tiny black squares, like individual letter redactions showing up randomly all over on printouts

[can-use-he1p]

black squares began showing up on printout copied printed documents, then next on printout of fresh newly created documents.   cleaned cartridges online as well as aligned cartridge all to no avail

someone told me "printhead is going bad".  is it? are there solutions for a bad printhead, short of a new printer?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @can-use-he1p 

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

Experiencing black squares on printouts can indeed indicate issues with the printhead, but there are several steps you can try before considering an entirely new printer. 

Here's a detailed guide to help resolve print quality issues related to printheads:

 

Solutions to Address Poor Print Quality

Clean the Printhead: Since cleaning the printhead using online tools didn't solve the issue, a manual clean might help. Follow these steps:

• Load plain white paper into the tray.
• On the printer control panel, touch the right arrow, select Setup, then Tools.
• Select Clean Printhead. This process may have multiple stages, each using more ink. Only proceed to the next stage if necessary.

Align the Printhead: If the automatic alignment didn't work, try a manual alignment:

• Touch the right arrow on the printer control panel, select Setup, then Tools.
• Select Align Printer. This can help correct any alignment issues affecting print quality.

Print Quality Diagnostic Page: Print a diagnostic report to evaluate print quality issues.

• Go to Setup, select Print Report, then choose Printer Status or Self-Test. This will help identify specific problems like streaking or missing colors.

Check Ink Levels: Ensure that your ink cartridges are not low on ink. Insufficient ink can cause print quality issues.

Advanced Printhead Maintenance:

• Remove the ink cartridges carefully and try cleaning the sensor windows on the cartridges with a lint-free cloth.
• If necessary, clean the electrical contacts inside the printer with dampened lint-free cloths.

 

Should You Replace the Printhead?

If none of these methods resolve the issue, it might indeed be an indication that the printhead requires replacement or service. Replacing the printhead can be a viable alternative to buying a new printer if the rest of the printer is functioning well.

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Regards, 

Hawks_Eye