How to Fix HP Printer Not Printing Black?

Your HP printer has always been a reliable tool. Suddenly, it stops printing black ink, even when you are sure that all the settings are correct. This is a common problem faced by HP printer users. This blog will analyze the most common reasons and provide a step-by-step troubleshooting guide on how to fix HP printer not printing black.

II. Common Reasons Why HP Printers Don’t Print Black

Generally speaking, HP printer not printing black may be caused by running out of ink, a clogged printhead, or a long period of time.

Empty or Low Black Ink Cartridge

The most obvious and most easily overlooked culprit is an empty or nearly empty black ink cartridge. Even if it appears that there is ink, low ink levels can cause blurry or no printing.

Clogged Printhead

Over time, the printhead accumulates dried ink, especially if the printer is not used frequently. This can hinder the flow of ink, especially black ink, because black ink tends to dry faster than color ink.

Incorrectly Installed Ink Cartridges

Sometimes, ink cartridges may be installed incorrectly or their contacts may be dirty. This misalignment or blockage can cause the printer to be unable to detect or use the ink cartridges.

Outdated or Corrupted Printer Drivers

Like any computer peripheral, printers rely on drivers to communicate with the computer. If these drivers are outdated or damaged, it can affect print commands, especially the output of black ink.

Wrong Paper or Print Settings

Incorrect settings (such as selecting “Print in grayscale with color ink”) or using the wrong paper type can cause the printer to completely ignore the black ink cartridge.

Ink Dried Up from Long Inactivity

If you haven’t used your printer for a few weeks or months, the ink inside the ink cartridges or printheads may have dried out. This is especially common with the denser black ink.

Now that you know the possible causes, let’s look at how to fix it when your HP printer won’t print black.

III. How to Fix HP Printer Not Printing Black?

If your HP printer won’t print black and white, there are some proven troubleshooting steps you can take.

1. Run Printer Diagnostics

Before doing any actual fixes, it’s a good idea to run printer diagnostics to get an idea of ​​what the problem is.

HP offers a free utility for Windows users called HP Print and Scan Doctor. After downloading and installing the tool from the official HP support website, open it and select your printer. The tool will scan for common problems, such as connection errors, ink level issues, and driver failures. Once the scan is complete, follow any suggestions provided on the screen.

In addition, printing a test page from the printer’s control panel or the computer’s print settings can give you a visual idea of ​​what the problem is. If the black portions are fuzzy or completely missing, the problem may be limited to the black ink system – the ink cartridges, printheads, or related settings.

2. Check Ink Levels

Low or empty ink is one of the most common reasons why black ink stops printing. HP printers often stop printing when ink levels fall below the normal threshold, even if you think you still have some ink left.

To check ink levels, navigate to the printer’s onscreen menu and look for the “Ink Levels” or “Supplies Status” option. Alternatively, if you have the HP Smart app installed or can access the printer from a connected computer, you can check ink levels there, too.

If the black ink cartridge shows low or empty, the next step is to replace it with a new one. Our blog How to Check Ink Levels on HP Printer provides more details.

3. Clean the Printhead

If the test page shows black sections with missing lines or completely blank printheads even though the cartridges are full, the printhead may be clogged. Check out the blog What Is a Printer Printhead for more information. Ink, especially black ink, can dry and clog the nozzles, especially if the printer is idle for a long time.

Most HP printers have a built-in “Clean Printhead” feature, which can be accessed through the Settings or Maintenance menu on the printer’s touchscreen. Run the cleaning procedure once, then print the test page again to check if there is an improvement. If the problem persists, repeat the cleaning up to two more times.

For more stubborn clogs, manual cleaning may be required. To do this, turn off the printer, remove the black ink cartridge, and gently wipe the copper contacts with a lint-free cloth dampened with a small amount of distilled water. Avoid using alcohol or tap water, as they can damage sensitive components. Allow everything to dry completely before reinserting the cartridge.

4. Ensure Proper Cartridge Installation

Misaligned cartridges or dirty contacts can also affect ink delivery. Reinstalling the cartridges can solve this problem. The blog How to Put Ink in a Printer HP provides more details.

Start by turning off the printer and opening the ink cartridge access door. Carefully remove the black ink cartridge and check for any visible ink smears, tape residue, or dirt on the electrical contacts (usually copper or gold in color).

Use a soft, lint-free cloth to clean the ink cartridge contacts and the mating contacts inside the printer. Make sure not to touch the nozzles directly. Reinsert the ink cartridge firmly until it clicks into place and make sure it is properly seated. Restart the printer and try to print again.

5. Update Printer Drivers

Software compatibility plays a vital role in the communication process between the printer and the computer. If your driver is outdated or corrupted, your print job may be misinterpreted, especially when it comes to ink settings.

On Windows, open “Device Manager,” find your printer under the “Printers” section, right-click, and select “Update Driver.” For more reliable updates, visit the HP official support website, enter your printer model, and then download the latest driver and firmware versions.

Mac users can check for updates by going to “System Preferences” then “Printers & Scanners,” selecting the printer, and clicking “Update Software” when prompted. After the driver update is complete, restart the printer and computer to ensure the update took effect, and then print a test page to check the results.

6. Check Printer Settings

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the printer hardware or ink cartridges at all, but with misconfigured print settings.

For example, if your print settings are configured to print in grayscale using only color ink, black ink may be completely ignored.

To fix this, open the document and go to the “Print” dialog box. Depending on your software, click “Printer Properties,” “Preferences,” or “Advanced Settings.” Make sure the “Print in Grayscale” option is disabled or set to use “black ink only.”

Also, verify that the “paper type” selected in the settings matches the actual paper in the tray. For example, using the Glossy Photo Paper setting when printing on plain paper may affect ink behavior.

Making sure all settings match your actual print job can easily resolve the issue.

7. Reset Your HP Printer

When all else fails, performing a reset can often clear any remaining software bugs or temporary glitches.

First, perform a simple power cycle: turn off the printer, unplug it from the wall, wait at least 60 seconds, then plug it back in and turn the printer on.

If that doesn’t work, consider a factory reset. Most HP printer models can be restored from the touchscreen by going to “Settings” > “Printer Maintenance” > “Restore” > “Restore Factory Defaults.” Please note: This will clear all customized settings, including Wi-Fi credentials and paper size defaults.

After resetting, reinstall the driver if necessary and try to print the test page again. This hard reset can often clear stubborn problems caused by corrupted memory or misconfigured internal processes.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, your printer may have a hardware failure. You may need to seek professional help from HP Customer Support.

IV. Conclusion

HP printers that won’t print black and white can be annoying, but they’re not unsolvable. Most users can fix the problem by checking ink levels, cleaning the printhead, reseating ink cartridges, and updating drivers. Remember to run diagnostics first, then follow the steps.

If your printer still doesn’t work properly, contact HP support immediately. With patience and a few tips, your printer will be printing crisp black and white again in no time.