HP Printer Not Printing Black? Try These Proven Fixes

January 29, 2022 Richard 0 Comments

HP printer users are familiar with a common scenario. They try to print something, only to find that their printer isn’t able to print black. HP printer not printing black is a problem that can occur because of many reasons. Some of them are so minor that people often ignore them. As a result, they continue to experience this problem. The good news is that they’re numerous workarounds for this printer problem. They are easy to implement, and by following them properly, you can make your HP printing device work efficiently again. This article will lay down all the possible resolutions for you.

Table of Contents

Why Is Your HP Printer Not Printing Black?

A variety of reasons can cause your printer not to print dark enough. If you’ve been asking why is my HP printer not printing black ink, here are the reasons for it.

Problem with the printhead.
Incorrect cartridges.
Issues with paper settings.
Problem with printer drivers.
Low or empty ink level.

Measures to Take When You Find HP Printer Not Printing Black

There are numerous ways to check and resolve this issue. The troubleshooting tips are not difficult to understand. You just have to follow the stepwise instructions carefully.

Perform a basic troubleshooting

Whenever you wonder why is my HP printer not printing black, the first thing to do is to conduct basic troubleshooting. Here are the various steps you should follow for it.

Switch off the HP printer. Unplug it from the power source. After that, disconnect USB cables. Wait for some time. Then reconnect your device and plug it back. After that, switch on the printer.
Print a test page or a Quality Diagnostic Report.
You’ll find this option on the display screen of your HP printer. If you still cannot find it, go through the user guide of your printer.
Inspect the ink levels of your device. Find the ink volume in the cartridges. It is always good to use genuine HP cartridges rather than aftermarket cartridges. HP recommends that you use their toner supplies. The brand does not guarantee the quality or reliability of refilled cartridges. To find the authenticity of the cartridges you are using, navigate to the HP anti-counterfeit web page.

Clean the printhead

Another measure to take when your HP printer not printing color or black ink is to clean the printhead. Printhead plays a significant role in the printing process. It puts ink on paper so that you get presentable text. To clean the printhead, follow these points.

Navigate to the ‘Start’ button and look for ‘Control Panel.’ After that, click ‘Drivers and Printers.’
On the following page, search for the icon of your printing system. Right-tap it and select ‘Properties.’
On the window that comes on the screen, tap ‘Hardware.’
After that, click ‘Clean Ink’ on the following window.
Follow the instructions on your screen to clean the printhead. When it’s done, print a test page.

Inspect your ink cartridge

If your cartridge has low ink, it’s likely you’ll face the HP printer not printing black ink problem. Check for the following points.

Replace the low or empty ink cartridge.
Ensure that you have snapped the ink cartridges firmly into place and they are installed correctly in the right slot.
If you have installed a new cartridge, check to ensure that you have taken away the tape over the vent.
See whether the cartridge’s vents are clogged or not. If they are clogged, use a pin to gently clean the clog.
Try to use another ink cartridge to see if your printing device can recognize cartridges. If your printer worked fine with an old cartridge, try to install that old cartridge again.
If the printer can print with the old cartridge, it means that the problem lies with your new black cartridge. You should replace it.

Align the cartridges

Ensure that you have turned on your printer and loaded paper in it. Follow the steps below to align the cartridges.

Press the button beside the setup icon in the Control Panel’s lower-left corner.
Now, press the right arrow button to choose ‘Tools.’ Then touch ‘OK.’
Press the right arrow button to select ‘Align Printer’ followed by pressing ‘OK.’ The printer will print an alignment page.
Raise the lid of the printer.
Put the alignment page on the scanner glass’s right front corner. Ensure that the printed side is down. You can check the engraved guide besides the scanner glass if you need help to load the alignment page.
Close the printer lid. Press ‘OK’ for completing the alignment.
Wait till the printing device scans the alignment sheet and finishes the alignment procedure.

Tweak the paper settings

If you find the above methods not working in resolving your issue, it’s highly likely that the problem lies with your printer software. In such a case, altering the paper settings will allow you to resolve this issue. Follow these points.

Change the printer driver settings. Choose ‘Glossy photo paper.’ It may make your printer start printing black.
Note that this is only possible if your printing device consists of two black cartridges. The kind of black ink the printer usually utilizes is based on your selected paper type. Pigment-based ink works ideally with matte paper, while dye-based one works with glossy paper. When you change from one paper type to a different one, it will probably trigger one of the black cartridges to function.

Final Words

Hopefully, this guide will help you whenever you find your HP printer not printing black. Implement the suggestions given in this article, and you won’t face this problem. However, if you find that your printing device doesn’t print black even after applying all these techniques, it’s time to seek professional help. Do not hesitate to get in touch with expert HP customer support services. You will always find a speedy resolution to all your printer problems.