my hp 8020 series not printing newly installed black ink cartridge

[lflynn247]

I am having a hard time with my printer printing black ink, i just installed new cartridges (same ones i ordered from last time) and the colored cartridges work however the black ink cartridge does not work, any suggestions? I've tried taking it out and re-installing it however that is not fixing the issue 

[Garp_senchau]

@lflynn247, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Check Ink Cartridge and Installation

• Ensure the Black Ink Cartridge is Installed Correctly: Remove the black cartridge again and make sure it is inserted correctly. Double-check that it clicks into place properly.
• Check for Protective Tape: When you install a new cartridge, there's usually a plastic protective tape or cover over the nozzle. Ensure you've removed all the tape or plastic from the cartridge.
• Inspect the Cartridge for Damage: Sometimes, new cartridges can be defective. Check to see if the ink cartridge has any damage or visible blockages that could affect its performance.

Check the Printer's Ink Levels

• Open your Printer Utility on your Mac and check the ink levels to make sure that the black ink isn't showing as empty, even though it's new.
• Go to System Preferences > Print & Fax (or Printers & Scanners in later macOS versions) and select your printer. Then click on Options & Supplies, and see if there's an option to view ink levels.

Perform Printer Clean/Head Cleaning

• Printer Head Cleaning: Most printers offer a built-in function to clean the print heads. This can sometimes resolve issues where the black ink isn’t printing. Refer to your printer's manual or the printer software for head cleaning instructions.
• To access this feature on Mac:
  • Go to System Preferences > Print & Fax or Printers & Scanners.
  • Select your printer and open Options & Supplies.
  • In the Utility tab, look for options like "Clean Print Heads" or similar.

[Garp_senchau]

Check for Clogged Printhead Nozzles

• If your printer is using a combined printhead (for inkjet printers), it's possible that the printhead nozzles are clogged, especially if the printer hasn't been used in a while.
• You may need to run multiple cleaning cycles. Some printers even have a "Deep Cleaning" option if the regular cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue.

Check Printer Settings

• Sometimes, the issue could be a result of software settings. Make sure that Black & White printing is selected (as opposed to color printing) in your print settings.
• Go to File > Print, and check the Print Settings or Color Options tab. Ensure that it's set to print in black and white or grayscale.

Update or Reinstall Printer Driver

• It's possible that outdated or corrupted printer drivers are causing issues with the black ink. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
• You can also reinstall the printer driver by following these steps:
  • Go to System Preferences > Print & Fax.
  • Select the printer and click the minus (-) button to remove it.
  • Restart your Mac and then add the printer again by clicking the plus (+) button and selecting it.

Try Printing in Grayscale

• In some cases, printing in color may bypass the black ink setting. Try setting your printer to print in grayscale or black and white.
• Go to File > Print, then select Grayscale Printing or Black & White from the Print Settings or Color Options menu.

Reset Printing System

• If all else fails, try resetting your printer system entirely:
  • Go to System Preferences > Print & Fax.
  • Right-click (or Control-click) in the printer list and select Reset Printing System.
  • This will remove all printers from your system and reset the printing subsystem, allowing you to set everything up from scratch again. You’ll need to re-add your printer afterward.

Test the Printer with a Different Computer

• If possible, try connecting the printer to a different computer (or even a different operating system) and check whether it prints in black ink. This will help determine if the issue is with the printer hardware or the connection to your Mac.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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