Out of marker supply message.

[PainintheArse]

I don't have time to try the suggested solutions at this very moment, but I came from a search that linked me to this post.  I am also running Catalina 10.15, have an Office Jet Pro 6978, and was able to print the page I needed right now, fortunately. However, I got the little yellow triangle warning sign when the printer first "woke up," and under the box that comes up that shows "pause printer" and "printer settings" is where it shows the phrase "Marker Supply Low."  

How is this phrase supposed to be remotely helpful to anyone who isn't well-informed about random error messages?  There is nothing in any of replies I've seen prior to this that suggests how we should have any idea what "marker supply" means (sounds like a classroom problem!) or how it relates to anything that has been mentioned as far as holding buttons down or "static" or anything else.  Why doesn't it tell your customers where to find help for it/fix the problem?  Even now it doesn't seem to have worked for at least some of the people who tried it.

Can't stay right now and try any or all of these things myself, but I'll bookmark this and get back to it as soon as I can.  Will look forward to answers to my additional questions.  Thank you.

[Kumar0307]

@PainintheArse

Apologies for the inconvenience caused. Check the ink levels on the printer.

Also, try the steps provided in the previous post which may help in resolving this issue.

• If the printer is connected wirelessly to the MAC, make sure both these devices are on the same wireless network.
• This printer only supports 2.4GHz network.
• If you have a Dual-band router and both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks share the same name/SSID, the printer will not be able to connect to the network. In this case, contact your Internet service provider to assign different names to both the networks.
• The wireless status menu on your Mac should also give us quite a lot of information that would help us identify the issue. You can press and hold the option key on your keyboard and click the WiFi icon to get detailed information.

Install the printer using AirPrint driver and check if the issue persists.

Let me know how this goes.

[PainintheArse]

My printer is wired. 

[AMLinVAN]

I have followed the process given by KrazyToad, and Kumar0307, including re-connecting the USB at the end (it wasn't mentioned)

I have checked for Firmware updates (none)

This is a new error message maybe since I installed Catalina(?),. the printer and Mac are on the same network, always have been and the printer still actually works.

Same problem still exists.

I have restarted the computer.

I have deleted and re-installed the printer, it says it is HP6100 - Airprint but I didn't specifically do anything to achieve that. If there is something I should be doing, please advise

But: If I open up the printer in System Preferences, the printer itself says the ink is low and the print queue dialogue says the marker supply is low.  The printer itself does not show any low ink messages.

As far as we can tell, this problem only occurs on the Mac, not on a Windows 10 PC.

Thanks

Alison

[KrazyToad]

@AMLinVAN

Since the problem exists only on MAC, I suggest we removed and re-add the printer as Airprint. Also ensure your MAC has all the latest updates

 AirPrint is an Apple technology that helps you create full-quality printed output without the need to download or install drivers.

1.) Click the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
2.) Check if your printer name displays in the Printers list, If your printer is listed, click the printer name, click the minus sign to delete the printer.

3.) If you see multiple printer queues for the same printer, remove all extra printers by selecting them one at a time, and then clicking the minus button  at the bottom of the list.

4.) Click the plus sign , click Add Printer or Scanner, click the printer name.

5.) Click the Use or Print Using menu, select AirPrint or Secure AirPrint in the pop-up menu. Then click Add.

6.) Try printing or scanning

Let me know how it goes😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" on this Post and it will also help other community members with similar issue.

[AMLinVAN]

I have resolved the problem but it's not clear where the issue is.

I deleted the printer and reinstalled it using Airprint (which it did automatically)

Didn't change the problem.

I checked on the printer display the actual ink levels (there was still no low ink level warning). 

The Cyan was quite low, so I replaced it.

Problem disappeared.

Replaced the old cartridge, which still showed 1/8-1/4 full.

Problem returned. Second sheet didn't print. Printer said the depleted cartridge had to be replaced.

Did so and all is fine.

So why didn't the printer show a low ink level warning?

AMLinVAN

[PainintheArse]

Will be trying KrazyToad's solution later today, but I'm puzzled as to what you said about the ink levels.  If you replaced one cartridge that looked low and it worked, then what were you replacing when the second sheet didn't print?  (I am curious as well as to why there wasn't a low ink message if that what the issue.)  I'm not quite following this.

KrazyToad, if you're reading this, are you suggesting the delete and re-add printer with Air Print even for a wired connection?  If so, is this instead of or after all of the "unplug, hold button down, etc., etc." from further above replies?

[AMLinVAN]

After I had put the new cartridge in and all was well, I took it out and put the old one back in as the display on the printer said there was still ink in it.

[PainintheArse]

Ahh!  Good to know!  And since I can only see this one comment of yours while I reply, this was after you did the Air Print thing, right?  That didn't help?  Still wondering if that's only for wireless. 

btw, mine printed the one page I wanted to when this came up. Haven't tried it since, so I don't know if it's going to refuse to print/stop in the middle.   Still don't get what the term "marker" has to do with it.

[AMLinVAN]

I'm not sure as I'm hardly an expert. But the term "airprint' and the fact that it means you can print from iPads and iPhones certainly suggests that.  I think most newer printers can use it.  But to check, if you go back to KrazyToad's last message, or even just good Airprint (responses include an Apple link), you can find a list of printers that Airprint will work with.

Haven't a clue about the word "marker" or whether it's an HP or an Apple issue.