Printhead cleaning

[Ralph950]

Printer was working fine.  Needed to replace blue cartridge which I did as many times before.  Got messaged cartridge defective.  Bought new one and received same message.  Suspect problem with printhead.  Might clear if I do the printhead clean through software option first before manual cleaning or replacement.  Need instructions for getting the printer to clean itself before going further or replacing parts

[Raj_05]

Hi @Ralph950,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

Here are the steps to clean the printhead on an HP Officejet Pro 8610.

• Open the HP printer software: You can do this by either clicking on the printer icon on your desktop (if you have the software installed) or by accessing it through the Start menu or Applications folder.
• Access the Maintenance menu: Once the software is open, look for the maintenance or tools menu. The location of this menu might vary depending on the version of the software you have, but it's usually under a "Settings" or "Tools" tab.
• Select "Clean Printhead": Within the maintenance menu, you should find an option labeled "Clean Printhead" or something similar. Select this option to initiate the cleaning process.
• Follow on-screen instructions: The software will guide you through the cleaning process, which typically involves printing a test page before and after cleaning to assess the improvement. Follow the instructions provided by the software.
• Evaluate the results: After the cleaning process is complete, check to see if the issue has been resolved. If the error persists, you may need to perform the printhead cleaning process again or consider manual cleaning or replacement of the printhead.

If the software cleaning process doesn't resolve the issue, you can try manually cleaning the printhead. Here's how.

• Turn off the printer: Make sure the printer is turned off and unplugged from the power source to avoid any accidents.
• Access the printhead: Open the printer cover to access the printhead. The printhead is usually located near where the cartridges are installed.
• Remove the cartridges: Carefully remove all ink cartridges from the printhead.
• Clean the printhead: Using a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water or isopropyl alcohol, gently wipe the printhead to remove any dried ink or debris. Be careful not to touch the nozzles or contacts.
• Reinstall the cartridges: Once the printhead is clean and dry, reinstall the ink cartridges back into their respective slots.
• Turn on the printer: Plug in the printer and turn it on. Follow any on-screen instructions that may appear.
• Test the printer: Print a test page to see if the issue has been resolved. 

Remember, manual cleaning of the printhead should be done with caution, as mishandling can cause damage to the printer.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support