Everything prints in color although not as good as in the past but nothing prints in just black

[Jerry0345]

My HP C5180 prints in color although not as good in quality as in the past but it doesn't print in just black at all.  Black print does show up but apparently by using color to do this.  I did run a test page and the black and colors showed up really well on this page so it is a puzzle.  When I hit the button for black print, I get a blank page but the page prints if I hit color.  From the internet, pages with color will print but with just black ink will not.  

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Jerry0345,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

To address the issue with your HP C5180 Photosmart printer where it prints in color but not in black, I would like a few details.

1. Have you checked if the black ink cartridge is low or empty? When was the last time it was replaced?
2. Have you recently removed or reinstalled the black ink cartridge? Was it installed correctly?
3. Are you using any specific print settings or modes that might affect black ink usage?
4. Have you performed any maintenance tasks, like cleaning the printhead or aligning cartridges, recently?

Meanwhile, I want you to try the following steps below.

Check and Replace the Black Ink Cartridge:

• Open the printer’s access door and check the black ink cartridge. Ensure it is properly seated and not empty or low on ink. Replace the cartridge with a new one if necessary.

Clean the Printhead:

• On the printer’s control panel, navigate to the Maintenance or Tools menu and select the Clean Printhead option. Follow the on-screen instructions to clean the printhead and try printing again.

Align the Printhead:

• After cleaning the printhead, perform a printhead alignment. This option is usually available in the Maintenance or Tools menu on the printer’s control panel.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post. 

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

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Jerry0345,

Please find the remaining steps below.

Check Print Settings:

• Ensure that the print settings are not set to print in color only. Go to your printer settings on the computer and select Print in Black & White or Grayscale to test if it prints black ink properly.

Run a Print Quality Diagnostic:

• Print a diagnostic page or print the quality report from the printer’s control panel. This can help identify any issues with the black ink or printhead.

Update Printer Firmware:

• Check for any available firmware updates for your HP C5180 Photosmart printer on the HP Support website. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve print quality issues.

Perform a Printer Reset:

• Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source, wait for about 60 seconds, and then plug it back in and turn it on. This can sometimes resolve temporary issues with printing.

These steps should help resolve the issue with black printing on your HP C5180 Photosmart printer.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, contact HP Support for further assistance as this could be a hardware issue.

Keep me posted for further assistance

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