Exact model-family answer directory
HP Smart Tank 5101 troubleshooting
HP Smart Tank 5101 (1F3Y0A): what the Smart Tank 5101 is; cheap to run; initial charging; setup basics; finding the model; refilling the tanks, and a fix for each symptom below.
- What the Smart Tank 5101 isThe HP Smart Tank 5101 is a compact cartridge-free ink-tank all-in-one that prints at 12 pages per minute in black and 5 in color (ISO) and is slower than the 7602. Its included ink bottles are rated for up to 6,000 pages in either black or color, with a maximum resolution of 1200 by 1200 dpi in black and 4800 by 1200 optimized in color.
Confirm the model first
Which units this covers, and how to tell yours is one of them
- Model numbers and patterns
- 1F3Y0A
Published specification
What is true of this model and changes how you fix it
- Official specificationsPrint speed 12 ppm black / 5 ppm color (ISO) — slower than the 7602's 15/9 ppm. Included ink bottles rated for up to 6,000 pages in either black or color (the 7602 rates color separately, up to 8,000). Max resolution up to 1200x1200 dpi black, 4800x1200 optimized dpi color.
- Type — compact refillable INK TANK all-in-oneA compact cartridge-free INK TANK inkjet AIO — refill ink BOTTLES into onboard tanks for very low cost per page.
- Initial charging & refillsFirst setup charges the printhead with starter ink (normal). Refill the matching-color bottle when low; do not run tanks dry.
- ConnectivityWi-Fi/USB via HP Smart; 'offline' is usually a Wi-Fi drop or wrong queue.
- Cheap to runThe Smart Tank uses refillable ink bottles instead of cartridges, so a set of bottles prints thousands of pages at a fraction of a cartridge printer's cost per page. The trade-offs are a higher purchase price and a slower print speed.
- Initial chargingRefill the matching-color bottle when a tank is low, and do not run a tank dry.
- Setup basicsWi-Fi setup is done from the HP Smart app on a phone, and the printer prefers the 2.4 gigahertz band.
- Finding the modelThe model is on the front and the label near the tanks.
- Refilling the tanksThe tanks are filled from bottles with a keyed nozzle that fits only the right color. Fill them upright and slowly, stop at the mark, and wipe any drip so it does not run into the carriage, because ink on the electrical contacts causes errors.
- Low-ink warningsThe printer cannot always read the level exactly, so it shows a warning when ink is low. Printing on until the tanks are nearly empty can let air into the system, so refill when a tank is down to its minimum line.
Where these figures were read. support.hp.com/us-en/document/c08437992 (HP Smart Tank 5101 - Product Specifications)
Manufacturer support for this product line. HP Support — Computer and printer support. Official HP serial/model lookup, drivers, diagnostics, manuals and repair support.
Also read for this model. HP Support — HP support.
Exact questions
Questions that only have an answer for the HP Smart Tank 5101
Is the HP Smart Tank 5101 cheaper to run than a cartridge printer?+
Yes, much — the Smart Tank uses refillable ink bottles instead of cartridges, and a set of bottles prints thousands of pages for a fraction of the per-page cost of cartridges, so it is far cheaper over time for anyone who prints regularly. The trade-offs are a higher upfront price and that it is still an inkjet (so the printhead can clog if left unused — print occasionally and run the cleaning cycle if output fades). It is ideal for steady, higher-volume home printing.
Is the HP Smart Tank 5101 cheaper to run than a cartridge printer?+
Yes, much cheaper.
How fast is it?+
12 pages per minute in black and 5 in color.
Which band does it prefer?+
2.4 gigahertz.
Where is the model number?+
On the front and near the tanks.