HP Deskjet all in one 6960 won't print black

[cscot]

Printer won't print black even though we have done the printer clean 3 stage program 3 times.

[Max3Aj]

@cscot, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
If your HP OfficeJet 6962 All-in-One Printer is not printing black despite running the 3-stage printhead cleaning cycle, here are the most effective troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

Check Ink Levels

On the printer's touchscreen:

• Home > Ink icon (or Estimated Ink Levels)
• Ensure the black cartridge is not empty or low. Even a "not empty" cartridge can be faulty.

Use Genuine HP Cartridges

• Third-party or refilled cartridges may cause ink flow issues.
• Replace the black cartridge with a genuine HP 902 (or 902XL) cartridge to test.

Manually Clean the Printhead

If cleaning through the printer menu hasn't worked, try manual cleaning:

1. Power off the printer and unplug it.
2. Remove the black cartridge.
3. Take a lint-free cloth, lightly dampened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol.
4. Gently wipe the copper contacts on both: 
   the cartridge
   and the carriage inside the printer.
5. Let everything dry for a few minutes.
6. Reinsert the cartridge, plug in the printer, and turn it on.
7. Run the cleaning cycle again and try a test print.

Check for Clogged Nozzles (Advanced Test)

Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page:

• Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report

If the black areas are missing or streaky, and cleaning doesn’t fix it, the printhead might be clogged or failing.

You may refer to this document - HP OfficeJet 6900, 8010, 8020, 8030 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issue...
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support