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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printer Ink Cartridges & Print Quality
- Re: Full Ink Cartridges and Won’t Print Black or Color

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05-25-2023 07:23 PM
Hello - I have full ink cartridges and when I try to print anything, it barely comes out and you can’t see or read what it is supposed to be. I have cleaned the printer head and followed all of the instructions online related to it. Any ideas? I’m thinking the printer is defective, but it is out of warranty. I have printed on it maybe 10 times total since I purchased it.
05-28-2023 08:37 PM
Hi @mdunc,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
If your HP Tango printer is not printing in black or color despite having full ink cartridges, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try.
- Check ink cartridges: Remove the ink cartridges and make sure they are properly installed. Ensure that the protective tape or plastic covering on the cartridges has been removed. Reinstall the cartridges securely.
- Clean the printhead: Poor print quality or lack of color may be due to a clogged printhead. You can clean the printhead using the printer's software utility. Consult your printer's manual or the HP website for specific instructions on how to perform a printhead cleaning.
- Align the printhead: Misalignment of the printhead can also cause print quality issues. Most printers have an automatic printhead alignment feature that can be accessed through the printer's software utility. Follow the instructions to align the printhead properly.
- Perform a printer reset: Sometimes a simple reset can resolve software or firmware glitches that may be causing the printing issue. Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source, wait for a few minutes, and then plug it back in. Turn on the printer and check if the problem is resolved.
- Check print settings: Ensure that the print settings on your computer or mobile device are correctly configured. Make sure that the printer is not set to print in grayscale or black and white only. Verify that the color options are selected if you want to print in color.
- Update printer drivers: Outdated printer drivers can cause compatibility issues and affect print quality. Visit the HP website and check if there are any available driver updates for your printer model. Download and install the latest drivers if necessary.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
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Alden4
HP Support
HP Support Community Moderator