Printer color not working despite new cartridges

[1mixedmediagirl]

I just replaced some color cartridges and my printer is not printing the colors correctly. It's all in yellow and white. I've tried turning printer off and restarting with no luck. So frustrating.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @1mixedmediagirl 

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 a color printing issue despite having replaced the cartridges in your printer. The fact that you're only seeing yellow and white could indicate a few potential issues with your printer or cartridges. Here are several troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem:

1. Check the Cartridges

• Confirm the cartridges are installed correctly: Ensure the new color cartridges are securely installed in the printer. Double-check the positions and make sure they clicked into place.
• Verify the cartridge labels: Sometimes, new cartridges might be damaged during shipping or handling. Ensure the correct color cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow) are installed in the correct slots. If there is any visible damage to the cartridge, it may need to be replaced again.

2. Clean the Printhead

• Sometimes, clogged printheads can result in color printing issues. Try cleaning the printhead to clear any potential blockages.
• How to clean the printhead:
  1. Most HP printers have a built-in cleaning function. You can usually find this option under the printer’s menu on the display or through the HP Smart App.
  2. In the app or printer settings, go to Tools > Clean Printhead (or something similar), and let the printer clean the printhead.
  3. After cleaning, try printing a test page to see if the colors are restored.

If you're printing a lot of pages and have used your printer for a while, the printheads may require more thorough cleaning, which you can also do manually using a cleaning solution if necessary.

3. Print a Test Page

• You can print a test page to see if all colors are being recognized and printed properly:
  1. On the printer’s control panel, look for a Print Quality Report or Self-Test Report under the Settings or Tools menu.
  2. If colors are missing or incorrect on the report, it could indicate a problem with the printhead or the cartridges themselves.

4. Check for Color Settings in the Printer Software

• Ensure the color settings in your printer software are correct. Sometimes, if the printer is set to print in grayscale or black-and-white, it will ignore the color cartridges.
• How to check:
  1. Open the Printer Properties or Printer Settings on your computer.
  2. Go to the Print Setup or Advanced Settings.
  3. Ensure the option for Color Printing is selected and not set to Grayscale or Black & White.

5. Update Printer Firmware

• Outdated firmware could also cause printing issues, including color problems.
• To check for a firmware update, visit HP’s support page and enter your printer model to see if any updates are available. Alternatively, you can use the HP Smart App to check for updates directly from your phone or computer.

I hope this helps.

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