How to Fix My HP Color Printer Not Printing in Color?

Posted by Chloe Harter , 26 Jun, 2025
1 comments

There’s nothing more frustrating than sending a color document to your HP printer, only to find that it prints out in black and white, or worse, no color at all. Whether you’re preparing a business report, a school assignment, or printing photos, an uncooperative printer can slow everything down. Fortunately, many HP color printer problems that won’t print in color can be easily fixed with some simple troubleshooting at home. In this guide, we’ll explain why your HP color printer won’t print in color and provide step-by-step instructions for effectively resolving the issue.

II. Common Reasons HP Printers Don’t Print in Color

Several factors may cause your HP printer to not print in color, including:

Incorrect Printer Settings: Sometimes, print settings are accidentally changed to grayscale or black and white.
Empty or Low Ink Cartridges: If one or more of the color ink cartridges is empty or low, your printer may default to using black ink only.
Clogged or Dirty Printheads: Over time, ink can dry and clog the tiny nozzles in the printheads.
Outdated or Corrupt Printer Drivers: Faulty or outdated drivers can prevent proper color output.
Software or Firmware Glitches: Updates can affect printer performance if not installed correctly.
Connection Issues: Network printers may not communicate properly, resulting in incomplete print jobs.

III. How to Fix the HP Color Printer Not Printing in Color?

Solving color printing problems requires steps such as checking printer settings, ensuring sufficient ink, cleaning hardware, and updating software. Follow these steps to effectively identify and resolve the problem.

1. Check Printer Settings

Incorrect settings are one of the most overlooked culprits of color printing problems. Your printer may be set to grayscale or monochrome mode by default without your knowledge.

For Windows:

Press “Windows + R,” type “control printers”, and press Enter.
Right-click your HP printer and select “Printing Preferences.”
Under the “Paper/Quality” tab, make sure “Color” is selected instead of “Black & White” or “Grayscale.”
Also check the “Advanced” tab for additional color options.
Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

For Mac:

Open the document you want to print.
Click “File,” go to “Print”, then click “Show Details.”
Look for a dropdown that may say “Layout, Quality & Media,” or “Color Options.”
Ensure that “Color” is selected and that “Grayscale Printing” is turned off.

2. Inspect Ink Levels

Even if you have everything set up correctly on your computer, your printer won’t print in color if it’s low on ink. Low or empty ink cartridges are a common and easily overlooked problem.

How to check ink levels:

On the printer: Navigate to “Home,” choose “Ink Levels” or “Estimated Ink Levels” on the touchscreen display (if available).

On your device: Open the HP Smart App on your phone or computer. Then tap on your printer, and view the ink levels in the dashboard.

If one or more of the color ink cartridges is low or empty, replace it immediately. You might also have to remove and reinstall the ink cartridge to make sure it is firmly seated. Before installing, gently shake the new ink cartridge to distribute the ink evenly.

NOTE: HP printers typically turn off color output if any ink cartridge, including the black ink cartridge, is completely empty. Whenever possible, replace ink cartridges in sets.

3. Run a Printhead Cleaning Cycle

If your printer has ink but still won’t print in color, the problem could be a clogged printhead. Dried ink, especially if the printer has not been used for a long time, can clog the nozzles and prevent ink from flowing properly.

Automatic printhead cleaning:

On the printer’s touchscreen, go to “Settings” > “Tools” > “Clean Printhead” or “Printer Maintenance.”
Choose the “Level 1 Cleaning” cycle and follow the on-screen instructions.
Print a test page when prompted.
If color output still looks faded or missing, run a “Level 2” or “Deep Cleaning” cycle.

You may need to run 2-3 cleaning cycles to completely unclog the printhead, especially if your printer has been idle for weeks or months.

Manual printhead cleaning (if automatic fails):

Turn off the printer and unplug it.
Carefully remove the printhead (refer to your user manual – the exact method varies by model).
Soak the printhead in a shallow dish of warm (not hot) distilled water for 10–15 minutes.
Gently blot dry with a lint-free cloth and allow to air dry completely.
Reinstall the printhead and cartridges, then try printing again.

4. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

If your printer software driver is out of date or corrupted, you may not be able to print in color. This may be caused by an operating system update, third-party interference, or daily wear and tear.

Go to the HP official support website, enter your printer model, and download the latest Full Feature Software and Drivers for your operating system. Install the software and follow the on-screen setup steps.

To uninstall and reinstall (Windows):

Open “Device Manager” (press Windows + X, then choose Device Manager).
Expand the “Printers” section, right-click on your HP printer, and select “Uninstall device.”
Restart your computer.
Reinstall using the latest driver from HP’s website.

On Mac:

Go to “System Settings,” then choose “Printers & Scanners.”
Select your HP printer and click the minus (-) button to remove it.
Click the plus (+) button to add the printer again. This triggers macOS to automatically install the correct driver.

5. Try Printing a Test Page

Still no color? Now it’s time to run a diagnostic test. The test page can help you determine if the problem is hardware or software.

From the control panel: Go to “Setup” > “Tools” > “Print Quality Report” or “Test Page.”

From the HP Smart App: Select “Printer Settings” > “Reports” > “Print Quality Report.”

The test page should show black, cyan, magenta, and yellow blocks or gradients of color. Check for the following:

Missing color blocks or streaks.
Faded or patchy areas.
Alignment issues.

If any color is missing or faint, the printhead might still be clogged or the ink cartridge might be defective. If everything looks OK, the problem might be with the software or file you are trying to print.

IV. Advanced Troubleshooting (If Basic Steps Fail)

If none of the above steps work, you may need to dig deeper. These advanced steps are for persistent or complex problems.

1. Perform a Printer Reset

Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source. Wait 60 seconds and then plug it back in. This will clear temporary errors and cache.

2. Use HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows only)

Download the tool from the HP website, run it, and follow the prompts. It can detect driver problems, network errors, and ink system problems.

3. Inspect Network Settings

If you are printing over Wi-Fi, make sure the printer is connected to the correct network. Also, check the IP address and run network diagnostics from the printer’s control panel.

5. Factory Reset the Printer

As a last resort, reset the printer to factory settings. This will clear custom settings, so consult your printer manual for instructions before proceeding.

V. Conclusion

A color printer that won’t print in color can be a major inconvenience, but in most cases the solution is simple. Whether it’s adjusting print settings, replacing ink cartridges, or cleaning, these steps usually resolve the issue quickly. For persistent issues, updating the driver or resetting the printer can resolve the issue. Still having problems? Feel free to contact HP Support or visit a certified service center. With a little maintenance and troubleshooting, your color printer will be back printing in no time.