Printing only text format, otherwise blank pages

[Terry857]

My printer is printing blank pages. I’ve verified that the cartridges are at least half full and are not clogged. It will print test and alignment page (maybe more dull than it should be).  I unplugged it for several minutes,  then it would print, but only printed pnce. Then back to blank. Any other ideas?  

Update: it appears it only prints pages with regular formatting, like a letter. It won’t print a page with boxes or lines. Any help would be appreciated. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Terry857 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for sharing the details so clearly and for already trying a few steps on your own—it really helps narrow things down. I can imagine how frustrating it must feel to see blank pages when you expect crisp output, especially after confirming the cartridges are fine and even getting a test page to print. 

Let’s walk through a few deeper checks together to bring back that consistent, full-page printing experience:

Run Diagnose & Fix from the HP App

• Open the HP App on your Windows computer.
• Select your LaserJet 209dw printer.
• Go to “Printer Settings” and choose “Diagnose & Fix.”
• Allow the tool to scan and automatically correct issues with drivers, connectivity, or print settings.

Check Print Driver Settings

• On your Windows PC, open “Printers & Scanners.”
• Select your LaserJet 209dw and click “Manage.”
• Under “Printing Preferences,” ensure the print mode is set to “Normal” or “Best.”
• Verify that “Print as Image” is not enabled, as this can sometimes cause blank outputs for certain formats.

Test with Different File Types

• Try printing a simple Word document with text and shapes.
• Then test a PDF file with boxes or lines.
• If one format prints correctly while another does not, it points to a driver or application-specific issue.

Update Printer Firmware and Drivers

• In the HP App, check for firmware updates for your printer.
• On your Windows PC, update the printer driver through “Device Manager” or by reinstalling it via “Printers & Scanners.”

Reset the Printer

• Power off the printer, unplug it from the wall, and wait at least 60 seconds.
• Plug it back in and power on.
• This clears any temporary memory glitches that may cause inconsistent printing.

Try Printing a Diagnostic Page Directly from the Printer

• On the printer’s control panel, navigate to “Reports” or “Diagnostics.”
• Print a configuration or demo page.
• If this prints correctly with both text and graphics, the issue is likely software/driver related rather than hardware.

You’ve already shown great patience by testing cartridges and unplugging the printer. With these steps, we’re focusing on the software and driver side, which often explains why text prints fine but shapes or boxes don’t appear.

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! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Terry857]

Thanks for the reply and info.  

However, I have a Chromebook, no Windows.  I print from it and from my cellphone. The cellphone has my HP app.  Do you have tips for that situation? 

Also, I have a DeskJet 2700.  Not sure if it matters with your tips. 

i apologize for the confusion. 

[Hawks_Eye]

You are welcome @Terry857 

Thank you for clarifying—you’re using a Chromebook and a DeskJet 2700, with the HP App on your phone. That helps narrow things down quite a bit. 

Since your printer handles text but struggles with shapes, boxes, or lines, the issue is likely tied to how the print job is being processed by the driver or app rather than the hardware itself. 

Let’s focus on steps that apply to your setup:

 

Check Print Settings Before Sending to Printer

• When you select “Print” from Chrome or another app, expand the print dialog.
• Make sure “Background graphics” or “Print images” options are enabled if available.
• Try switching between “Standard” and “High quality” modes.

Print as PDF First

• Save the document as a PDF on your Chromebook.
• Open the PDF in Chrome and print from there. This often bypasses formatting issues.

 

Steps to Try with HP App on Phone

Run Diagnose & Fix

• Open the HP App on your phone.
• Select your DeskJet 2700.
• Go to “Printer Settings” → “Diagnose & Fix.”
  This will check for driver, connectivity, or formatting issues.

Test Different File Types

• Print a Word or Google Docs file with both text and shapes.
• Then print a PDF with boxes or lines.
• If one works and the other doesn’t, it confirms the issue is format-specific.

 

Printer-Side Checks

Print a Demo Page

• On the DeskJet 2700 control panel, navigate to “Reports” or “Diagnostics.”
• Print a demo/configuration page.
  If this shows both text and graphics, the printer hardware is fine.

Firmware Update

• In the HP App, check for firmware updates for your DeskJet 2700.
• Updating can resolve compatibility issues with Chromebooks and mobile devices.

Power Reset

• Turn off the printer, unplug it for 60 seconds, then plug it back in.
• This clears temporary memory glitches.

Since you’ve already confirmed the cartridges are fine and the printer can produce test pages, the most likely culprit is how the print job is being sent from Chromebook or phone. Testing with PDFs and running Diagnose & Fix should give you a clearer picture.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[Terry857]

Thanks again for the assist. However, it’s looking like I need a new printer. I tried all of these options that I could, still no success. The only thing I couldn’t do is the diagnose and fix. My app gives the diagnostics option, but only print quality repprt, align, and clean printheads. I’ve done those. It doesn’t give the fix option. 

I also tried just copying a document, with no success. 
Don’t know if that helps. 

Thanks again,

Terry

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for replying.

I understand your frustration—when you’ve already tried the key steps and the printer still won’t handle anything beyond plain text, it does point toward a deeper compatibility or processing issue rather than a simple setting. 

Since your DeskJet 2700 prints demo/configuration pages correctly, the hardware is fine; the problem lies in how jobs are being sent from Chromebook or the HP app.

Here are a few last angles worth checking before you decide on replacing the printer:

 

Chromebook-Specific Steps

• Use HP Print for Chrome extension: This extension can sometimes handle formatting better than the built-in Chrome print dialog.
• Try Google Cloud Print alternatives: Since Cloud Print is discontinued, ensure you’re using native Chromebook printing (CUPS). Re‑adding the printer through Chromebook settings may refresh the driver path.

 

HP Smart App Limitations

• On entry-level printers like the DeskJet 2700, the HP Smart app often only shows “Print Quality Report, Align, Clean Printheads.” The full “Diagnose & Fix” option is available only on certain models. That explains why you didn’t see it—it’s not missing, it’s just not supported for your printer.

 

File Conversion Workaround

• If shapes/graphics vanish when printing directly, try converting documents to PDF first, then print the PDF. This often bypasses formatting issues.
• Alternatively, export the file as an image (PNG/JPEG) and print that—though not ideal, it can confirm whether the printer is capable of rendering graphics from your devices.

 

Firmware & App Updates

• Double-check in the HP Smart app for firmware updates. Even small updates can improve Chromebook/mobile compatibility.
• Make sure the HP Smart app itself is updated to the latest version on your phone.

 

When Replacement Makes Sense

If you’ve exhausted these steps and still face blank pages for anything beyond text, then yes—upgrading to a newer model may be the practical solution. Printers like the HP DeskJet Plus or HP Envy series tend to have better Chromebook and mobile support, with full Diagnose & Fix features built into the app.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[codex174]

This sounds like your printer is struggling with vector elements like boxes, borders and lines while still handling basic text rendering fine, which points to a likely graphics rendering or driver issue rather than an ink problem. Try printing your document as an image by going to Print settings and enabling "Print as Image" option, this forces the printer to rasterize everything including boxes and lines the same way it handles plain text. Also worth checking if switching your document fonts to simpler standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and removing any text boxes or borders helps isolate whether the issue is specifically with graphical elements versus pure text content.

[masonbrooks074]

Try printing as a PDF first and see if the boxes and lines show up correctly, sometimes the issue is how the application sends graphic elements to the printer driver rather than the printer itself having a problem.

[Terry857]

I appreciate the suggestions. However, I gave up and purchased a new printer.