HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 – Color Printing Issues (Tried Everything!)

[CityGALL]

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out in hopes that someone here might have a solution I haven’t tried yet. My HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 All-in-One Printer is having serious issues printing in color. When I select "color" for printing, the output is inaccurate or distorted.

I've spent over 2 hours on the phone with HP Customer Service—six different times—and they still can’t identify the problem. The only resolutions they’ve offered are replacement ink or signing up for their HP printer program. No real fixes—just workarounds or sales pitches. What happened to actually trying to fix the issue?

Here’s everything I’ve already done:

• Aligned printheads
• Cleaned printheads (multiple times)
• Manually cleaned the printheads
• Replaced all ink cartridges
• Turned printer off and on (reset it)
• Checked for and installed printer updates
• Used the Print Quality Toolbox

You name it, I’ve tried it.

Has anyone else run into this problem with the 6968 or a similar model? If so, what worked for you? I’m ready to give up, but I don’t want to toss the printer—it still works great aside from the color printing issue. I just need it to print posters and other materials for my business.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @CityGALL 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

It sounds like you've been incredibly thorough in troubleshooting your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968, and I completely understand your frustration. 

Since you've already tried most of the standard fixes, let's explore some advanced troubleshooting steps that might help:

1. Check Windows 11 Printer Driver Compatibility

• Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 and select Printer Properties.
• Go to the Advanced tab and check the driver name.
• If it says IPP Class Driver, change it to HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 PCL-3 Driver.
• Apply changes and restart your computer.

 

2. Disable Color Calibration in Printer Settings

• Open HP Printer Assistant or HP Smart.
• Navigate to Printer Preferences > Advanced Settings.
• Look for Color Calibration and disable it.
• Try printing a test page.

 

3. Perform a Full Reset

• Turn off the printer.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall (not just the printer).
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord directly into a wall outlet (avoid power strips).
• Turn the printer back on and try printing.

4. Use HP Print and Scan Doctor

• Download HP Print and Scan Doctor from HP’s support page.
• Run the tool and follow the on-screen instructions.

I appreciate your patience, and I hope we can get this resolved.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[CityGALL]

Hi Hawks_Eye.

Sorry for the late reply. I followed your instructions exactly, but the problem’s still there. Now I’m stumped and honestly getting a bit frustrated again.

What’s worse is the print quality—it used to be just the color was horrible and smeared! BUT NOW the black and white even that’s coming out smeared.

I’ve got a feeling it’s something simple, but I just can’t figure it out. I really appreciate you taking the time to help—your instructions were super easy to follow.

[Hawks_Eye]

@CityGALL 

You're doing everything right, and I completely understand how frustrating this must be! Since both color and black ink are now smearing on your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968, let's go through a few additional troubleshooting steps:

Advanced Fixes for Smearing Print Quality

Run a Deep Printhead Cleaning

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup → Printer Maintenance → Clean Printhead.
• Run multiple cleaning cycles if needed.

Check for Ink Smears on the Back of Printouts

• Load plain white paper into the input tray.
• On the printer control panel, go to Setup → Printer Maintenance → Clean Page Smears.
• A test page will print—review it to see if the issue improves.

Verify Paper Type & Print Settings

• Ensure you're using high-quality, compatible paper.
• In Printer Preferences, set the print quality to Best and disable Fast Draft mode.

Reinstall the Printer Driver

• Uninstall the printer from Devices and Printers.
• Download and install the latest HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 drivers from HP’s support page.

You're handling this issue with great patience, and I have no doubt you'll get it resolved! Let me know how it goes—I'm here to help. 🚀

Regards,

Hawks_Eye