HP 8600 started printing magenta only

[bunkazoo]

my 8600 started printing a color document fine, then after a couple pages, only magenta printed  for a couple pages, then printed magenta very faint very faint.

[Max3Aj]

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

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

If your HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus suddenly started printing only magenta, and then very faint magenta, it’s likely a printhead or ink delivery issue. Let’s walk through the steps to diagnose and resolve this:

Check Ink Levels

• On the printer’s control panel, go to: Home > Ink Icon
  Ensure all cartridges (especially cyan, yellow, and black) have sufficient ink.

If any cartridge is low or empty, replace it with a genuine HP cartridge.

Clean the Printhead

• From the printer’s control panel: Setup > Tools > Clean Printhead
• Run the cleaning cycle up to 3 times if needed.

This helps unclog nozzles that may be blocked, especially if non-magenta colors aren’t printing.

Print a Diagnostic Page

• Go to: Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report
• Check if all colors appear correctly. If some are missing or streaked, it confirms a printhead issue.

Reseat Ink Cartridges

• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove and reinsert each cartridge firmly.
• Ensure they click into place and are not expired or leaking.

Update Firmware

• Visit the HP support page: Official HP® Support
• Download and install the latest firmware for your printer.

Replace the Printhead (if needed)

If cleaning doesn’t help and colors still don’t print, the printhead may be failing. 
 

Additional Tips

• Always use genuine HP ink cartridges. HP anti-counterfeit | HP® Official Site
• Avoid leaving the printer unused for long periods to prevent ink drying.
• If using refilled or third-party cartridges, they may cause clogging or damage.

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