Printer only printing in outline - help!

[K_i_w_i-82]

HP Desk jet 2800e series will only print in outline and not properly black. I've tried several different things including getting it back to factory settings but it just won't print properly. I'm at my wits end!! Any ideas? 

[Garp_senchau]

@K_i_w_i-82, 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

Check Black Ink Levels and Recognition

Use the HP Smart app or the printer’s control panel to confirm the black cartridge is recognized and shows ink.

If it shows as low or missing, reseat or replace it.

Clean the Cartridge Contacts and Vent

Power off the printer and remove the black cartridge.

Gently clean the gold contacts with a lint-free cloth.

Run the Printer’s Built-In Printhead Cleaning Cycle (2–3 Times)

In the HP Smart app > go to Printer Settings > Tools > Clean Printhead.

Or from the printer’s menu: Setup > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead.

Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page after each cycle.

Run it up to 3 times if needed, with 5–10 minutes between each.

Print with "Black Ink Only" Mode

Temporarily go into your print settings and force grayscale or black-only printing.

In Print > Preferences > Color, choose "Print in Grayscale" > "Black Ink Only".

Sometimes this forces the system to use only the black cartridge.

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.

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. 

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Regards,