My HP Envy 6400 Does not print at all

[YTHOUGH]

• Brand new and full ink cartridges
• I've run the print head alignment operation multiple times
• I've run the clean print head operation multiple times
  • including the level two cleaning multiple times
• I've run the fix streak operation multiple times
• wiped off the contact points on the ink cartridges
• restarted the printer multiple times
• tried printing from windows, mac, android and the HP Smart app on all platforms

The printer goes through the motions of printing and will not put ink on the paper at all...the best it can do is super duper faint printing with an intermittent perfect sentence or line of text, but generally it doesn't print at all. The printer is essentially brand new, I'm on the second ink cartridge but will be headed for the trash heap and a 1 star review if this can't be resolved.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @YTHOUGH 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for laying out everything you've tried—it's clear you've been thorough and patient, and it's understandably frustrating when a new printer behaves this way. 

If your HP Envy 6400 is brand new, has full cartridges, and still fails to print properly despite multiple cleanings and alignments, the issue likely lies with ink delivery—either blocked nozzles, faulty cartridges, or a printhead malfunction. Let's go deeper into the recovery process to help restore consistent printing.

Verify cartridge authenticity and installation

• Confirm that both cartridges are genuine HP and compatible with the Envy 6400 series.
• Remove and reinstall both cartridges, pressing firmly until they click into place.
• Ensure the protective tape was removed from the new cartridges before installation.

Inspect the ink delivery system

• Open the cartridge access door and check for any ink pooling or dried residue around the printhead area.
• Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water to gently clean the copper-colored contacts on both the cartridges and inside the printer.

Run a print quality diagnostic

• In the HP App, go to Settings > Print Quality Tools > Print Quality Report.
• Review the output: if the page is blank or extremely faint, it confirms ink is not reaching the paper.

Perform a reset

• Turn off the printer and unplug it from the wall.
• Wait for 60 seconds.
• Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds while unplugged.
• Plug it back in and power on.
• This clears internal memory and may restore ink flow.

Try a different paper type

• Load fresh, plain white paper.
• Avoid glossy or textured paper which may interfere with ink absorption.

Test with a different cartridge set

• If possible, install a new set of cartridges—even if the current ones are new.
• Sometimes a defective cartridge can pass initial checks but fail to deliver ink properly.

If the issue persists after these steps, the printhead may be blocked or malfunctioning internally. Let me know if you'd like help locating the printhead cleaning tool or checking warranty status.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[YTHOUGH]

I'm sorry, but this is all way too much effort to get a printer your company sold new to do it's primary function - printing.

It's clearly a shoddy product unfit for public purchase or use.

Do better.