Printer will only print blank pages

[DaveD203]

My printer will only manage to spit out blank pages, regardless of color/black, content of the page, printed from a file, printed from the HP Smart tool, or printed from the panel of diagnostic printer options on the printer itself.

I have updated the firmware, verified it is up to date with the HP Smart application, uninstalled and reinstalled my ink cartridges, verified the cartridges are not empty (through the HP Smart application), and run three cycles of the automated print head cleaning (both the initial and the second phases each time). None of these things has made any difference: every sheet ends up blank. 

And of course a bit of salt in the wounds, this website won't recognize the serial number citing a temporary error, so I cannot give more details directly to support staff regarding the specifics of my device.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @DaveD203,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If your printer is producing blank pages despite having ink cartridges installed and performing multiple cleaning cycles, it suggests a deeper issue that may not be resolved by basic troubleshooting steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you diagnose and address the problem:

**1. Check for Physical Blockages

• Ink Cartridge: Ensure that the ink cartridges are properly installed and that the protective tape (if any) has been removed.
• Printer Nozzles: Check the printhead and ink nozzles for any blockages or dried ink. Gently clean them with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.

**2. Perform a Manual Printhead Cleaning

• Manual Cleaning: If the automated cleaning doesn’t work, manually clean the printhead.
  • Remove Cartridges: Take out the ink cartridges.
  • Clean Printhead: Use a soft cloth or cotton swab moistened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the printhead and the area where the cartridges make contact.

**3. Check Ink Levels and Cartridges

• Verify Ink Levels: Confirm ink levels through the HP Smart application or the printer’s control panel. Even if the application shows the cartridges are not empty, it’s worth checking the physical cartridges for any issues.
• Replace Cartridges: If the cartridges are old or suspected to be faulty, consider replacing them with new, genuine HP cartridges.

**4. Run Printer Diagnostics

• Diagnostic Tools: Use the printer’s built-in diagnostic tools or HP Smart application to perform additional diagnostics and tests.
  • Print a Test Page: Try printing a test page directly from the printer’s control panel to see if it produces any output.

**5. Check Printer Settings

• Paper Type and Quality: Ensure the printer settings are configured correctly for the type of paper you are using.
• Print Quality Settings: Check if the print quality settings are set to normal or high. Sometimes settings may be set to draft mode, affecting print quality.

**6. Check for Firmware and Software Issues

• Update Firmware: Verify that the printer firmware is up-to-date. You mentioned updating it already, but double-check for any new updates.
• HP Smart Software: Ensure that the HP Smart application is updated to the latest version.

**7. Perform a Printer Reset

• Factory Reset: As a last resort, perform a factory reset on your printer. This will revert the printer to its original settings.
  • Factory Reset: Follow the instructions in the printer’s manual to perform a factory reset. Be aware that this will erase any custom settings.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[DaveD203]

Suggestions 4 through 6 were all completed prior to making my initial post.

Regarding suggestions 1 through 3, I did not know the internal layout and specifications of the printer (or cartridges) to be know what to look for regardless of having the necessary items to conduct suggestion 2.2 (manual cleaning).

Considering what I had done previously, it seemed highly unlikely that a software issue was to blame, so I avoided suggestion 7.

Unfortunately, my need for a printer was too time sensitive for the response given. Further, my presumption was that there was a clog or other such obstruction to the print head which would not be solved by even simply replacing the cartridges. Instead, I had to go out and purchase a new product, so I'm down $34.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @DaveD203 

I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571 

HP Support

[DaveD203]

Frankly, if there was a public facing and readily available phone number for customer support, I would have used that. Actually, I actively searched for that prior to setting up an account to post on this slapdash version of a mostly self-help support system. Instead, I was given a vague attempt at trouble shooting that is woefully disregarding the furnished and available information about the product I was using and then asked in a private message to go through the intentionally process to get a phone number for the technical support line. As things stand I was given insufficient support and through a method that was insufficiently slow and because of that I have wasted more money to resolve my issue by bypassing it with a new purchase.