HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 printer is not printing blue color. I re-ordered and cleaned printheads

[dawetzel]

My printer is not printing in blue color. My color cartridges are all full and new. I reordered them as well. I have cleaned all the printheads and aligned several times and have downloaded the latest software and drivers. Still no blue color. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Max3Aj]

@dawetzel, Welcome to the HP Support Community! 👋

Thanks for reaching out about your query! 

I know how frustrating it can be when your printer decides to go on a color strike, especially when everything seems to be in order. You're doing all the right things already — fresh cartridges, printhead cleaning, alignment, and updated drivers, so kudos for being so thorough! 🙌

Since your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is still not printing blue (cyan), here are a few extra steps you can try:

Run a Print Quality Diagnostic Report

This can help confirm if the issue is isolated to cyan or affecting other colors too:

• On the printer control panel, go to Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report.
• Check if the cyan blocks are missing or streaky.

Try a Power Reset

Sometimes a simple reset can work wonders:

• Turn the printer on, then unplug it (yes, while it's still on).
• Wait 60 seconds, plug it back in, and power it up.

Deep Clean the Printhead

You’ve already cleaned the printhead, but there’s a deeper level:

• On the printer screen, go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead.
• If needed, repeat the cleaning up to 2–3 times (but not more....overdoing it can waste ink).

Check Venting on the Cyan Cartridge

Make sure the plastic tab (vent) on the top of the cartridge is fully removed and not blocked. A clogged vent can prevent ink from flowing.

Reinstall the Printer

Sometimes a fresh install helps:

• Uninstall the printer from your PC.
• Download and reinstall the full-feature driver from the HP Software and Driver Downloads page.

If none of these steps bring back the blue, the printhead itself might be the culprit. In that case, please visit the nearest HP authorized service center, the service team will check and assist you. 

Kindly follow this link to locate the nearest HP service center: HP® Service Center Locator - United States | HP® Support

(Select the country from the dropdown menu and enter the city name or pincode) 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution. We hope our assistance has been helpful!

Take care, and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

Max3Aj