HP ENVY 5540 won't print in color

[CJ33]

Tried everything many times, and yes patiently... nothing seems to work. Unbelievable that HP are not acting. Is it only a small minority of us that it is effecting?? I guess I have to return printer. 

[EmmaKLW]

I have a work around which seems to be holding up. Delete all hp software/drivers and install using windows 10 “add a device” i.e using windows built in drivers. Instruction for doing this earlier in this chain. Our printer initially worked and colour and double sided printing was restored. It worked for a while then started showing offline and not responding. I added a tcp port taking it off wsd port and that cured it. To scan, I added the hp smart printing app. It prints pdfs and scans. If all fails you can use hp smart printing for printing but have to convert document to pdf first.

THE lack of HP support is shameful. This printer was bought May 2017. I expect support from HP. Shockingly arrogant and I will never buy HP again. Social media is a powerful weapon to spread this - so you think they would look after their customers.

[Lee514]

I read all the blogs and suggestions for fixing the fact that my printer wouldn't print in color all of a sudden.  I didn't want to spend a lot of time trying all the things that were suggested and in the end didn't work. So I got a customer support code. Just before I called I realized that I never checked to see if it would make color copies. It did. So then I decided after making a color copy to see if it would print in color from my computer and it did. The ability to print color returned. There must have been something in requesting it copy in color that turned something back on. I had checked just before copying that it still wasn't printing in color from my computer. So try this easy fix and see if it works on your printer

[Cmf54]

A HP Tech gav me these instructions and it worked. For how long I don't know, but it's only a day....

You can try reinstalling the printer driver on the compute.
Please follow the steps below to uninstall.
• In Windows, search for and open Programs and features
• Select your HP Printer
• Select Uninstall
• In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers
• In the Devices and Printers windows look for yourHP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose 'Delete' or'Remove Device'
• Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
• Typeprintui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”)

• Click on the "Drivers" tab
• Look for HP Printer driver. If you see itClick on it and click Remove at the bottom
• Select Ok
• Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows
• Close Devices and Printers and restart the PC

Now click on the link to download and install the printer driver: http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/COL61235/mp-147821-1/EN5540_Full_WebPack_1119.exe

[jtyyc]

 Thanks, David. I was as frustrated as all the others and ready to purchase another non-HP printer. This solved the issue immediately on all my computers. It took me a while to wade through all of the forum pages to find your solution though. If posssible, it should appear at the top of the list when I google the subject matter. Much appreciated. Cheers!

[jros]

Thank you, thank you so.....  much.  Three days i have wasted of my life trying to fix this - I thought it was me not due to an update.

I followed your instructions and I have colour again!

The only change I made was that I didn't have a printer driver 4200 so used the printer driver from my previous HP printer a 4620.

Thank you again!

[Almufasa]

HP Jet Advantage does the trick for me. Does feel like  a bit of a bodge job - would prefer HP to release a working driver.

Thanks for the tip Davetas.

[presting]

DavidSMP - Thanks for the dfetailed instructions. Nevertheless, as many users have reported here, the fix you describe is only temporary *at best*.  My own experience is that I can print only a few pages in color before my Envy 5540 reverts to plain B/W greyscale printing. I am wasting some expensive label stock.

Events like this are a black eye on the face of a respected USA technology leader. None of us HP users should be thinking about Canon, or Epson, or Brother ... (need I go on?)

This latest set of drivers was released in April. Since then there are many reports of defects by highly competent end users. But from HP we have only the generic "Clean up and re-install" service instructions. This is not an example of competent technology for consumers. These drivers are failing while in use, and need to be diagnosed while in use.

I was highly impressed by the technology in HP's "Instant Ink" program. An excellent example of remote interconnectivity in the consumer space. Now how about the device drivers sharing some of their error information using the same distriuted channels. We end users should not be arguing with HP support over the quality of the software. We should be able to upload a log file, or let HP dial into our printer to collect error data.

You can't sell ink for printers that don't print.

[presting]

Thanks to Makellos  for this positive suggestion. Could you let us know how to get a copy of this 5510 driver? I didn't see it on www.hp.com/drivers

[Cmf54]

Yes only worked for a few days for me. HP did help me and downloaded a driver for 5530 and it works and has been for a few weeks. I do think it’s ridiculous that that’s what had to be done. They couldn’t figure a fix