ink cartridge issue

[KC242]

My printer is not printing any color ink; I have a full cartridge, tested for dried ink, cleaned with coffee filter, uninstalled and reinstalled the ink cartridges, but nothing seems to be working to fix the issue.  I am using hp 61  ink cartridge for both black and color, but can only get the black will print.  This has happened with several different ink cartridges.  I am trying to avoid buying a new printer and have been troubleshooting this all day with no luck.  Any solutions? Thanks

[KC242]

Now I can't seem to get past the error page to attempt anything else. Ink Cart Problem: Tri-Color Cartridge Problem.

[zoey7886]

@KC242, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Ink Cartridge Issue: Printer Not Printing Color! 

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

If your HP printer is not printing color ink despite having a full cartridge and trying several troubleshooting steps, here are additional solutions you can try:

Verify Ink Cartridges:

• Ensure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges. Non-HP cartridges may not function correctly.
• Double-check the compatible cartridge numbers for your printer model. For HP 61, ensure it matches with your printer requirements.

Printhead Cleaning:

• From the printer control panel, follow these steps to clean the printhead:
  1. Load letter, A4, or legal unused plain white paper into the main input tray.
  2. Touch the right arrow on the control panel and then select Setup.
  3. Select Tools, then select Clean Printhead.

Align Printhead:

• Sometimes alignment issues can affect the color printing. Align the printhead:
  1. Load letter, A4, or legal unused plain white paper into the main input tray.
  2. On the printer control panel, touch the right arrow and select Setup.
  3. Touch Tools and select Align Printer.

Print Quality Diagnostic Report:

• Print a diagnostic report to evaluate the ink levels and print quality:
  1. Load regular, white, letter-size or A4 paper.
  2. On the product control panel, press Setup, select Print Report, select Print Quality, and press OK.
  3. Check the report for ink levels, color bars, text clarity, and alignment patterns.

Check Estimated Ink Levels:

• Ensure ink levels are sufficient:
  1. In the software program you are printing from, click File > Print > Setup, Properties, or Preferences.
  2. Check the estimated ink levels and replace any low or empty ink cartridges.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[KC242]

I cannot seem to do much of what you suggest because the Home Screen is stuck on the error page.  How do I get out of the error page to try to continue to resolve this issue such as cleaning the printhead, align printhead or print diagnostic report?  

[zoey7886]

@KC242, welcome back — thanks for the update, and I totally understand how frustrating this must be, especially after trying so many steps.

Since you're stuck on the error screen for the Tri-Color Cartridge Problem, your printer likely won’t let you access the menu until that issue is resolved. Here’s what you can try:

Remove & Reinsert the Tri-Color Cartridge:

With the printer on, gently open the cartridge access door.

Take out the tri-color cartridge, give the copper contacts a soft wipe with a lint-free cloth or coffee filter.

Let it dry for a few seconds, then firmly reinsert it until it snaps into place.

Power Reset:

While the printer is ON, unplug it from the power source.

Wait for 60 seconds — enough time to let it breathe.

Plug it back in and turn it on.

Try Swapping Cartridges (if available):

If you have another tri-color cartridge (even an old one), install it just to bypass the error and access the menu.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards,