I use a single wi-fi network with two mac minis. I've not been able to connect macs to printer

[jbabcock]

I've spent a lot of time - about 4 hours all together - trying to connect my two mac minis that operate on a single wifi network with the HP Smart Tank 5101 printer. Support has not been able to provide a solution and can't tell me what the issue is. Would greatly appreciate some advice. The HP Smart app is very buggy, and it gets worse from there... thanks to anyone who can provide a solution or direction that will solve this ridiculous issue. 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @jbabcock 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

I'm sorry you're experiencing these connection issues with your HP Smart Tank 5101 printer and the Mac Minis. It can be frustrating when the connection process doesn't go smoothly. Since the HP Smart app is not working well for you, let’s try a few troubleshooting steps to establish a stable connection between the printer and your Mac Minis.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Connecting HP Smart Tank 5101 to Macs

1. Ensure Printer and Macs Are On the Same Wi-Fi Network

First, confirm that both Mac Minis and the HP Smart Tank 5101 printer are on the same Wi-Fi network. If there are multiple Wi-Fi networks or a dual-band router (2.4GHz and 5GHz), ensure they are connected to the same band. If the printer is on one band (e.g., 2.4GHz) and the Macs are on another (e.g., 5GHz), the devices might not be able to communicate with each other.

• Check the printer's Wi-Fi connection:
  • On the printer, go to the Wi-Fi setup menu (usually on the touchscreen).
  • Ensure that the printer is connected to the correct network.
  • If necessary, reset the Wi-Fi settings on the printer and reconnect it to the network.
• Check Wi-Fi settings on the Mac Minis:
  • On each Mac, go to System Preferences > Network.
  • Confirm that both Mac Minis are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.

2. Reset the Printer’s Network Settings

If the Wi-Fi setup is causing issues, a network reset on the printer might help. This will clear the previous settings and allow you to start fresh.

Reset the printer's network settings:

• Turn off the printer.
• Hold down the wireless button (usually a blue Wi-Fi icon) and the cancel button (red X) simultaneously.
• While holding the buttons, turn the printer on.
• Wait until the wireless light starts blinking, signaling that the printer’s network settings have been reset.

Once the reset is complete, try reconnecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[jbabcock]

Thanks very much for taking the time to offer your advice. Much appreciated. I've been unable to try your solutions until today. While I'm still stuck, I'm grateful for your assistance efforts. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to find or workout a solution soon. Honestly, I've never had so much trouble adding a printer to a network. Needlessly complex? Not sure, but the quest continues. I'll mention that one of my two mac minis is working well with the printer now. It's the more recent model that my other one. It is setup to share on the network. That may an additional problem, but it's where I'm at at the moment. I'll keep on trying to get this worked out. I've always been able to connect my minis to a network... again, much appreciated... J Babcock