HP Smart Tank 500 – Black Ink Not Printing Again (Repeated Issue)

[Kaushik95]

Hello Everyone,

I am facing a repeated issue with my HP Smart Tank 500 printer (Serial No:Edited).

In July 2025, I booked a technician because black ink was not printing, while colour ink was working fine. The technician replaced both cartridges and charged ₹3500, even though the issue was only with black ink.

After replacement, the printer worked properly for only 20 days. Then again, black ink stopped printing. I contacted customer care and raised an online complaint. In November, a technician visited and replaced the black cartridge.

Now again, since yesterday, the same problem has occurred — black ink is not printing, but colour ink works perfectly.

I have already spent a significant amount and faced repeated inconvenience. This seems like either a defective black printhead/cartridge issue or some internal printer problem.

Can someone please guide:

• Why does the black ink stop repeatedly?

• Is this a printhead issue or ink supply system issue?

• What permanent solution is available?

• Should this be escalated for replacement?

Looking forward to support from HP experts.

Thank you.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @Kaushik95,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

I am sorry to hear that you have repeated issues with the black ink not printing on your HP Smart Tank 500 can be frustrating. Below are steps to help diagnose and potentially resolve the problem:

Check Ink Levels and Fill Tanks:

• Low ink levels can affect print quality. Ensure all ink tanks, especially the black one, are filled to the appropriate level.
• Use genuine HP ink for optimal performance.

Check the Paper and Print Settings:

• Use the correct type of paper (such as HP Advanced Photo Paper for photos), and ensure it is loaded correctly in the printer tray.
• Check that your printer settings match your print job (e.g., paper size, type, and print quality).

Clean the Printhead:

• Open the HP Smart app, navigate to Tools, and select Print Quality Tools.
• Choose "Clean Printhead" or "Clean" to initiate the process. This will remove any blockages from the nozzles.

Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page:

• Press and hold the corresponding buttons on the printer's control panel to print a diagnostic page.
• Review the test patterns for any defects and follow subsequent instructions based on the results.

Replace the Printhead:

• If the problem persists, you may need to replace the printhead. Ensure to follow the correct procedure for removing and installing printheads.

Refer the link: https://support.hp.com/au-en/document/ish_9344132-9344177-16 

Hope this helps, Please revert if the issue persists.

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

Pallipurath.