HP Smart Tank 5003: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP Smart Tank 5003 right for you?

The Smart Tank 5003 is the HP ink-tank all-in-one that turns up most often in Amazon US best-seller lists, and it is the first Smart Tank page on this site. Smart Tank is HP's answer to Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank: you refill tanks from bottles instead of buying chipped cartridges, so the printer costs more up front and much less per page. In the US the family includes the Smart Tank 5000, 5101, 6001, 7001, 7301 and 7602; Europe sells the 5105, 5107, 7305 and 7605, and India has its own 5xx and 6xx numbers. The launch date and full specs for this retail SKU were not confirmed when this page was written.

Best for: Households that print often and want bottle-fed ink from an HP app

Setting up the HP Smart Tank 5003

Fill each tank from its matching bottle before powering on, then let the initial ink charge finish; it takes several minutes and the tank levels drop noticeably, which is normal. Install the printheads exactly as the setup sheet shows before closing the lid. Connect with the HP Smart app, which will ask for an HP account. Check the bottle numbers printed on the setup sheet or in the manual before reordering, because Smart Tank bottle series differ between models and regions.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink bottles (fill each tank to the upper line), and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use HP's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The HP Smart Tank 5003 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP Smart Tank ink bottles (confirm the bottle series on the setup sheet before ordering)
• Replaceable printheads (black and tri-color)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications