How to force printer to print black in color when black is empty

[nitro88]

My printer keeps showing "At least one of the cartridges has a problem" on the front display and will not print a document I sent that was in all Greyscale. So I assume the cartridge at fault is the the Black. Trying to replace the black ink, I accidentally bought and tore open a color cartridge and am now stuck with it/no returns. How can I simply make the printer just print anything in black as a mix of color and bypass this error?

[zoey7886 · Accepted solution]

@nitro88, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding an error message on your printer! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

When a printer displays the message "At least one of the cartridges has a problem," it often indicates issues with either the black or color cartridge, causing the printer to become unable to print. Unfortunately, if a cartridge problem is detected, bypassing this error to print with a mix of color inks while ignoring the faulty black cartridge isn't typically possible for HP printers.

However, there are a few steps you can follow to resolve the issue and possibly get the printer back to working condition using only the color cartridge:

Steps to Resolve Cartridge Problem:

Check and Clean Cartridge Contacts:

• Turn off the printer and open the cartridge access door.
• Remove both the black and color cartridges.
• Inspect the contacts (tiny gold-colored dots) on the cartridges and inside the cartridge holder. If dirty, gently clean them with a lint-free cloth.

Reinsert the Cartridges:

• Ensure the cartridges are properly seated. Incorrect placement or loose cartridges can trigger errors.

Replace Faulty Cartridge:

• If the problem persists, unfortunately, the faulty cartridge needs to be replaced. If it's the black cartridge, as your test suggested, replacing it should solve the problem.

Print a Diagnostic Page:

• Use your printer's menu to print a test page. This can help identify which cartridge is causing the issue if you are unsure.

Printing in Black Using Color Cartridge:

If your printer absolutely does not accept printing with a problematic cartridge and you have no access to a black cartridge:

Set Printer to Use Color Cartridge Only:

• Some HP printers allow you to disable color cartridges via printer settings or HP software. This means the printer will mix color inks to create black; however, this may not work if one cartridge is already flagged as problematic.

Convert the Document:

• Convert documents to use less black ink while using more color. This can sometimes be done in your printer settings or by editing document properties.  

Hope this helps!

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[nitro88]

I just bought a black cart. since I didnt want to have to figure out how to print black with a mix off the color cart. Thank you for your help though!

[zoey7886]

@nitro88, A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Regards,