My HP Photosmart 4200 won't print colour

[Curlylad]

After not using my printer for some time I thought maybe the colour cartridge was defunct, installed a brand new one and regardless of settings or software (Photoshop, Chrome, Preview, Acrobat Pro) it will not print colour! What am I missing?

[sandytechy20]

@Curlylad

Welcome to the HP support community.

I understand that your printer is not printing in black, I am glad to assist you.

Did you make a copy and check if that prints fine?

Meanwhile:-

Run a Print Quality Diagnostic report

Use a Print Quality Diagnostic report to check if the printhead or ink cartridges need to be cleaned or if there is an alignment issue.

• Load plain white paper in the tray.
• Print the report.
• Printers with a touchscreen or menus: On the printer, open the Settings or Setup menu, touch Tools or Reports, and then touch Print Quality Report or similar.
• Printers without a touchscreen or menus: Go to 123.hp.com or your app store to install the HP Smart app. Click the picture of your printer on the home screen to open printer management options that include the report.
• Check for issues indicated on the report, and then follow the instructions provided to resolve the issue.

If that does not print fine, Run the automated printhead or ink cartridge cleaning tool

• Clean the printhead and cartridges to resolve print quality issues including incorrect colors, streaks, and faded prints.
• Load plain white paper in the tray.
• Run the cleaning tool.
• Printers with a touchscreen or menus: On the printer, open the Settings or Setup menu, touch Tools or Printer Maintenance, and then touch Clean Printhead or Clean Cartridges.
• Printers without a touchscreen or menus: Go to 123.hp.com or your app store to install the HP Smart app. Click the picture of your printer on the home screen to open printer management options that include the cleaning tool.
• If the page that prints has defects, the printhead might be badly clogged. Run up to two more cleaning cycles.

Refer to this HP document for further assistance:- Click here

Keep me posted.

If this helps, please mark the public post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.