Sprocket 200 Blue Tint Prints & Serial Number Issue

[JRaquel]

I just purchased a Sprocket 200 printer a few days ago and out of the box it has been printing images with low saturation and blue tint. Firmware is updated, I’ve reset the printer, I’ve fed through the blue alignment card several times, it’s fully charged, and I’m using HP photo paper. Besides being sent a faulty product, I don’t know what else to do.

I can’t access support on the website because it tells me my serial number is invalid, even though it certainly is not. All support chats require adding a serial number so I can’t access those. I see the images of the printer printing normal, full-color images, and buying a brand new product at a decent price- I should receive what I paid for. Please help.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @JRaquel 

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

I completely understand how disappointing it feels to see prints coming out with a blue tint when you’ve just invested in a new Sprocket 200. You’ve already taken several thoughtful steps—updating firmware, resetting, charging fully, feeding the alignment card, and using the correct photo paper. That shows great care, and I truly appreciate the effort you’ve put in. 

Let’s walk through a few more detailed checks together to help bring those images back to life with the vibrant colors you expect.

 

Steps to Try

• Paper orientation: Ensure the glossy, printable side of the HP photo paper is facing up when loaded. If the stack is flipped, colors can appear muted or tinted.
   
• Paper condition: Confirm the paper is fresh and stored in a cool, dry place. Humidity or fingerprints on the surface can affect saturation.
   
• Re-run calibration: Place the blue alignment card at the bottom of the stack and allow the printer to feed it once more. This refreshes color balance.
   
• HP App settings: Open the HP App on your phone, select the Sprocket, and check print quality options. Try toggling “Print Quality” or “Color” adjustments to see if saturation improves.
   
• Image source: Test with a few different photos. Sometimes images with cooler tones naturally appear blue; printing a bright, warm-toned photo helps confirm if the tint is consistent.
   
• Clean the rollers: Open the paper tray and gently wipe the rollers with a soft, lint-free cloth. Dust or residue can interfere with color transfer.
   
• Reset pairing: Remove the printer from Bluetooth on your phone, restart both devices, and pair again through the HP App. This ensures the print job is sent correctly.

 

Serial Number Issue

For the serial number not being recognized, double-check that you’re entering it exactly as printed on the device or box—without spaces or substitutions of letters/numbers. Sometimes “O” and “0” or “I” and “1” can be misread. If the printer still rejects the serial number, you can continue using the HP App for printing and troubleshooting without entering it.

Your care in noticing the difference between the promotional images and your own results is valid—you should indeed receive prints that look lively and full of color. These steps are designed to help narrow down whether the issue is with paper handling, calibration, or communication between the app and printer.

Would you like me to guide you through a test print workflow step by step, starting from loading the paper to sending a photo through the HP App, so we can see exactly where the color shift occurs?

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye