Printer not printing yellow

[MattC33]

I have an HP7B1889 model. It is not printing yellow at all. I have cleaned the print heads automatically and manually and cycled the power. The firmware is up to date and the ink is full.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @MattC33 

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

I understand how discouraging it feels when a printer refuses to print yellow even after you’ve already cleaned the printheads, cycled the power, and confirmed the firmware and ink levels. 

You’ve done the right initial steps, so let’s focus on what else can help restore that color flow.

1. Run a Print Quality Diagnostic Page

• On the printer’s control panel or through the HP App, print a diagnostic page.
• This will show whether yellow is missing entirely or printing faintly.
• If yellow is absent, it confirms a cartridge or ink flow issue.

2. Reseat the cartridge

• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove the color cartridge and check the electrical contacts for any ink or debris.
• Wipe gently with a lint‑free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
• Reinstall the cartridge firmly until it clicks into place.

3. Align the printer

• In the HP App, select your printer, go to Printer Settings > Align Printer.
• Alignment ensures the printhead is calibrated to deliver all colors correctly.

4. Clean the printhead again using the deep clean option

• Some printers offer multiple levels of cleaning.
• Run the second‑level/deep cleaning cycle from the control panel or HP App.
• Print another diagnostic page to check if yellow appears.

5. Update drivers on Windows 11

• Go to the HP Drivers and Software page.
• Enter your printer model and install the latest full feature driver package.
• Restart your computer and printer after installation.
• Driver updates can correct color mapping issues.

6. Try printing a color test file

• Open a document with solid yellow blocks and print it.
• This helps confirm if the issue is isolated to yellow or affects other colors too.

By reseating the cartridge, running alignment, and performing a deep clean, yellow usually returns. If the diagnostic page still shows no yellow after these steps, it points to a cartridge that is not delivering ink despite showing full.

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

[MattC33]

Thanks for the tips, but none of them worked.

Also, note that this model has ink tanks, not cartridges. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Thank you for clarifying — since your HP7B1889 model uses ink tanks rather than cartridges, we’ll need to shift focus from cartridge contacts to ink flow and internal delivery. 

You’ve already done a thorough job with cleaning, power cycling, and firmware updates, so let’s isolate what could still be blocking yellow output.

 

Key questions to narrow down the issue:

• When you print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page, is the yellow section completely blank, or does it show faint streaks or partial fill?
• Have you tried printing a solid yellow block from a test file to confirm if the issue is consistent across applications?
• Did you perform the manual printhead cleaning using the printer’s maintenance menu or by removing and rinsing the printhead externally?
• Is the yellow ink visibly flowing in the tank and tubing, or does it appear stagnant or bubbled?
• Have you recently refilled the yellow tank, and if so, was it done with genuine HP ink?

Once I know whether yellow is missing entirely or just faint, and whether the ink appears to be flowing properly, I can guide you through targeted steps like purging air from the ink line or checking the printhead seal. 

Let me know what you observed on the diagnostic page and in the tank itself.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[MattC33]

No yellow at all when printing a test page or a yellow block. The tank is full, still with the original ink that came with the printer.

I did do a manual cleaning of both the color and black printheads.

[MattC33]

I don't see any obvious issues with the lines from the tank to the print head.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hello @MattC33 

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

If after following these steps you still face issues, consider reaching out to our customer support over the phone for further assistance. 

It looks like we may have to raise a service order for the same. 
 

I'm sending you a private message to guide you on the next steps.

To access it, click the private message icon in the upper-right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your name.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye