How to clean clogged printheads

[jltc2124]

Just installed new ink cartridges and only the black is printing, no color. Other than a hard reset, how do you clean clogged ink heads?

[Sneha_01]

Hi @jltc2124,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If your printer is only printing in black and not in color, it’s likely that the printheads or nozzles for the color cartridges are clogged. Here’s a step-by-step guide to clean clogged printheads and resolve color printing issues:

**1. Use Printer’s Built-In Cleaning Function

A. Access Printer Maintenance:

• On your printer’s control panel, navigate to Setup or Maintenance.

B. Select Printhead Cleaning:

• Look for options like Clean Printheads, Printhead Cleaning, or Maintenance. This function will perform a cleaning cycle to clear clogged nozzles.

C. Follow Instructions:

• Follow the on-screen instructions and allow the printer to complete the cleaning process. It might take a few minutes.

D. Print a Test Page:

• After cleaning, print a test page or a nozzle check pattern to see if the color printing has improved.

**2. Manually Clean Printheads

A. Turn Off and Unplug Printer:

• For safety, turn off and unplug the printer before manually cleaning the printheads.

B. Remove Ink Cartridges:

• Open the printer’s ink cartridge access door and carefully remove all the ink cartridges.

C. Clean Printhead Area:

• Use a lint-free cloth or paper towel lightly dampened with distilled water or a printer cleaning solution to gently wipe the printhead area where the ink cartridges make contact.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support