Why Is My HP Printer Not Waking from Sleep Mode?
Many users expect their printer to wake instantly when they send a job or press a button; Call 1-844-957-6312 if you want hands-on guidance while you work through these steps. Sleeping or power-saving modes are meant to save energy, but when a printer refuses to wake, it can be due to software settings, network issues, firmware glitches, or simple hardware problems. This guide walks you through practical checks — from the quick and harmless to more in-depth diagnostics — so you can identify the cause and get printing again.
Understand what “sleep” means
Sleep mode reduces power by parking the printhead, spinning down motors, and shutting off some electronics. Waking is usually automatic (when a print job arrives) or manual (pressing the power or resume button). If the printer only wakes sometimes or not at all, the issue can be with communication between your device and the printer, the printer’s power-management settings, or network discovery.
Quick checks (do these first)
Is the printer powered on? Confirm the power LED is lit or the screen shows signs of life.
Wake it manually: Press the power or resume button and wait 30–60 seconds. Some printers take a little while to fully wake.
Check connections: For wired printers, ensure the USB or Ethernet cable is secure; for wireless printers, verify the Wi-Fi indicator is steady.
Restart the stack: Power cycle the printer and the host device (computer, phone, or router). Unplug the printer for 60 seconds, plug it back in, and power on.
Check device and driver behavior
Send a direct test job: Try printing a single test page from the printer’s control panel (if available) or send a print job directly from the computer to see if the job reaches the printer.
Check the print queue: Stalled or corrupted jobs can prevent the printer from waking properly. Clear pending jobs and attempt a fresh print.
Update drivers & apps: Outdated printer drivers or a stale HP Smart app can cause communication failures. Install the latest Full Feature driver from HP and update any mobile apps.
If your printer is networked, sleeping behavior often ties to IP address, discovery protocols, or router features.
Same subnet: Make sure your computer or mobile device is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer (not a guest network).
Static IP or DHCP reservation: A changing IP address can break discovery; reserve the printer’s IP in the router or set a static IP on the printer.
Disable isolation: Some routers enable client/AP isolation which prevents devices from talking to each other while asleep. Turn that off.
Check Wake-on-LAN alternatives: Printers don’t all support Wake-on-LAN, but some models use similar discovery signals — ensure the router allows Bonjour/mDNS/UPnP if those are used.
Power-management settings on the printer
Most HP printers let you configure sleep and auto-off timers:
Shorten or lengthen timers: If the printer sleeps too quickly, increase the idle timeout; if it never fully wakes, try a shorter timeout to keep it responsive.
Disable deep sleep or auto-off: As a temporary troubleshooting step, disable deep sleep or auto-off to see if responsiveness improves. Re-enable when stable.
Energy saver modes: Some models have reduced-power modes that limit network listening; set to a mode that keeps network functions active.
Firmware and internal software
Firmware bugs can cause the printer to freeze in sleep or not respond to wake signals.
Check for firmware updates: Use the Embedded Web Server (enter printer IP in a browser) or HP Smart to check and apply firmware updates.
Reapply firmware cautiously: If a recent firmware update introduced the issue, consult HP support for rollback instructions or a patch.
USB and direct-connection issues
For USB-connected printers:
Try a different cable or port: Faulty or low-quality USB cables can fail to signal the printer to wake.
Avoid hubs: Connect directly to the PC rather than through a USB hub.
Set the PC to keep USB ports powered: In Windows, disable selective suspend for USB in Power Options as a test.
Mobile apps (HP Smart, AirPrint, Mopria) rely on discovery protocols:
App permissions: Ensure HP Smart has local network permissions (iOS) or location permissions (Android) to discover printers.
AirPrint/Mopria: If AirPrint is used, verify Bonjour/mDNS discovery works on the network and any VPNs are disabled.
Hardware faults and environmental causes
Aging power supply: Intermittent waking can be caused by failing power supplies; look for dim LEDs or inconsistent behavior.
Temperature/humidity: Extreme cold or humidity can affect electronics and cause waking failures.
Mechanical obstructions: A jammed carriage or stuck printhead can prevent a successful wake cycle; check the interior for obstructions carefully.
When the problem persists: deeper steps
Factory reset network settings: Restore network defaults and reconfigure Wi-Fi (note: this clears saved networks).
Full factory reset: As a last resort, perform a full reset—back up any custom settings first.
Test on another network or device: Try connecting the printer to a different router or directly to a different computer to isolate the issue.
Keep firmware and drivers up to date.
Reserve the printer’s IP on the router for consistent discovery.
Place the printer within solid Wi-Fi range to avoid intermittent connectivity.
Use HP Smart to monitor status and get alerts that might indicate a sleep/wake problem early.
When to get professional help
If you’ve tried these steps and the printer still won’t wake reliably, the cause may be a failing network interface, defective power module, or an obscure firmware fault. At that point, contacting an authorized technician or HP support is a good move — they can run diagnostics, check logs, and recommend repair or replacement.
Following this checklist will resolve most sleep/wake issues: start with power and connection checks, verify software and network settings, update firmware, and only then consider resets or hardware repair. If you want a technician to walk you through any step in real time, use the support option in your printer’s app or consult HP’s service channels.
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