HP Printer Showing Asleep Status
If your HP printer keeps showing the Asleep status and refuses to print, you’re not alone. Many users experience this issue when trying to print important documents, only to discover that the printer remains in sleep mode even after sending a print job. In some cases, the printer wakes up after a few seconds. In others, it continues displaying the Asleep message and does not respond at all.
Fortunately, this problem is usually caused by simple issues such as power settings, outdated printer drivers, connection problems, or incorrect printer configurations.
In this guide, I have explained why your HP printer shows Asleep status, what causes it, and the best ways to wake it up permanently.
HP Printer Showing Asleep Status: How to Fix It
An HP printer automatically enters Sleep Mode after remaining inactive for a certain amount of time. This feature helps reduce electricity consumption and extends the printer’s lifespan. Normally, the printer should wake up automatically whenever you send a print job or press a button on the printer.
However, if the printer stays asleep and does not respond, there may be an issue with the printer’s connection, software, power settings, or firmware. Sometimes the computer cannot communicate with the printer correctly, making Windows believe the printer is unavailable. In other situations, the printer itself fails to exit sleep mode due to a temporary software glitch.
Follow the steps for the best results.
Step 1: Wake the Printer Manually
The first thing you should do is try waking the printer manually. Sometimes the printer simply needs user interaction before it becomes active again.
Start by pressing the Power button once. If the printer has a Home button or touchscreen, tap the screen or press the Home button to wake it up. Wait for about 30 seconds and watch the display carefully.
If the printer display lights up and the Asleep message disappears, the printer has successfully awakened. Try printing a small document to verify everything is working correctly.
If nothing happens, unplug the printer’s power cable from the back of the printer while it remains turned on. Leave it disconnected for about one minute. During this time, press and hold the Power button for approximately 15 seconds. This helps discharge any remaining electrical power.
Reconnect the power cable directly to a wall outlet instead of a power strip if possible. Then turn the printer back on and wait until it finishes starting up. This simple power reset often resolves temporary software glitches that prevent the printer from waking properly.
Step 2: Check the USB or Network Connection
A poor connection between your computer and printer is one of the most common reasons why Windows continues showing the printer as asleep.
If your printer uses a USB cable, disconnect the cable from both the printer and the computer. Check whether the cable appears damaged or loose. Reconnect it securely and, if available, try another USB port on your computer.
If you are using a wireless HP printer, confirm that both the printer and your computer are connected to the same WiFi network. If your router recently restarted or your network password changed, the printer may have disconnected from the network.
Open the printer’s control panel and verify its wireless connection status. If necessary, reconnect the printer to your WiFi network by following the setup instructions on the printer display.
After confirming the connection, restart both the printer and your computer. Once Windows loads, open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, followed by Printers & scanners. Select your HP printer and check whether its status has changed from Asleep to Ready.
Step 3: Set the HP Printer as the Default Printer
Windows sometimes sends print jobs to another printer or virtual printer instead of your HP printer. This can make it appear that your HP printer is still asleep.
Open Settings on your Windows computer and navigate to Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners.
Select your HP printer from the list. Click Set as default if that option is available.
Next, open the printer queue and make sure there are no stuck print jobs. If several old print jobs are waiting, cancel them all and restart the printer. A blocked print queue may prevent the printer from waking correctly.
Once the queue is empty, print a simple test page. If the printer responds immediately, the problem has been resolved.
Step 4: Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler is a Windows service responsible for managing print jobs. If it stops working correctly, printers may remain unavailable or appear asleep.
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter.
In the Services window, scroll down until you find Print Spooler.
Double-click Print Spooler and check its status. If it is running, select Restart. If it is stopped, click Start.
Also verify that the Startup type is set to Automatic. This ensures the service starts every time Windows boots.
Click Apply, then OK, and close the Services window.
Restart your computer before testing the printer again.
Step 5: Update or Reinstall the HP Printer Driver
Outdated or damaged printer drivers often prevent Windows from communicating properly with the printer.
Open Device Manager by searching for it from the Windows search box.
Expand Printers or Print queues and locate your HP printer.
Right-click the printer and choose Update driver. Allow Windows to search automatically for newer drivers.
If Windows reports that the best driver is already installed but the problem continues, uninstall the printer instead.
After uninstalling, restart your computer. Windows may reinstall the printer automatically. If it does not, download the latest driver for your exact HP printer model from HP’s support website and install it.
Updated drivers improve communication between Windows and the printer while fixing many known compatibility issues.
Step 6: Disable Deep Sleep or Adjust Sleep Settings
Many HP printers allow users to customize how long the printer waits before entering sleep mode.
Open the HP Smart application or access the printer’s Embedded Web Server by entering the printer’s IP address into your web browser.
Locate the Power Management or Energy Settings section.
Reduce aggressive sleep settings or disable Deep Sleep Mode if your printer supports this feature.
Some printer models also allow you to increase the sleep timer so the printer remains awake longer before entering power-saving mode.
Save the new settings and restart the printer.
If your printer frequently enters sleep mode during regular use, adjusting these settings can greatly improve its responsiveness.
Step 7: Update the Printer Firmware
Firmware acts as the printer’s internal operating system. Older firmware versions may contain bugs that affect sleep mode.
Open the HP Smart application or visit HP’s support page for your printer model.
Check whether a newer firmware update is available.
If one is found, follow the instructions carefully to install it. During the update, avoid turning off the printer or disconnecting the power cable.
After the update finishes, restart the printer and print another test page.
Many sleep-related issues are resolved through firmware improvements released by HP.
Step 8: Remove and Add the Printer Again
If none of the previous solutions work, removing and reinstalling the printer often clears corrupted settings.
Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, followed by Printers & scanners.
Select your HP printer and choose Remove device.
Restart both your computer and printer.
After restarting, select Add device and allow Windows to detect the printer again.
Complete the installation process and print a test document.
A fresh installation rebuilds the communication between Windows and the printer and frequently resolves persistent sleep mode problems.
FAQs
Why does my HP printer keep saying Asleep?
The printer usually enters sleep mode to save energy. If it stays asleep, the problem may be caused by connection issues, outdated drivers, incorrect Windows settings, or outdated firmware.
Can I disable Sleep Mode on my HP printer?
Some HP printer models allow you to modify or disable sleep settings through HP Smart, the printer’s control panel, or the printer’s web interface.
Will restarting the printer fix the issue?
Yes. A complete power reset often clears temporary software glitches that prevent the printer from waking properly.
Can outdated drivers cause the printer to stay asleep?
Yes. Old or corrupted printer drivers can interrupt communication between Windows and the printer, making it appear unavailable or asleep.
Should I update the printer firmware?
Yes. Installing the latest firmware improves printer stability, resolves software bugs, and enhances compatibility with newer Windows updates.
Summary
When your HP printer continues showing the Asleep status, the issue is usually related to power management, printer communication, Windows services, or outdated software rather than a hardware failure. In most situations, manually waking the printer, checking its connection, restarting the Print Spooler, updating the printer driver, adjusting sleep settings, installing the latest firmware, or reinstalling the printer completely will restore normal operation.
Following the steps in this guide one by one gives you the best chance of resolving the problem without professional assistance.
Once the printer responds normally again, keeping its drivers, firmware, and Windows updates current can help prevent the Asleep status from becoming a recurring issue.