Color or black ink missing on printouts

lhoffon · ‎03-04-2025

Color or black ink missing on printouts

Hawks_Eye · ‎03-08-2025

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

If your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 All-in-One Printer is missing color or black ink on printouts, try these troubleshooting steps.

Check Ink Levels

On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup > Ink Levels to check if any cartridge is low or empty.
Replace any low or empty cartridges with genuine HP ink.

Clean the Printhead

On the printer's display, go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead.
Print a test page to see if the issue improves.
You may need to run the cleaning process 2-3 times for the best results.

Align the Printhead

Go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Align Printhead.
Follow the on-screen instructions and print an alignment page.

Print a Print Quality Report

On the printer, go to Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report.
Check if colors or black ink are missing.
If gaps or faded areas appear, it may indicate a clogged printhead.

Manually Clean the Printhead

If automated cleaning doesn’t work:

Remove the ink cartridges.
Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water and gently clean the copper-colored contacts and nozzles.
Let the printhead dry before reinserting cartridges.

Update Firmware

Check for any firmware updates via Setup > Printer Updates.
You can also download updates from HP’s website.

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Hawks_Eye · ‎03-08-2025

Use the "Print in Grayscale" Option (Temporary Fix)

If black ink is missing, print in color-only mode.
If colors are missing, print in black & white mode.

Try a Different Paper Type

Use high-quality, HP-recommended paper to ensure proper ink absorption.

Reset the Printer

Unplug the printer while it is turned on.
Wait 60 seconds and then plug it back in.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Hawks_Eye

HP Support