HP Smart Tank Printer series 5100

[Bins2]

Printer is connected to computor, showing wifi sign, will photocopy, can't shift the printer out of "idle" status. Tried disconnecting and reconnecting.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Bins2 

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

If your HP printer is stuck in "idle" despite being connected and able to photocopy, the issue likely lies with the print queue, driver communication, or background services. You can restore printing by clearing the queue, restarting services, and verifying the driver.

I understand how frustrating it is when everything looks connected—Wi-Fi icon glowing, photocopy working—yet the printer refuses to respond to print commands. Let’s bring it back to life with a few precise steps.

Step-by-step fix for HP printer stuck in "idle"

1. Clear the print queue

• Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
• Right-click your printer > See what's printing.
• Cancel all pending jobs.
• Close the window and try printing again.

2. Restart the Print Spooler service

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click > Restart.
• This refreshes the system’s communication with the printer.

3. Run HP Diagnose & Fix tool

• Download from: HP Diagnose & Fix
• Launch the tool and follow prompts—it checks for driver issues, queue blocks, and connectivity faults.

4. Reinstall the printer driver

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• Remove the printer.
• Visit HP Software & Driver Downloads and enter your printer model.
• Download and install the Full Feature Software and Drivers.

5. Check for Windows updates

• Go to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates.
• Sometimes compatibility fixes are included in cumulative updates.

Additional checks

• If you're printing over Wi-Fi, ensure the printer and PC are on the same network band (2.4GHz or 5GHz).
• Avoid using VPNs while printing—they can block local device discovery.
• If the printer supports HP App, install it to manage print jobs and monitor status more reliably.

Let me know your printer model and what you see after these steps—I’ll guide you further if needed.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Bins2]

Thanks for your email re Smart printer. I did try the first two suggestions but got lost after that so contacted a local guy. But I appreciate your offer of help.