HP Smart Tank 7602 printing slow unless in Draft mode

[-13-]

Last week this HP Smart Tank 7602 printer started printing slow.  Previously it was printing quickly, and nothing has changed.  It will still print quickly if it is in Draft mode, but in Standard mode it takes a long time to print anything.  I have seen the stock answer to this problem in the forums before, so to head that off I will say that:

1.  The print quality is not set to high resolution.  It is set to Standard.  The paper type settings have not changed and still match what is being used.

2.  The printer drivers have been updated and reinstalled with no success.

3.  The printer is connected via ethernet, and this has not changed.

4.  The print queue is clear.

5.  There are no large documents being printed, and the memory was sufficient for the exact type of jobs just last week.  It should not need more memory as nothing has changed.

6.  There are no firmware updates available.

7.  We are not printing large documents or documents with graphics, so resolution shouldn't be an issue.

8.  There are no hardware issues.  The printer is clean and free of jams.  It is just slow.

Is there anything else that can be done?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @-13- 

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

The most effective next step is to check and disable Quiet Mode in the HP App or HP Printer Assistant, as this setting can significantly reduce print speed even when quality is set to Standard. Resetting the printer and ensuring it is connected directly to a wall outlet (not a surge protector) are also recommended actions.

Steps to Resolve Slow Printing on HP Smart Tank 7602 (Windows/macOS)

Based on HP’s official guidance, here are the structured steps you should follow:

1. Reset the Printer

• Turn off the printer using the Power button.
• If it does not turn off, disconnect the power cord from the printer.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the cord directly into a wall outlet (avoid surge protectors).
• Reconnect to the printer and power it on.
  This clears temporary errors that may affect print speed.

 

2. Turn Off Quiet Mode

Quiet Mode reduces noise but also slows down printing.

• Windows:
  • Open the HP App.
  • Select your printer → Printer Settings → Advanced Settings.
  • Under Preferences, locate Quiet Mode and set it to Off.
• HP Printer Assistant:
  • Search Windows for your printer.
  • Open HP Printer Assistant → Quiet Mode tab → select Off → Save Setting.
• macOS:
  • Open Printers & Scanners in System Preferences.
  • Select your printer → Options & Supplies → Show Printer Web Page.
  • Navigate to Advanced Settings and disable Quiet Mode.

 

3. Verify Print Quality Settings

• Ensure Draft or Normal is selected in the Print Quality field.
• Avoid selecting Best or high-resolution settings unless required.

 

4. Additional Checks

• Confirm the printer is not set to process jobs in a way that prioritizes noise reduction or high-quality rendering.
• If using macOS, check HP App → Advanced Settings for any custom print options that may slow down jobs.

Note

• Ethernet connection is already optimal, so no changes are needed there.
• Since firmware and drivers are up to date, the most likely cause is Quiet Mode or a temporary printer error resolved by reset.
• HP confirms that disabling Quiet Mode often restores normal speed in Standard mode.

Recommendation: Start with disabling Quiet Mode, then perform a full reset as outlined. If the issue persists, recheck print quality settings and confirm the printer is not defaulting to high-resolution rendering.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[-13-]

The printer has been reset by unplugging it for 60 seconds and turning it back on, and it had no effect on the issue.  I also verified that it is not running in quiet mode, and resolution is set to Standard.  There are no settings that should be slowing print jobs down.   One day it was printing fine, and the next day it was running slowly, with no changes to the printer or its settings.

[Hawks_Eye]

Thank you for confirming the reset and Quiet Mode checks. Since those did not resolve the issue, the next relevant step is to adjust the printer’s rendering and spool settings on the computer, as these can directly affect speed in Standard mode even when other settings look correct.

Here are the precise steps recommended by HP for Windows/macOS:

Windows (HP App / Printer Properties):

1. Open the HP App → select your printer.
2. Go to Printer Settings → Advanced Settings.
3. Under Printing Preferences, locate the Advanced tab.
4. Change Print directly to printer instead of “Spool print documents.”
   • Spooling can sometimes slow down jobs in Standard mode.
5. Apply and save the settings, then retry printing.

macOS:

1. Open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your printer → Options & Supplies → Show Printer Web Page.
3. Navigate to Advanced Settings.
4. Ensure the printer is set to process jobs directly rather than spooling.
5. Save changes and test print speed.

Additional HP Guidance:

• In the HP App, check Advanced Print Features and disable any “Maximize Quality” or “Edge Smoothing” options that may be active.
• Confirm that the driver is set to HP PCLmS or HP PCL-3 (depending on OS). Switching between these can sometimes restore speed.

These steps target the print pipeline itself, which is the next logical area since hardware, firmware, and Quiet Mode have already been ruled out.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[-13-]

I attempted to change the settings from spooling to Print directly to printer, but the option was grayed out.  I was not able to find anything in the HP app that referred to maximizing quality or edge smoothing, even using the search feature, nor could I find anything called Advanced Print Features.  The driver being used is HP PCL-3, and the printing is still slow.

[Hawks_Eye]

Thank you for confirming the driver and spool settings. Since those adjustments did not resolve the slow printing in Standard mode, the next recommended steps focus on the print pipeline and driver configuration. 

Please follow these specific actions:

Windows (HP App / Printer Properties)

1. Open the HP App → select your printer.
2. Go to Printer Settings → Advanced Settings → Printing Preferences.
3. Under the Advanced tab, verify that “Print Optimizations” or “Advanced Print Features” are disabled. These options can slow down jobs in Standard mode.
4. Switch the driver from HP PCL-3 to HP PCLmS (if available). This change can improve processing speed.
5. Apply and save the settings, then retry printing.

macOS

1. Open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your printer → Options & Supplies → Show Printer Web Page.
3. Navigate to Advanced Settings.
4. Disable any “Advanced Print Features” or “Maximize Quality” options.
5. Confirm the driver is set to HP PCLmS if available, then save changes.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye