HP printers are extensively used by many big and small businesses worldwide. The brand is known for providing some of the best printing devices in the market. The smooth printing performance has allowed them to gain immense popularity everywhere. However, the printers can show some issues at various points in time. One of the problems that its users regularly complain about is their HP printer not printing black. What is surprising is that this problem can arise due to reasons that are so minor that people tend to ignore them. In this article, you’ll find what actually causes your HP printer not to print black and how you can fix this problem.
Why Your HP Printer Won’t Print Black?
Most of the time, this printer gives a stellar performance. However, there might be various factors at play in those cases where it refuses to print black. The most common ones include the following.
- Incorrect cartridges
- Problem with the print head
- Issues in paper settings.
- Low ink level
- Printer drivers issue
Fixes to Implement When You Find HP Printer Not Printing Black
There are several ways to troubleshoot an HP printer that doesn’t print black. Go through the instructions of every measure described below.
Do basic troubleshooting.
On finding this issue, start by executing a basic troubleshooting process. It is as follows.
- Switch off your printing device and unplug it from the power source.
- Disconnect the USB cables. After some time, connect the printer again and plug it in. now switch on the printer.
- Print a test page or a Quality Diagnostic Report.
- You’ll find this option on the screen of your printer.
Next, inspect the ink levels in your device. If they are low, that’s the reason for the issue you are facing.
Inspect the ink cartridge.
You must replace low or empty ink cartridges. It’s wise to look for the following things when inspecting the ink cartridge.
- Ensure that the cartridges are snapped into place and are correctly installed in the right slot.
- In case you have installed a new cartridge, check to ensure that you have taken away the tap over the vent.
- See whether the cartridge vents are clogged or not. If they are clogged, clean them gently by using a pin.
- You can also use another ink cartridge to find if your printing device is able to identify cartridges. Suppose your printer worked with an old cartridge before. In that case, try to install that cartridge again and check if your printer generates any kind of output.
Calibrate the HP printer after you install the ink cartridges
After installing a printer or new print cartridges, it’s essential to calibrate them to get the optimal print quality. HP printer cartridges need to be recalibrated every time you install a new one. If you haven’t calibrated them, you’ll likely notice that your HP printer won’t print black.
The calibration process is quite simple. You only need to locate your printer under the section of ‘Printers and Faxes.’ Click it and navigate to ‘Service this device.’ Note that it’s important for you to have HP printers drivers installed on your system. Choose the option of ‘Calibrate this device,’ or ‘Clean the print cartridges,’ or ‘Align the printer’ according to your HP printer model. That’s it, you’ll find a solution to this issue after completing the calibration process.
Assess the Printhead.
Printhead refers to a printer component that transmits the ink onto a page. The printhead functions by firing small ink droplets through multiple printer nozzles for creating the desired print. If one of the printer nozzles is clogged, the prints will appear streaky or faded. A simple way to resolve the problem of the HP printer not printing black is through cleaning the printhead. You can clean it from your computer easily.
The process to clean an HP printhead from your computer is relatively straightforward. Navigate to the ‘Control Panel and do the following:
- Go to ‘Printers and Scanners.’
- Tap the ‘Printer’ icon and select ‘Properties.’ You can see the amount of ink available in your cartridges from here.
- If your cartridges are full but you find the printing output smudged, it means you should clean the printhead.
- Select ‘Printing Preferences’ followed by the ‘Service’ tab.
- Now select ‘Printer Services’ in the subsequent window.
- You’ll find a command, ‘Clean Printheads.’ It will commence the process of printhead cleaning.
Employ the HP Print and Scan Doctor.
The HP Print and Scan Doctor is a great tool that helps in fixing printer issues. For using it, download the software setup wizard and follow the steps below to install and fix the problem with it.
- Tap ‘HPPS.dr.exe’ for installing the Print and Scan Doctor.
- Tap’ Start’ to select your HP printer. Now, hit the ‘Next’ button.
- Next, choose the option of ‘Fix Printing.’
- You’ll see the software showing wrench icons. It highlights that it has fixed something.
- When you notice them, exit the troubleshooter and try to print again.
- You may also view an ‘X’ icon. In this case, continue with the troubleshooter and adhere to its guidelines for fixing the problem.
Final Words
After reading this article thoroughly, you’ll resolve the issue of the HP printer won’t print black. Follow the steps mentioned below for every technique. Remember to install genuine HP printer cartridges to minimize the likelihood of facing this problem in the future. You can find compatible ink cartridges from the official website of HP. Don’t hesitate to seek professional HP technical support if you still find the issue persisting. The expert technicians will resolve all HP printer-related problems of yours.
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