How to print in black on HP Officejet Pro 8600 with the color cartridges removed?

[RobinMCPrinter]

How do I print in black on an HP Officejet Pro 8600 with the color cartridges removed?

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @RobinMCPrinter,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you are trying to print in black on your HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus when the color cartridges are removed, you may need to adjust the printer settings to use Black Ink Only and bypass the color cartridge requirement. Here's how you can try to resolve the issue:

Method 1: Use "Black Ink Only" Mode (if available)

Open the Printer Settings:

• On the printer's control panel, go to the Setup or Settings menu.
• Navigate to Printer Maintenance or Preferences.

Select Print Settings:

• Look for an option like "Ink Usage" or "Print in Black Only".
• If you find an option like "Black Ink Only" or "Grayscale", select it.

Apply the Settings:

• Save your settings and try printing again. Your printer should now print using only the black ink cartridge.

Method 2: Override the Color Cartridge Error (Using Printer Software)

Install the Latest Printer Software:

• Make sure you have the latest HP drivers and software installed on your computer. This can be done by visiting the HP Support page for your printer.

Access Printer Settings on Your Computer:

• Open the Control Panel on your computer and go to Devices and Printers.
• Right-click on your HP Officejet Pro 8600 printer and select Printing Preferences.

Change Print Settings:

• In the Printing Preferences window, look for a setting under the Paper/Quality or Advanced tab that allows you to choose Grayscale or Black and White printing.
• If available, select the option to print using only black ink or Grayscale.

Method 3: Firmware Update or Service Mode (if necessary) Update the firmware on an HP printer

If the above methods do not work, it's possible that the printer's firmware is restricting the use of black ink alone due to the missing color cartridges. In this case, you can try updating the printer's firmware or use a service mode trick:

Update the Firmware:

• Visit the HP support website, enter your printer model, and download any available firmware updates. Sometimes, newer firmware versions provide more flexibility with cartridge usage.

Service Mode Workaround:

• If all else fails, there are specific workarounds that involve resetting the printer to bypass the error. However, these are more advanced steps, and I recommend contacting HP support if you want to explore this further.

Refer to this document: HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus e-All-in-One Printer series - N911 User manual

How to fix some files print in black only on a color printer when using the HP Universal Print Drive...
Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems with HP Inkjet Printers
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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