Black Ink Printing Grey

[EmilyJG]

We just changed out the black and color ink cartridges with brand new HP ink cartridges and now the black only prints grey. Please help!

[Echo_Lake]

@EmilyJG

Thank you for posting on the HP Support Community.
 

Don't worry as I'll be glad to help, I appreciate your efforts to try and resolve the issue.  

• 1) Does the copy print out the same way?

• 2) What's the application you are trying to print from? Have you tried printing from a different application or devices

While you respond to that, let's print a Print Quality Diagnostic page –

1. Make sure your device is on the same wireless network as your printer.

2. Open HP Smart, and then select your printer, if it is not already selected.

3. Under Tools, click Printer Reports.

4. Next to Print Quality Report, click Print.

   A Print Quality Diagnostic report prints.

Examine the colour blocks on the Print Quality Diagnostic page to make sure the colour blocks are not streaked, faded, or missing.

• If the colour blocks are not streaked, faded, or missing, skip to Examine the alignment lines and green color block for defects.

• If any of the colour blocks are streaked, faded, or missing, repeat the Clean the ink cartridges step.

If you have already performed the steps from the document Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues and the issue persists, it could be a hardware failure. Please reach out to HP Support in your region regarding the service options for your printer.
 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[Hubert_Paul]

Had similar problem with the cyan block after changing it with genuine HP part. I tried all the tricks in the manual and the HP video, with no result. Even putting back the old cartridge did not work. I was looking for a new printer (and not an HP!) when I  found that there was an interactive chat with HP technicians. The tech said that the printer was not recognising the block anymore. The solution is easy but hidden! There is a hidden maintenance menu which is activated by a combination of pressing  the keys at the left side of the printer screen: "Home"  then "Return" then  "Home"  and "Home". The service menu appears on the screen . Look for  

-Service Test / "ok"
-Printhead rec level 3 / "ok" then "ok" again to start the process. 

It worked. 

There are many more options (scan, etc.) in this maintenance menu, but I could not find a manual on the webstie. 

My question to HP people: why do you hide this feature? Many HP users are frustrated by similar issues and stop purchasing your products.