OfficeJet 250 Third Line Skipping

[BobFather]

My (6) month old HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile printer is skipping the third line of every thing I print.  Does not matter how I connect to it, wireless or cable.  Documents from every application print perfectly on my HP OfficeJet Pro 7740.  Every print, including the test pages, are "ghosting" the third line.  There's some ink apparent but it is very light at best.

Software / firmware updates are not impacting the problem at all.  Cleaning the head and new ink cartridges don't help either.  Any suggesting would be appreciated.

[Max3Aj]

@BobFather, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
And, thanks for the detailed breakdown — that helps a lot. Given that:

• The issue only affects your HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile
• The third line is always skipped or ghosted
• It happens regardless of connection method or application
• Other printers (e.g., your OfficeJet Pro 7740) work fine
• You've already tried firmware updates, printhead cleaning, and new cartridges

This seems very likely to be a hardware-level issue — possibly with the printhead alignment, the paper feed rollers, or an electronic controller issue.
 

Here are a few targeted suggestions:
Printhead Alignment (Manual or Advanced)

Sometimes the automatic alignment routine doesn't catch all issues.

• On the printer:
  Setup > Printer Maintenance > Align Printer
  Run it at least 2–3 times in a row.
• Also try printing from HP Print and Scan Doctor (on a Windows PC) — it may give deeper diagnostics.

Manual Paper Feed & Roller Check

Since the third line is always affected, it could relate to how the paper is being fed:

• Open the paper path area.
• Look for dust, ink buildup, or roller misalignment.
• Clean rollers with a lint-free cloth and distilled water (never alcohol or harsh cleaners).

Print Quality Diagnostic Page

Print this from the control panel:

• Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report
• Look at the grid/test pattern. Does the third horizontal line show a drop or fade?
  • If yes → printhead nozzles may be partially clogged in a way that automated cleaning doesn't catch.
  • If no → it’s more likely a timing or logic board issue.

Hard Reset

Reset the printer to factory defaults (won’t remove firmware updates):

• Go to: Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore > Restore Factory Defaults.
• Then power it off, unplug it for 2 minutes, and restart. 

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. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[Valsimot · Accepted solution]

Can you scan a sample page and post it here?

[BobFather]

[Valsimot]

It's not visible.

[BobFather]