I have a 5745 color printer. Alignment failed on new color cartridge. How do I clean the printheads?

[TooOld4This18]

I was changing the color ink cartridge. Alignment test failed. Told to clean printheads. What are they? How do I clean them? Printer is HP5745.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @TooOld4This18,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you are facing an issue with printheads are the components in your printer responsible for dispensing ink onto the paper during printing? Over time, they can become clogged or dirty, which can result in poor print quality or alignment issues like the one you're experiencing.

Here's how you can clean the printheads on your HP OfficeJet 5745 e-All-in-One Printer:

• Access the Printer Toolbox: Open the HP printer software on your computer. You can typically access the Printer Toolbox by searching for your printer model in the Windows search bar and selecting the appropriate option.
• Navigate to Printhead Maintenance: Once you've opened the Printer Toolbox, navigate to the "Device Services" or "Maintenance" tab. Look for an option related to printhead maintenance or cleaning.
• Initiate Printhead Cleaning: Follow the prompts to start the printhead cleaning process. This process may take a few minutes to complete.
• Print a Test Page: After the cleaning process is finished, print a test page to see if the print quality has improved and if the alignment issue persists.
• Repeat if Necessary: If the alignment issue persists or if the print quality is still poor, you may need to run the printhead cleaning process multiple times.
• Manual Cleaning (Optional): If the automatic printhead cleaning doesn't resolve the issue, you can try manually cleaning the printheads. To do this, you'll need to access the printheads inside the printer (refer to your printer's manual for instructions) and gently clean them using a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water or printhead cleaning solution. Be very careful not to touch the electronic components or nozzles of the printheads.
• Replace Printheads (If Necessary): If cleaning the printheads doesn't solve the problem, you may need to replace them. Refer to your printer's manual 

Refer to this document: HP OfficeJet 5745 e-All-in-One Printer User manual 

HP inkjet printers - Alignment issues and errors

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 

[TooOld4This18]

I followed your excellent advice, loaded the smart app, and proceeded to clean printheads and re-align. Unfortunately I was not able to print cyan in the color block.  All other blocks were very good. I think this tells me it's time to get another HP printer. Mine is about 9 years old.  Thank you gaya1239 for your help. Sometimes you just have to pull the plug.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @TooOld4This18,

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your efforts. As the issue persists, I am sorry to hear that I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!