Not printing black, color is faded. with brand new ink cartridges.

[kj81201]

Put in new black and color cartridges. Does not print black at all, color is extremely faded. Have done the print head cleaning. 

[Max3Aj]

Hi @kj81201, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
If your HP DeskJet 2652 isn't printing black and the color is extremely faded despite new cartridges and printhead cleaning, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Verify Cartridges and Installation

• Ensure you’re using genuine HP 65 or 65XL (in USA) cartridges.
• Check if the protective tape on the cartridge nozzles was removed.
• Remove and reseat the cartridges to ensure proper connection.

Perform Additional Printhead Cleaning

• Since you already performed one cleaning, try running a second or third cleaning via the HP Printer Assistant or HP Smart App.
• Print a Print Quality Report to see if black is completely missing.

Check Ink Levels

• Even though the cartridges are new, check ink levels through the printer software or by printing a self-test page.
• If levels appear low, there might be a cartridge issue.

Align the Printhead

• Open HP Printer Assistant > Maintain Your Printer > Align Printhead and follow the steps.

Manually Clean the Printhead

If automatic cleaning doesn’t work:

1. Remove the black cartridge.
2. Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to gently wipe the gold contacts and nozzle area.
3. Let it dry for a few minutes before reinserting.

Perform a Hard Reset

• With the printer on, unplug the power cable from both the wall socket and printer.
• Wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.

Try a Different Black Cartridge

If black is still missing, your cartridge could be defective. Try replacing it with another new HP cartridge.

Check for Firmware Updates

• Go to HP Support > Search for your printer model > Download & Install any available firmware updates.

You may also refer to this document - HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues ...

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support