Print job is stuck

[Chesa11]

I know that my tricolor cartridge is low on ink, but I have a full black and white cartridge. I am trying to print a page in black and white, but the job is stuck. The job goes to the printer, but then moves only about an inch on the dialog box showing the print process, then just hangs there. There is nothing on the window on the printer it self that tells me I need to change the cartridge.  Would this be fixed if I inserted a new tricolor cartridge? Is there anything else it could be? I believe I am using the lates driver and the latest Mac operating system. Thank you.

[Sneha_01 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Chesa11 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

If your print job is stuck and you’re experiencing issues with the print process hanging, even though you're trying to print in black and white with a full black cartridge, there could be a few different causes. It’s true that some HP printers require all cartridges (including color cartridges) to be installed for the printer to function, even if you are only printing in black and white.

Let's go through a few troubleshooting steps to help resolve this issue:

1. Check for Cartridge Dependency

• Some HP printers, especially inkjet models, require all cartridges (including the tricolor cartridge) to be installed and recognized, even when printing in black and white. If your tricolor cartridge is low or empty, this might prevent the printer from completing the print job, even if you are only printing in black.
• Solution: Try installing a new tricolor cartridge to see if that clears the issue. If the printer is complaining about missing or low ink in the tricolor cartridge, it might be preventing printing altogether.

2. Clear the Print Queue

• If the print job is stuck in the queue, it could be causing the issue where it won’t complete. Here's how to clear it:
  • On Mac:
    1. Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
    2. Select your printer, then click on Open Print Queue.
    3. If there are any stuck jobs, select them and click the X to cancel.
    4. Once the queue is clear, try printing again.
  • On Windows:
    1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
    2. Right-click on your printer and select See what's printing.
    3. Right-click on any stuck jobs and cancel them.

3. Reset the Printer

• A simple reset can often fix printing issues, especially when the print job is stuck.
  • Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
  • Leave it unplugged for about 1-2 minutes.
  • Plug it back in, turn it on, and then try printing again.

4. Check for Print Spooler Issues

• Sometimes, the print spooler can get stuck and prevent new jobs from being processed:
  • On Mac:
    • Reset the print system by going to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners. Right-click on the printer and select Reset Printing System. This will remove all printers and queues, so you’ll need to add your printer back afterward.
  • On Windows:
    • You can restart the Print Spooler service:
      1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
      2. Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click, and choose Restart.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[Chesa11]

Thanks for getting back to me. The solution was to unplug for a minute and plug it back in. It works fine and I didn't change the cartridge. I think that should be the first step. Thank you.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Chesa11,

Thank you for your response, 

Is there anything else that I can help you with today?

Please click “Accepted 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!

Take care and have a great day ahead!

Alden4

HP Support