Stopped color printing even with all new HP ink cartridges installed

[Deacon08072021]

My HP Officejet 6962 all of a sudden stopped printing colors.  It started with blue and now the others are stopping too.  Black still prints fine.  I've tried all the solutions posted on Google but nothing works.  I used a little rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip and got some partial color, but it did not last.  Is there a fix?  The printer is fine otherwise.  I'd hate to think such a simple problem causes me to trash my printer and buy a new one.  The HP ink cost is outrageous, yet it seems to be the cause of the problem.

[zoey7886]

@Deacon08072021, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your HP Officejet 6962 that does not print colours! 

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

I hear you—it’s super frustrating when a printer suddenly stops printing colors, especially after replacing the cartridges. Let’s go through a few steps to get things working again.

Check the Vent on the Cartridges – Sometimes, the vents on the ink cartridges can get clogged. Remove the cartridges and look for any tape or dried ink covering the vent. If you see any blockage, gently clean it with a lint-free cloth.

Run the Printhead Cleaning Cycle – Since you noticed some improvement after using rubbing alcohol, it sounds like the printhead might be clogged. Try running the built-in "Printhead Cleaning" function a couple of times through the printer’s settings. You can usually find this under Settings > Printer Maintenance.

Manually Clean the Printhead – If the automated cleaning doesn’t help, you might need to clean the printhead manually. HP has a guide on this, but the general idea is:

Remove the printhead if it’s removable.

Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled or filtered water and gently wipe the nozzles.

Let it dry for a few minutes before reinstalling.

Check for Firmware Updates – Sometimes, a simple firmware update can resolve strange printing issues. You can check for updates via HP Smart App or on the HP support website by searching for your printer model.

Use Genuine HP Ink – I know HP ink can be pricey, but non-HP or refilled cartridges sometimes cause issues with print quality and ink flow. If you're using genuine HP cartridges, you might want to check if they’re defective (HP has a warranty on cartridges too).

If none of this works, let me know if you see any error messages or if certain colors print faintly—we’ll figure this out together!

Hope this helps! 😊  

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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Regards,