I have an HP Inkjet 8710 pro. Only want to use black ink or do I have to buy the color ink also

[R2JScott]

HP inkjet printer 8710 pro.  I only want to use black ink.  Now retired don't need color.  Printer states must refill empty containers.  I refilled the black ink.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @R2JScott,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

For the HP Inkjet 8710 Pro, as with many inkjet printers, even if you only want to print in black and white, the printer is designed to use a small amount of ink from all cartridges for maintenance tasks. This includes keeping the print heads clean and preventing them from drying out or clogging, which is essential for maintaining the printer's print quality and overall health.

When the printer detects that any of the color ink cartridges are empty, it typically won't print, even if you're only trying to print in black and white. This is because the printer relies on all cartridges being at least minimally filled to maintain its functionality.

Unfortunately, this means you will need to have all the color cartridges with some amount of ink in them to continue using the printer, even if you don't intend to print in color. This is a common frustration among users who predominantly print black and white documents.

There are some potential workarounds, but they come with caveats:

Printer Settings: Some HP printers have a setting that allows you to print in "Black Ink Only" or similar mode. This reduces the use of color ink, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely, and you might still need all cartridges to be recognized as present and not empty by the printer.

HP's Instant Ink Program: If your printer is eligible, HP offers an ink subscription service where they send you ink before you run out. While this doesn't solve the problem of needing color ink, it might be a more cost-effective solution if you find yourself needing to replace ink cartridges frequently.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571 

HP Support