I am out of color ink and want to use my full black ink cartridge only. I am using a Macbook Pro

[Brewer_Logan1]

I have a full black and C ink cartridge but out of M and Y. I want to print in black only but the printer will not allow this although I selected black and white printing from the printer setting menu. How do I utilize the black ink cartridge only? 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Brewer_Logan1,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

If you're trying to print using only the black ink cartridge while your HP printer is out of color ink, and the printer isn’t allowing you to do so, you can follow these steps to ensure that it prints in black-only mode:

Steps to Print Using Only Black Ink

Set Printer Preferences to Black & White or Grayscale

Open Print Dialog:

• On your MacBook Pro, open the document or image you want to print.
• Go to File > Print or use the keyboard shortcut Command + P.

Select Printer:

• Ensure that the correct HP printer is selected in the printer dropdown menu.

Open Printer Settings:

• Click on Show Details if you don't see advanced settings.

Choose Black & White or Grayscale:

• Look for a dropdown menu or setting that might be labeled Color Options, Print Settings, or something similar.
• Select Black & White or Grayscale to ensure that the printer only uses the black ink cartridge.

Disable Color Printing in Printer Preferences

System Preferences:

• Go to System Preferences on your MacBook Pro.
• Open Printers & Scanners.

Select Your Printer:

• Click on your HP printer from the list.

Options & Supplies:

• Click on Options & Supplies.
• Look for a tab or option related to Printer Settings or Driver.

Set to Black Only:

• If available, adjust settings to use only the black ink. This might be under a color options menu where you can set it to “Print in Black Only” or similar.

Check Printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS)

Access Printer EWS:

• Open a web browser and enter your printer’s IP address to access the Embedded Web Server (EWS). You can find the IP address on the printer’s display or via the printer settings on your computer.

Navigate to Printer Settings:

• In the EWS, look for settings related to Printing Preferences or Color Management.

Configure Color Settings:

• Set the printer to print in black and white or grayscale. Save the settings if required.

Use HP Smart App

Open HP Smart App:

• If you have the HP Smart app installed, open it on your MacBook Pro.

Select Your Printer:

• Choose your HP printer from the app’s dashboard.

Access Print Settings:

• Go to the Print option and select Preferences.

Set to Black & White:

• Ensure that Black & White or Grayscale is selected. This setting will instruct the printer to use only the black ink cartridge.

Check for Errors or Status

Printer Display:

• Check the printer’s display for any warnings or errors related to the missing color cartridges. Some printers might have a “No Color Ink” error that prevents printing until all cartridges are installed.

Firmware and Drivers:

• Ensure your printer’s firmware and drivers are up to date, as sometimes updates can address issues with printing modes.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support