Printer Won't Allow Color Output to be Turned On

[Minx25]

I have an Envy 4500 printer. I cannot print in color. It will not allow me to turn color printing on in the color output in the HP Smart App. I have removed the printer and re-added it using the IP address. I have made sure all setting are changed so that I can print in color. I have cleaned my printer and made sure I put new cartridges in. I am at my wits end and cannot figure out what the problem is. PLEASE HELP.

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @Minx25,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP Envy 4500 won’t allow color printing in the HP Smart app, even though cartridges are new, cleaned, and all settings seem correct. Let’s go through steps to fix this.

Check cartridge installation
Make sure the color cartridge is properly seated.
Even new cartridges can fail to make full contact if not clicked in correctly.

Run printhead cleaning and alignment
From the printer control panel or HP Smart, run clean printheads and align cartridges.
This ensures the printer recognizes the color cartridge properly.

Verify printer settings in HP Smart
Open HP Smart → Print Settings → Color Options.
If “Color” is greyed out, select Application Color Settings or Reset to default settings.

Check driver installation
Even if HP Smart is installed, sometimes the printer driver is missing or corrupted.

Go to HP Support → Download full-feature driver for Envy 4500.

Install the driver on your PC/Mac, then check if color printing is available.

Reset the printer
Perform a factory reset:
Settings → Printer Maintenance → Restore Factory Defaults.
Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi and check HP Smart again.

Update firmware
Using HP Smart or HP Support Assistant, check if a firmware update is available.
Outdated firmware can prevent the printer from recognizing color cartridges.

Test printing directly from another device
Try printing a color document from a different PC, phone, or tablet.
If it works elsewhere, the issue may be specific to your device or HP Smart app installation.

Check for blocked cartridges or low ink detection
Some HP printers disable color printing if the color cartridge is low, counterfeit, or incorrectly recognized.
Replace with a known original HP cartridge if possible.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,