Red and yellow not printing

[Me93536]

Newbie here…Instant ink says I have plenty of ink but red and yellow not printing, only blue and black. Help? 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Me93536,

Welcome to HP Support Community.
 

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

It sounds like your HP OfficeJet Pro 8138e is experiencing a clogged printhead or ink delivery issue, even though Instant Ink shows sufficient levels. Let's walk through a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to get those red (magenta) and yellow inks flowing again.

1. Check the Ink Cartridges

• Make sure they’re properly installed:
  1. Open the printer’s cartridge access door.
  2. Remove and reseat the cartridges to ensure they are securely in place.
  3. DO NOT touch the nozzles or contacts.
• Shake the Cartridges:
  Sometimes, ink settles, especially if the printer hasn’t been used for a while. Gently shake the magenta and yellow cartridges, then reinstall them.
   

2. Print a Diagnostic Page

This will help determine if the issue is with ink flow or the printhead.

1. On the printer’s touchscreen, go to: 
   • Settings → Reports → Print Quality Report
2. Check if magenta and yellow appear on the report. 
   • If they are missing or faded, the printhead is likely clogged.
      

3. Run a Printhead Cleaning

If colors are missing or streaky, perform a printhead cleaning:

1. From the printer’s control panel: 
   • Settings → Tools → Clean Printhead
2. Repeat up to 3 times if needed. 
   • If the first cleaning doesn’t work, let the printer rest for 10 minutes before trying again.
      

For more help, please use the HP website for more help

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted 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!

VikramTheGreat

HP Support