internet access.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[Samrit26]

Hello,

I hear how urgent this is, and I’m going to slow this down and separate facts from noise, because right now your printer is stuck in the wrong operating mode, which is why nothing you’ve tried has been reliable.

I’ll explain why it’s happening, then give you one clean recovery path. Please follow it in order and don’t skip steps.

---

First: what is actually wrong (the core problem)

Your HP Smart Tank 7302 is stuck in Wi-Fi Direct fallback mode:

DIRECT-17-HP Smart Tank 7300

That mode is NOT meant for daily use.

When the printer is in Wi-Fi Direct:

• Your phone/computer must disconnect from your home Wi-Fi

• Internet apps (Amazon, email, cloud print) cannot work

• HP Smart cloud services partially break

• The printer often reports “Printer Busy” even when idle

So this is not paper, not ink, not user error.

👉 The printer is not properly joined to your home Wi-Fi network, even if HP Smart claims it is.

---

Why “Printer Busy” keeps appearing

On Smart Tank models, “Printer Busy” usually means:

• Printer is waiting for a network handshake that never completes

• HP Smart is polling the printer through the cloud

• Printer is actually isolated in Wi-Fi Direct

• Jobs get stuck in a loop → “busy”

This is a network state deadlock, not a mechanical issue.

---

Important rule before we continue

⚠️ Wi-Fi Direct must be turned OFF
⚠️ The printer must be connected to your home router, not its own Wi-Fi

Until that happens, nothing will be stable.

---

CLEAN RECOVERY PROCEDURE (this fixes 90% of cases)

Step 1 – Hard network reset (do this exactly)

On the printer panel:

1. Power ON the printer

2. Press and hold:

   • Cancel (X) + Black Copy together

3. Hold for 5 seconds

4. Release

This clears:

• Wi-Fi Direct

• Cached router info

• Stuck cloud jobs

---

Step 2 – Power drain reset (very important)

1. Power OFF the printer

2. Unplug the power cable from the back

3. Wait 60 seconds

4. Plug back in

5. Power ON

This resets the internal Wi-Fi module.

---

Step 3 – Reconnect ONLY through HP Smart (correct way)

On your phone or computer:

1. Disconnect from DIRECT-17-HP… Wi-Fi

2. Reconnect to your normal home Wi-Fi

3. Open HP Smart

4. Remove the printer completely (if listed)

5. Add printer again

6. When prompted:

   • Choose your home Wi-Fi

   • Enter Wi-Fi password carefully

7. Wait until HP Smart confirms “Connected”

Do not manually join the printer Wi-Fi unless HP Smart asks you to briefly.

---

Step 4 – Disable Wi-Fi Direct (this is key)

In HP Smart:

• Printer Settings

• Networking / Advanced

• Turn OFF Wi-Fi Direct

This prevents the printer from hijacking your connection again.

---

Step 5 – Test without apps first

Before Amazon, cloud, or phone apps:

1. Print a simple test page from HP Smart

2. Then print a PDF saved locally

3. Confirm:

   • No “Printer Busy”

   • Job prints immediately

Only after this should you try app-based printing.

---

If “Printer Busy” STILL appears after this

Then we are likely dealing with:

• Corrupted firmware state

• HP cloud job queue stuck on HP’s servers

At that point:
➡️ Factory reset + firmware reflash is required
➡️ If firmware won’t clear → depot repair or replacement

Smart Tank printers cannot be field-repaired for Wi-Fi module faults.