Despite new ink cartridge, cannot print in color

[DoryData]

Despite having purchased & installed new HP ink cartridges, I cannot print in color.

We have an HP Envy 5540 printer and are running on Windows 11

Curiously, test pages for alignment, print quality diagnostic, etc. DO print in color!

Thank you for any suggestions...

[Sneha_01]

Hi @DoryData 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're experiencing a common issue where HP Envy 5540 prints certain diagnostic pages (like test pages and alignment) in color but does not print regular documents in color. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Check Print Settings:

• Windows Print Settings:
  1. Open the document you want to print.
  2. Go to File > Print.
  3. Select your HP Envy 5540 printer from the list.
  4. Click on Printer Properties or Preferences.
  5. Look for the Color or Print in Color option.
  6. Ensure that the setting is set to Color (not Black & White or Grayscale).
  7. Click OK and try printing again.

2. Check the HP Printer Software Settings:

• If the issue persists, open the HP Printer Assistant (installed with the printer software):
  1. Search for HP in the Windows Start Menu and select HP Printer Assistant.
  2. In the HP Printer Assistant, go to the Print & Scan section.
  3. Select Printer Settings > Printing Preferences.
  4. Make sure that Color is selected in the Print Quality or Color Options tab.
  5. Confirm the settings and try printing again.

3. Perform a Printer Head Cleaning:

Sometimes the printer heads might be clogged, causing color printing issues even if new ink cartridges are installed:

1. On your HP Envy 5540 control panel, press the Setup button.
2. Navigate to Tools and select Clean Printhead.
3. Follow the prompts to perform the cleaning process.
4. After the cleaning process finishes, try printing again.

4. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor:

HP provides a free diagnostic tool called HP Print and Scan Doctor that can help detect and fix printing issues:

1. Download HP Print and Scan Doctor from the HP Support website.
2. Install and run the tool.
3. Select your HP Envy 5540 printer from the list.
4. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix any issues related to printing in color.

5. Verify the Ink Levels:

Even though you've installed new ink cartridges, it's still worth checking if the ink levels are being detected correctly:

1. Open the HP Printer Assistant and go to the Estimated Ink Levels section.
2. Check the levels for the color cartridges (Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow).
3. If any of the cartridges show as empty or low, replace them again.

6. Update Printer Drivers:

Outdated drivers might cause issues with printing in color:

1. Go to Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select Device Manager).
2. Expand the Printers section, right-click your HP Envy 5540, and select Update driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
4. If an update is available, follow the instructions to install it.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support