BRAND NEW HP Smart Tank 5100 only printing B/W

[Andi80123]

I have a new mac mini M4 Pro /OS Sequoia.  I just purchase the HP Smart Tank 5101 and I could only print B/W even though the HP test sheet printed out in color.  I was able to solve my issue by using the HP Smart App and indicating on the app that all the ink had been installed, along with the print heads.  Once I did that, it showed "Ready" for printer status.  When I tried printing documents in color and photos in color from two different applications, I was successful.  In the print dialog box, finally, the color option was available.  Hope this helps someone else.  Was absolutely frustrating to figure out.

[zoey7886]

@Andi80123, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Printing Issues on HP Smart Tank 5100 Series! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

To resolve the issue where your HP Smart Tank 5100 Series printer is only printing in black and white, even though it prints the test sheet in color, here are the steps you can follow:

Install HP Smart App:

• Ensure that the HP Smart app is installed on your Mac mini. The app enables you to manage your printer settings and print tasks efficiently. You can download the app from the Mac App Store.

Add Printer to HP Smart App:

• Open the HP Smart app.
• Add your printer by following the on-screen instructions. Ensure that you have completed the initial setup, including installing all ink tanks and printheads.

Confirm Ink Installation:

• In the HP Smart app, navigate to the section where you manage your printer.
• Find the option to confirm that all ink has been installed along with the printheads. This step is crucial in ensuring that the printer recognizes and starts using the color ink cartridges.

Print Test Page:

• Print a test page from the HP Smart app to verify that the printer can output color prints. This will help verify that the color ink is ready to print.

Settings in HP Smart App:

• Ensure that the print settings are configured correctly. When printing a document or photo, ensure that the color print option is selected instead of black-and-white.

Updating Printer Software:

• Make sure your printer software is up to date. Sometimes, updating the software can resolve issues related to printing functionalities.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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Regards,