HP Officejet 6950 not printing black

[Zeenie]

• installed original HP ink cartridges but black will not print i have ran several clean heads and even the alignmemt page will not show black

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Zeenie,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

When your HP Officejet 6950 isn't printing black despite using original HP ink cartridges and performing head cleaning and alignment, it indicates there might be a deeper issue. Here are several steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Check the Ink Cartridge and Contacts

• Ensure Proper Installation: Confirm that the black ink cartridge is installed correctly.
• Inspect Contacts: Remove the black ink cartridge and check for any plastic tape that might still be covering the ink nozzle. Make sure the metal contacts on the cartridge and in the printer are clean.

2. Perform a Hard Reset

• Turn Off the Printer: Unplug the power cord from the printer and the wall outlet.
• Wait for a Minute: Leave it unplugged for about 60 seconds.
• Reconnect and Power On: Plug it back in and turn the printer on.

3. Run a Printhead Cleaning Cycle

• Access Printer Menu: Go to the printer's control panel.
• Maintenance Options: Find and select the option for printhead cleaning.
• Multiple Cycles: You may need to run this several times.

4. Update Printer Firmware

• Check for Updates: Visit the HP support website and download any available firmware updates for your printer model.

5. Use the Printer Software

• HP Smart App: Use the HP Smart app or HP Print and Scan Doctor tool to diagnose and fix common printing issues.

6. Examine the Printhead Manually

• Remove and Inspect: Carefully remove the printhead (if removable) and check for clogs or dried ink.
• Clean the Printhead: Use a soft, lint-free cloth and distilled water to gently clean the nozzles.

7. Run a Print Quality Diagnostic Report

• Access Printer Menu: Go to the settings or maintenance menu.
• Print Diagnostic Page: This will help identify if the issue is with the black ink only or if other colors are affected too.

8. Check Printer Settings

• Black Ink Only Setting: Ensure that the printer is not set to a mode that might bypass black ink, such as grayscale or color only.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support