Cyan ink not flowing

[SaraElg]

My printer is not printing cyan ink. I've followed all the instructions on the HP website, followed all the steps from virtual support, and it still won't print cyan ink. I've replaced the cartridge three times and gone through all the steps with each cartridge, and still, no cyan colour. 

Can you help, please?

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

Hello @SaraElg, and welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

I understand how frustrating it can be when your HP OfficeJet 6950 All-in-One Printer refuses to print cyan ink even after replacing the cartridge multiple times and following all the recommended steps.

Let’s go through a few advanced troubleshooting steps to help resolve this issue:

Double-check Cartridge Authenticity

Make sure all cartridges, especially the cyan one, are genuine HP cartridges. Counterfeit or refilled cartridges can sometimes cause ink flow issues.

• You can verify cartridge authenticity here: HP anti-counterfeit | HP® Official Site

Run Printhead Cleaning (Multiple Times)

Even if you've done this once, try running the clean printhead utility up to 3 times in a row:

• On the printer control panel, go to:
  Setup > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead
• After each cleaning, print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page to check improvement.

Print Quality Diagnostic Report

This helps identify if the cyan ink is completely missing or partially printing.

• On the printer:
  Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report
• Look at the cyan blocks, are they missing, streaked, or faded?

If cyan is completely missing, continue to the next step.

Manually Clean the Printhead

If automated cleaning doesn’t help, the printhead may be clogged. You can try a manual cleaning:

Caution: Only attempt this if you're comfortable handling printer internals. Otherwise, skip to Step 5.

• Remove the ink cartridges.
• Gently blot the printhead (where ink comes out) with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water.
• Let it dry for 10 minutes, reinstall cartridges, and try printing again.

Reset the Printer

Sometimes a full reset can help clear internal ink system errors:

1. Turn the printer on.
2. Disconnect the power cable from the back.
3. Wait 60 seconds.
4. Plug the power cable back in and turn the printer on.

If none of the above steps work, the printhead may be faulty or permanently clogged. In that case, please visit the nearest HP authorized service center, the service team will check and assist you. 
Kindly follow this link to locate the nearest HP service center: HP® Service Center Locator - United Kingdom | HP® Support
(Select the country from the dropdown menu and enter the city name or pincode)

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support