Just got a new Officejet Pro 6978 and it won't print in color.

[Dmanrx227]

Just bought an new 6978 and it won't print in color. The cartridges are full. I don't see any where in the preferences where you can turn color on or off.

[sandytechy20]

@Dmanrx227

Welcome to HP forums, I see that you are unable to print in color.

Did you make a copy and check if that prints fine in color?

If no, then Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page

1. Load plain white paper in the input tray.

2. From the printer control panel, open the Setup  menu.

3. Open the Reports or Tools menu.

4. Touch Print Quality Report.

   A Print Quality Diagnostic Page prints.

   

If that does not print in color, you can follow the steps mentioned in this HP document for more assistance:- Click here

Let me know how it goes.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[Dmanrx227]

It is still not printing in color. Doesn't copy in color.  When I clicked on the follow other steps link it said for Windows only. I have and IMac.  I've had many HP printers and have never had this problem.

Thanks

[sandytechy20]

@Dmanrx227

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate your time and effort.

I understood the issue better now.

Did you check the if the ink level are good?

Did you try the steps mentioned in the above link?

If not, follow the below steps to fix this issue:

On the printer control panel, touch the Ink Level Indicator icon . The control panel displays estimated ink levels.

Consider replacing cartridges marked  or  when print quality becomes unacceptable.

Make sure the ink cartridges are properly vented and seated correctly

1. Turn on the printer, if it is not already turned on.

2. Open the ink cartridge access door.

   The carriage moves to the center of the printer.

   

3. Wait until the carriage stops moving before you continue.

4. Press the tab inward on the front of the old ink cartridge to release it, and then pull up on the ink cartridge to remove it from the slot.

   

5. Examine the vent area above the HP logo on the top of the ink cartridge.

   

6. If the ink cartridge still has the orange pull-tab attached, pull to remove it.

   

7. If the vent is clogged, use a straight pin to gently remove excess adhesive from the vent.

8. 1. 

      Clogged vent

   2. With a straight pin, gently remove excess adhesive from the vent

   3. Unclogged vent

9. Turn the ink cartridge so that the ink cartridge contacts face downward, and then match the label color with the color dot on the carriage.

10. Slide the ink cartridge into its slot, and then gently press the ink cartridge down until it snaps into place.

    

11. Repeat these steps to inspect the vents on each of the ink cartridges.

12. Make sure each ink cartridge is firmly installed in its slot. Run your finger along the top of the ink cartridges to feel for any that are protruding, and if any are, press down firmly until each ink cartridge snaps into place.

13. Close the ink cartridge access door.

    

Clean the printhead.

1. From the printer control panel, open the Setup  menu.

2. Open the Printer Maintenance menu.

3. If necessary, open the Tools menu, and then touch Clean Printhead.

   A test page prints.

   

4. Examine the test page.

   • If the print quality is unacceptable, touch Clean Again to continue the next level of cleaning. If necessary, repeat these steps for the third cleaning cycle.

     NOTE: 

     If the printhead is badly clogged, it might require another cleaning cycle. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform all three levels of cleaning again.

   • If the print quality is acceptable, touch Done.

Let me know how it goes.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.