Blue Ink no longer printing on HP Officejet Pro 6978

[BrokenPrinter37]

The blue ink cartridge does not print anymore.  I have cleaned the printhead several times and replaced the blue ink cartridge to no avail.  Any advice would be appreciated!   

[zoey7886]

@BrokenPrinter37, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your HP OfficeJet Pro! 

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

It sounds like your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is having trouble printing blue ink despite cleaning the printhead and replacing the cartridge. Here are some troubleshooting steps to try:

Check Ink Levels

• Even though you replaced the cartridge, verify ink levels in HP Smart or the printer settings menu.
• Sometimes, a faulty or expired cartridge can cause printing issues.

Ensure Proper Installation

• Remove the blue (cyan) cartridge and reinsert it securely.
• Make sure the protective tape is completely removed from the new cartridge.

Run Printhead Cleaning Again

• Run the "Deep Cleaning" or "Second-Level Cleaning" option in Printer Maintenance.
• Sometimes, multiple cleaning cycles are needed to clear clogged nozzles.

Print a Diagnostic Page

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report.
• Check if cyan appears on the test print. If missing, the issue is likely with the printhead.

Manually Clean the Printhead

• If automated cleaning doesn’t help, manually clean the printhead:
  1. Turn off the printer and unplug it.
  2. Remove the ink cartridges.
  3. Gently wipe the printhead area with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water.
  4. Let it dry completely before reinserting cartridges.

Check for Firmware Updates

• Sometimes, firmware updates resolve printing issues.
• Update your printer via HP Smart or HP website.

Try a Different Cartridge

• If possible, test with another cyan cartridge in case the replacement is defective.

Reset the Printer

• Unplug the printer while it's on.
• Wait 60 seconds and plug it back in.
• This can help clear minor glitches.  

I hope this helps!

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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, 

[BrokenPrinter37]

The issue was not resolved.  I've cleaned the printout and installed new cartridges.  I printed an alignment page and the blue ink was faint but the page would not align.  I printed another alignment page and the blue ink did not show at all.  This is an old printer so there are no firmware updates.  

[zoey7886]

Hi @BrokenPrinter37, 

Thank you for the update, and I’m sorry to hear the issue persists! Since the alignment page shows faint or missing blue ink, it’s possible that the printhead is either clogged or failing. Since the printer is older and doesn’t have available firmware updates, here are a few additional steps you can try:

Try a Power Reset with Cartridge Removal

1. Turn off the printer and unplug it.
2. Remove all ink cartridges.
3. Hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain residual power.
4. Plug the printer back in, reinstall the cartridges, and try printing again.

Perform a Manual Printhead Cleaning with Warm Water

Since automated cleaning hasn’t helped, try a deeper manual clean:

1. Remove the printhead and cartridges.
2. Soak the printhead in warm distilled water (not hot) for about 10 minutes.
3. Pat it dry with a lint-free cloth and let it air dry for 30 minutes before reinstalling.

Check for Air Bubbles in the Cartridge

Sometimes air bubbles in the cartridge can block ink flow:

• Gently tap the cartridge on a soft surface and reinstall it.

Run a Hard Printer Reset

If cleaning doesn’t help, try a hard reset:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Unplug it for 5 minutes.
3. Plug it back in and turn it on.

Consider Printhead Replacement

If none of the above steps work, the printhead might be damaged or at the end of its lifespan. You could look into replacing the printhead or, considering the printer's age, explore upgrading to a newer model.

Let me know how it goes! If you need more help, I’m happy to walk you through the next steps.

Take care, and I hope this gets your printer back on track!

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, 

[BrokenPrinter37]

Hi, Zoey7886,

I cleaned the printhead and installed a new blue cartridge.  I also attempted to align the page but the printed page showed blue streaks and I received a "cannot align the page" message when I put the printed page on the screen for scanning.  However, when I printed a document with multiple pages the first two printed pages showed the blue ink but subsequent pages did not.  Unfortunately, the printhead for this printer is not removable.  

[zoey7886]

Hi @BrokenPrinter37, 

Thank you for getting back to us!

Please try these steps from the below link for troubleshooting alignment issues.

Printing an alignment page on an HP printer | HP® Support 

Let me know how it goes!

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