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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printing Errors or Lights & Stuck Print Jobs
- Printer only prints in black

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01-10-2020 11:47 AM - last edited on 10-30-2020 04:01 PM by CommunityBot
Hello everyone, I've recently purchased a new HP OfficeJet 3830.
It's been working fine but after 2 weeks of using it all of a sudden if i try to print something with colors it prints it in black.
I tried following this guide and reinstall printer drivers, it didn't work.
I tried looking for the "grayscale" option but i couldn't find it, i don't know if it was removed or I'm missing it.
https://supportvideos.ext.hp.com/detail/video/1245168255001/turning-grayscale-on-or-off
All that said i did find out that if i select "Print Quality Diagnostics" in the settings it will print the diagnostics test in color,
Also if i send the file i want to print to my printer's email it will print in color.
So i can just use my printer email to bypass this problem but it's an annoying method to use if I'm at home, i have to save the file and upload it to my email every time i want to print something and if i want to print multiple copies i need to send the email multiple times...
How do i fix this??
I appreciate all help.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Accepted Solutions
01-13-2020 10:10 AM
@vrtwreck, Welcome to HP Support Community!
This could be an issue with the printer drivers installed. Follow the steps below-
Update the printer firmware
Download available firmware updates from the HP website
With the printer on and connected to the computer, go to HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads, and then identify your printer. Look for and install any available firmware updates. For more information, go to Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware.
I would suggest you try the Windows built-in drivers. Follow the steps below:
• Go to Control Panel - Devices and Printers - Click on "Add printer" and follow the on-screen instructions.
• When the page prompts for the drivers, select "Windows update". The driver list will be updated.
• Click HP, Hewlett Packard, or Hewlett-Packard in the Manufacturer pane, and then click the name of your printer in the Printers pane.
Refer to this document HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver for help.
Keep me posted.
Please click “Accept as 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!
TEJ1602
I am an HP Employee
01-13-2020 10:10 AM
@vrtwreck, Welcome to HP Support Community!
This could be an issue with the printer drivers installed. Follow the steps below-
Update the printer firmware
Download available firmware updates from the HP website
With the printer on and connected to the computer, go to HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads, and then identify your printer. Look for and install any available firmware updates. For more information, go to Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware.
I would suggest you try the Windows built-in drivers. Follow the steps below:
• Go to Control Panel - Devices and Printers - Click on "Add printer" and follow the on-screen instructions.
• When the page prompts for the drivers, select "Windows update". The driver list will be updated.
• Click HP, Hewlett Packard, or Hewlett-Packard in the Manufacturer pane, and then click the name of your printer in the Printers pane.
Refer to this document HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver for help.
Keep me posted.
Please click “Accept as 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!
TEJ1602
I am an HP Employee
01-13-2020 11:09 AM
I installed all drivers again, Including the HP Smart App that i skipped over because i though i didn't need it.
When i try to print normally it still prints in black but when i run the process through the HP Smart App all of a sudden i can print with colors!
Weird that i have to use the HP Smart App for the printer to work properly but i guess it's what it is...
Thank you TEJ1602.