red not printing but enough ink!

cybermo · ‎03-31-2025

caring for my hp deskjet 2723 is a hard job! I

now new problem: yesterday, the red lines were not printed out, but the cartidge shows it s half full.

today: black (new cartrigde!!) is rather a light grey and the hyperlink, in a light violet I think, is not to be seen at all.

And problem a few days ago: Ichanged the internet provider (same signal, same features) and it then took me several hours for a few days to reconnect my printer. many unnecessary pages printed out! I installed, desinstalled, reinstalled the printer, and followed all the instructions. Finally it restarted working by chance!! and now the problem with the print quality. Furthermore, in general, ink never lasts long. I want to change the printer for a more reliable. It s only for home use and mainly for scanning. I cannot understand why ink is so overprized! I use the original HP 305, but I see that the same overprizing goes for other brands. Did not dare to try a substitute.

Garp_senchau · ‎04-01-2025

@cybermo, 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

I understand your frustration with your HP DeskJet! Let's try to resolve these issues step by step:

First, even though your ink cartridges show as half full, they might not be printing properly due to clogged nozzles or air bubbles. You can clean the printhead and cartridge contacts gently with a lint-free cloth or cotton swab to ensure everything is connected well.

After that, try removing and reinserting the cartridges to reset them.

You can also use the built-in printer troubleshooter in Windows to check for any issues. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot, then select Printer. This might help identify and fix the problem automatically.

Also, you can use the HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows) for troubleshooting.

If the problem continues, run a printhead cleaning from your printer's software. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, and under Printer properties, find the Maintenance tab to clean the printheads. This can help fix color issues.

You might also want to look into HP's Instant Ink program, which is a subscription service that sends ink when you're low. It could help you manage ink costs more effectively.

Also, refer to this guide for further troubleshooting: HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues ...

I hope this helps.

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.

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! 😊

Regards,

Garp_Senchau
I am an HP Employee

cybermo · ‎04-01-2025

thank you very much for that answer and it might help others that s why i said "yes" when prompted to give my opinion.

I had tried all the solutions you mentionned, but my stupborn printer always finds new ways to upset me. I got one paper printed in light grey, the line with the hyperlinks which normally would be kind of blue was barely visible. But now, the printer does not print anymore! Not even when I connect it by cable with the printer. It say's : no paper, but when I go to the troubleshooter, it prints suggestions in bold black ink...

This printer must have had a love affair with the former internet provider, I have no other explanation. Fortunately I could do some scan jobs.

And no: I do not think that the instant ink would be a money saver! I Hopefully the benefit from this extremely overprized cartridge business (other brands have the same policy) helps to invent more customer and eco-friendly printers.

I guess I might need to call a customer support if the printer stays lunatic.

Garp_senchau · ‎04-03-2025

@cybermo, thank you for your response

It sounds like you're having a tough time with this printer! From what you’ve described, let me break it down with a more straightforward approach:

No Paper Error (But You Have Paper)

Check the paper tray to make sure it’s loaded properly (not overstuffed or skewed).

Clean the paper feed rollers (gently wipe them with a lint-free cloth).

Check the paper sensor: Open the printer and carefully look for the paper sensor (it’s usually near the paper feed area). You can clean it with a dry cotton swab if you see any dirt or debris.

Reference: HP Printers - An 'Out of Paper' error displays, printer does not pick paper | HP® Support

Ink Quality (Light Gray, Missing Colors)

It sounds like your printer is still struggling with print quality issues, even with new cartridges.

Printhead Cleaning: I know you’ve tried this, but it might need to be done multiple times. Run a deep cleaning. You can access this in Windows by:

Going to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

Right-clicking your printer > Printer Properties.

Find the Maintenance tab and select Clean Printheads.

Check the ink cartridge contacts: Even if the cartridge is half full, it could be dirty or have faulty contacts. Gently wipe the cartridge contacts with a lint-free cloth.

Reference: HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues ...

Connectivity Issues (Reconnecting After Switching Internet)

You may need to reconfigure your printer’s Wi-Fi settings. Here’s how:

Reset the printer’s network settings: This can be done from the printer’s control panel.

You may refer this guide: Restore Wi-Fi setup mode on your HP printer | HP® Support

Follow the steps in the printer’s software or use the HP Smart app to reconnect it to your new network.

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.