Black ink not printing, brand new cartridge

[taylorsmorgan]

Hi there, I just replaced all of my ink cartridges and the black doesn't seem to be working. I've cleaned printhead, aligned cartridges and no luck. What else can I do to get the black printing properly?

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @taylorsmorgan ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you've already cleaned the printhead and aligned the cartridges but the black ink still isn't printing on your HP Photosmart 6520, try the following additional steps:

1. Perform a Second Printhead Cleaning

• Sometimes, a single cleaning isn't enough. Run the printhead cleaning two to three times through the printer’s settings.
• On the printer’s display, go to Setup > Tools > Clean Printhead and repeat if necessary.

2. Print a Test Page

• Check if black ink appears on a Print Quality Diagnostic Page:
  • Go to Setup > Tools > Print Quality Report.
• If black ink is missing or faded, continue troubleshooting.

3. Manually Clean the Printhead

• Remove the black ink cartridge.
• Use a lint-free cloth and distilled water or isopropyl alcohol to gently wipe the copper contacts on the cartridge and inside the printer.
• Let it dry for a few minutes, then reinstall.

4. Check for Clogged Nozzles

• If the black ink nozzle is clogged, try this:
  • Remove the black ink cartridge.
  • Soak the bottom of the cartridge (ink nozzle area) in warm, distilled water for about 5–10 minutes.
  • Pat dry with a lint-free cloth and reinstall.

5. Try a Different Cartridge

• Even though it’s a brand-new cartridge, it could be defective. Try inserting an old working black cartridge if available.

6. Reset the Printer

• Power off the printer and unplug it from the wall for 5–10 minutes.
• Plug it back in and turn it on.

7. Check for Firmware Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Outdated firmware can cause printing issues.
• Update via Setup > Printer Maintenance > Update the Printer or check HP’s website for updates.

8. Print in Grayscale (as a Test)

• Try printing a black-and-white document with "Print in Grayscale" set to High Quality to see if the black ink works.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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