Pink lines appearing on the colour blue on my printouts all Instant Ink cartridges are full.

[Jtsir]

Pink lines appearing on the colour blue on my printouts. All Instant Ink cartridges are full. I have already performed head cleaning up to level 3 and head alignment but the problem insists. 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Jtsir,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

If you're experiencing pink lines appearing on blue areas of your printouts from your HP OfficeJet 6950 All-in-One Printer while using Instant Ink cartridges, and after performing head cleaning up to level 3 and alignment, here are the recommended steps to address the issue:

Step 1: Perform a Manual Printhead Cleaning

• On the printer control panel, swipe down to open the dashboard.
• Touch the Settings icon (gear symbol).
• Scroll down and select Printer Maintenance.
• Tap on Clean Printhead.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the cleaning process.

Note: Mechanical noises during the cleaning process are normal.

Step 2: Print a Self-Test Page

After cleaning the printhead, it's essential to verify the print quality:

• On the printer control panel, swipe left to open the Setup menu.
• Touch Tools.
• Select Print Quality Report or Print Self-Test Page.
• Review the printed page for any issues with color alignment or ink distribution.

Step 3: Inspect and Clean Ink Cartridge Contacts

If the issue persists:

• Power off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
• Open the ink cartridge access door.
• Carefully remove all ink cartridges.
• Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water.
• Gently wipe the electrical contacts on the cartridges and inside the printer where the cartridges sit.
• After cleaning, reinstall the cartridges and close the access door.

Step 4: Update Printer Firmware

Outdated firmware can cause printing issues:

• On the printer control panel, swipe down to open the dashboard.
• Touch the Settings icon.
• Scroll to Printer Maintenance.
• Select Update Printer or Check for Updates.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware if an update is available.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, as it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[Jtsir]

I have tried all the previously mentioned and the problem persists.

[zoey7886]

@Jtsir, Thanks for following up — I understand how frustrating this must be, especially after trying all those steps already.

Since the issue is still happening after head cleaning, alignment, and even cleaning the contacts, let's try the following:

Try Printing in Grayscale (Black Ink Only)
Just to isolate if the issue is tied specifically to color ink, go to your print settings and choose to print using black ink only. Let us know if the pink lines still appear.

Try a Different Document or Image
Sometimes the issue can be with the file or software. Can you try printing a test image or document from a different app/device?

A couple of quick questions to help narrow it down:

Do you notice this only on blue areas, or does it show up on other colors too?

When did this issue first start — right after a cartridge change, or has it been gradual?

Let me know, and we’ll figure out the next step together!

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going! 

Regards,

[Jtsir]

The issue comes up only in the blue areas, please see pics. B/W printing is OK.