deskjet 2540 not printing black

[ashjones16895]

HP Deskjet 2540 all in one

I am trying to print documents (from Android or windows pc or just scanning) but the printer is spitting out blank pages if I have the printer preferences set to black and white or spitting out faint bluish text in some areas. It will print color (and bluish looking grey scale) without issues. I replaced the black ink cartridge with a genuine hp cartridge today even though the other cartridge was fairly new and only used a small handful of times. Earlier, I printed a diagnostic page and the black letters/ numbers appeared fine looking but there were no black bars like the pink/ blue/ yellow ones. I printed another and now there are no letters or numbers, just pink/blue/yellow bars. Please help! 

[Jay_G24]

Hi @ashjones16895

Welcome to the HP Support Community. I'd be happy to assist you with the  "print quality" issue. 

To better assist you - 

1) Does the copy print out the same way? 

2) What's the application you are trying to print from? Have you tried printing from a different application or devices? 

While you respond to that, let's print a Print Quality Diagnostic page -

1. Load clean, white U.S. Letter or A4 paper in the input tray, if necessary.

2. Touch and hold the Power button (), and then press the Cancel button ().

Post the Print Quality Diagnostic page here so we can help you further. 

You may also refer to this document with steps to fix " Print Quality Issues" issue applicable for your printer -  Print Quality Issues 

The printer you own can work in single-cartridge mode, wherein the printer will be able to print with one cartridge in the printer.which will help us identify if its a cartridge issue or a printhead issue 

To try single-cartridge mode follow the below steps:

remove the black ink from the printer, leave the color in and try printing 
then remove the color ink and, insert the black  in and try printing 

Also, try updating the printer's firmware - HP Printers - Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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