My printer is saying that I am out of black ink. I just put a new one in and still can't print.

[LaNasa]

I have an HP Deskjet 2542- I have a couple of issues 1- the printer says my black ink is out, but it's new. 2- light is on that says I have a paper jam. I don't.  Has anyone else had these problems?

[Sneha_01]

Hi @LaNasa 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you’re dealing with two issues at once: your HP Deskjet 2542 is incorrectly detecting the black ink as empty, and it’s showing a paper jam error even though there isn’t one. These kinds of problems can be frustrating, but I’ll walk you through some troubleshooting steps to help resolve them.

Issue 1: Printer is saying black ink is out, but it's new

Here are a few things to check and try:

Check for Ink Cartridge Installation:

• Ensure the black ink cartridge is properly installed. Sometimes, the cartridge might not be seated correctly, even if it looks like it’s in.
• Remove the cartridge and reinsert it firmly until it clicks into place.

Verify Cartridge Compatibility:

• Double-check that the replacement cartridge is compatible with your printer model. If you used a third-party or non-HP cartridge, there might be compatibility issues.
• Make sure you removed any protective tape or plastic from the cartridge before installation.

Clean the Cartridge Contacts:

• The contacts on both the ink cartridge and inside the printer could be dirty, leading to detection issues.
• Gently clean the copper contacts on the ink cartridge and the printer with a soft cloth or cotton swab lightly dampened with water. Make sure everything is dry before reinserting the cartridge.

Perform a Printer Reset:

• Turn off the printer.
• Unplug it from the power source and wait for 30 seconds.
• Plug it back in and turn it on.
• This reset might help the printer recognize the new cartridge.

Check Ink Levels on Your Computer:

• On your computer, open the HP Printer Assistant or HP Smart app and check the ink levels.
• If the app shows that the black ink is full but the printer still displays the error, try updating the printer’s firmware to fix any known issues.

I hope this helps.

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