Printer does not print PDFs clearly

[preetgillpreet]

Hi

I have tried printing from my phone and the page quality is very poor. 

Image is the wrong colours and the text is hollow, just an outline. 

I have downloaded a Printable and the prints good!

I have tried from my phone and on my laptop. 

any help please?

[Garp_senchau]

@preetgillpreet, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like the issue might be related to how the print job is being processed from your phone and laptop. 

Since the Printable came out fine, the printer itself seems to be working correctly. Try checking the print settings on your phone and laptop to make sure the correct paper type and quality settings are selected. 

Run HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows only):

• Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix common printing issues.

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

• Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.

Also, I suggest you refer to this guide for further troubleshooting steps: HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues ...

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Regards,

[preetgillpreet]

I have tried this. 

Aligned and cleaned, test printed multiple pages. 

It seems the black is not printing at all. On the test page the black / dark grey/ light grey box has no black section.

the ABC along the top of the test page is a light outline and not fill colour. 

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @preetgillpreet,

Thank you for your response.

1. Check Ink Levels

Even if the cartridge looks okay, the printer might report it as empty or malfunctioning. Go into the printer settings and check the ink levels.

2. Try a Deep Cleaning or Head Cleaning

Most printers have a deeper cleaning option in their maintenance menu. Run that a couple of times and then print a nozzle check/test page again.

3. Check the Nozzle Test Pattern.

If the nozzle check page has no black at all but the colors show up, it's likely a clog or a failing cartridge/head.

Some printers show the pattern — lines or blocks for each color — which helps you tell which colors are working properly.

4. Try a Different Cartridge

If you’ve recently replaced the cartridge or it's been refilled, it may be defective. Try swapping it with a new or known-good black cartridge.

5. Print in Grayscale/Black Only Mode

Sometimes this forces the printer to use the black ink directly rather than composite black made from color inks (or vice versa). Try printing a page in “Black and White” or “Grayscale” from your printer settings to see if anything comes out.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Regards,