Color Printing

[Kathy-45]

Both of my ink cartridges are brand new, just installed.  I cannot get my printer to print in color.  It will only do black and white.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Kathy-45,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

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

I understand your printer is only printing in black and white even though you just installed brand-new cartridges. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

1. Check Print Settings

On your computer, open the print dialog before sending a job.

Look for options like Grayscale, Black & White, or Print in Color.

Make sure “Grayscale” or “Black Ink Only” is unchecked.

2. Run a Test Print from the Printer Panel

On the printer’s touchscreen, go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Print Quality Report.

If the report prints in color, the issue is with software settings.

If it prints only in black, continue with the next steps.

3. Verify Cartridge Installation

Open the cartridge access door and confirm both the black and tri-color cartridges are seated properly.

Ensure all protective tape has been removed from the nozzles.

4. Clean and Align Printhead

From the printer menu, go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead.

After cleaning, select Align Printhead and follow on-screen instructions.

Print another test page to check for color.

5. Check Paper Type & Quality Settings

Make sure the selected paper type in print settings matches what is loaded.

Some modes may force black-and-white printing if the wrong paper is chosen.

6. Update Printer Software & Drivers

Use the HP Smart app or visit 123.hp.com to install the latest driver and firmware updates.

7. Try Another Document/Application

Print a color photo or PDF from a different program to rule out application-specific settings.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,