Printer won't print because color cartridges depleted

[GaryB20100]

My printer will not print in Black/white even though there is plenty of ink, but the issue is that the color cartridges have been depleted. I often buy color cartridges though rarely use them. They seem to dry out but the black ink cartridge should still print. Why is this happening.

[zoey7886]

@GaryB20100, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your printer not printing in black and white! 

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

Since you mentioned that you rarely use the color cartridges, they may have dried out over time, which could be triggering the issue. A couple of things you can try:

Enable "Print in Black Only" or "Grayscale" Mode

Go to your Printer Settings on your computer.

Look for an option like "Print in grayscale" or "Black ink only" and select it.

Try printing a test page.

Check Your Printer’s Cartridge Requirements

Some HP printers require all cartridges to be in working condition, even if printing in black. If your printer falls into this category, you may need to replace the depleted color cartridge to continue printing.

Perform a Hard Reset

Turn off your printer, unplug it from the power source, and wait for about 60 seconds.

Plug it back in and turn it on to see if it resets the ink detection.

If you’re not sure whether your printer requires color ink to print in black, let me know the model number, and I’d be happy to check for you!

Hope this helps, and let me know how it goes! 😊  

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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Regards,